Mahalaya Thoughts and Quotes - Significance And Symbolism

The word Mahalaya can be defined as Maha + Alaya, which means great habitat. The earth turns to a great habitat for these fifteen days; because the manes are invited from the upper space to the human habitat to be worshiped. During these fifteen days every family is expected to offer Tarpan (offering water) to the pitru as a token of obligation. Also any day within the fortnight according to suitability of the family, is fixed to offer Shraddha (ceremonial offering of food) for the pitru. (Symbolism of Mahalaya when it is considered as a day for making offerings to dead ancestors.) – Source - Unknown

Mahalaya means ‘the great dissolution.’ It stands for the dissolution of the ignorance within us which is symbolized by the killing of the Buffalo demon on Mahanavami day. It is nine days Tapasya starting on Mahalaya Day, invoking the Goddess of “Constructive Destruction” and knowledge.

If the Tapasya is proper, the ignorance within us should be wiped out in nine days. The buffalo is the symbol of Tamas and Inertia. It is the vehicle of Yamraj, the Lord of Kala – the great leveler of time. Kala slowly yet surely moves forward on the buffalo. So if we kill the buffalo in us, it means we go beyond the concept of time, which is the ultimate goal of wisdom – the going beyond limitations, the Liberation. (Symbolism of Mahalaya when it is considered as a day when Goddess Durga is invoked.) – R.S. Nathan

Significance And Symbolism Of Mahalaya

The Bengali mantra on Mahalaya "আব্রহ্মস্তম্ব পর্যন্তং জগৎতৃপ্যতু" translates to:

"May the entire world, from Brahman to the universe, be satisfied."

In other words, it means that everything in the world, starting from Brahman (the ultimate reality) to the entire universe, should be at peace and fulfilled.

On the occasion of Mahalaya, in the early morning, people gather by rivers or ponds, with water in their hands, to offer Tarpan (a ritual offering) to their ancestors. But is this offering only for the ancestors? No, it's much more than that. The true essence of the mantra lies in this very idea. It is a prayer not only for the ancestors, but for all living beings, including deities and sages, as well as the entire world and universe. The intention is to seek fulfillment and satisfaction for all beings who are imbued with Brahman.

The ancestors have always been revered, like deities, by their descendants in Hindu culture. Their abode is in the heavenly realms, and from them, the future generations receive their achievements, whether it's through genetics or through spiritual perception. Everyone is eternally indebted to their forefathers.

The lineage, family, and tribe of future generations are inherited from their ancestors. And it is through them, through the essence of their being, that descendants are born into this world. The blessings of the ancestors are always a source of prosperity and wealth for the descendants. If the ancestors are not satisfied, even the merit of worshiping the deities becomes futile.

In simpler terms, Mahalaya is the day for repaying this annual debt. It is not just a tradition; it is an emotion. Even after death, the connection between generations remains. The past is remembered. It teaches us to be mindful of our roots.

Now, the idea of "repaying the debt"—does this mean that the ritual of Shraddha is a form of repayment? Yes, in a way, Mahalaya is a Shraddha ceremony. But in a broader sense, Shraddha does not simply mean ritual offerings for the departed spirits or ancestors. Shraddha in its truest form involves a process of purification and honoring one's ancestors, a way of connecting the living to the departed. Mahalaya is a grand Shraddha occasion. Just as family rituals like marriage, naming ceremonies, or sacred thread ceremonies are auspicious, Mahalaya is an important event for honoring ancestors.

Typically, after invoking the paternal ancestors (father, grandfather, great-grandfather), one also invokes a maternal ancestor. In this way, the entire ancestral line, both paternal and maternal, is honored. It is a grand effort for the welfare of the world.