Introduction
Pitru Paksha/Pitr Paksha also known as
Mahalaya Paksha or Shraaddh Paksha or Kanagat, is a period of fifteen days
dedicated to dead ancestors and forefathers. It is the period in which we pay
homage to our ancestors by remembering them and by offering food and other
things to them. This period is also treated as an occasion to perform rites for
the departed ancestors to keep their souls indebted
for years. The
word ‘Pitr Paksha’ comprises of two words ‘Pitr’ which means ancestors and the
‘Paksha’ which means phase of the moon. “Pitr” embraces God in all His aspects,
the earliest sages, and our immediate ancestors to the third generation, and
all our departed friends and relatives. This year Pitra Paksa period is between
30th September 2012 to 15th October 2012.
Legend behind Pitra Paksha
In the above section, I have dealt with the
importance of Pitra Paksha briefly. Now the question arises, why this period of
15 days is specifically referred as Pitra Paksha or what is the significance of
Pitra Paksha. The
answer to the question why specifically this period has been chosen lies in the
ancient story relating to the Mahabharata hero, “Karna”. According to
tradition, Karna could not get any food to eat when he went after his death to
the higher regions, though he could get plenty of silver and gold there. This
was because he had donated plenty of gold and silver but not food during his
lifetime. Distressed much he prayed to Lord Yama, the god of death, and through
his grace, returned to this earth during this paksha
or the fortnight. He then gifted plenty of food to the hungry and reached back
to his allotted higher plane. Hence Annadaana or
giving food to the hungry has become the central part of the rituals during
these days. Yama also ordained that offerings made on these days would benefit
all departed souls whether they were related to the donor or not.
Importance
of offering Shraddha
Shraddha or homage to your ancestors should be done with full belief and faith. It refers to a series of ceremonies performed at various
times of the year and during one's lifetime as homage and salutation to one's
ancestors. These ceremonies can be defined, as offerings of food to one's
pitras, by feeding Brahmins or even certain animals, like dogs, cats, crows and
snakes.
On all
fifteen days of Pitra Paksha, offerings are made to the departed manes,
including those whose names or manner of death are not known. In these days tarpan, shraaddha and pinda daan
are performed daily according to the procedures under the guidance of a priest.
Although these rites are to be carried out daily in this fortnight, it is
considered that to perform them on the last day i.e. on Mahalaya Amavasya or Sarva Pitru Amavasya is considered
extremely important and highly sacred. Sarvapitri amavasya
("all fathers' new moon day") is intended for all ancestors,
irrespective of the lunar day they died. It is the most important day of the
Pitru Paksha. Those who have missed performing shraddha
for any unavoidable reason can do so on this day. Those persons who do not know
the tithi of death of their ancestors can also perform shraddha on Amavasya. In
2012, Mahalaya Amavasya or Sarva Pitru Amavasya is on 15th
October 2012. It is called as Mahalaya because the word ‘Maha’
means great or big or large and ‘Laya’ means destruction. Mahalaya therefore
means great destruction caused during the war between Deities and Demons
wherein large number of Devathas and Rishis had died in the hands of Rakshasas
during the period starting from Bhadrapada Bahula Paadyami to Amavasya. These
Deities and Rishis are like our forefathers and it is befitting to worship such
departed souls during this fortnight that coincides with Mahalaya. Hence, this
fortnight has become very sacred and celestial for performing sacred rites to
forefathers.
How
to conduct Shraddha rituals
Food
prepared on the day you are performing Shraddha must firstly be offered to any
God in which you have belief because this food becomes sanctified food
(Prashad) and only then must that prashad be offered to the ancestors. By
performing it in this way the ancestors bless that family immensely since they
are eating Lord prashad, which relieves them very quickly, from whatever bad
situation they are in. The prashad must be offered in the daylight hours as it
is believed that Yama releases our ancestors at sunrise and they must return to
Pitr-Loka (the ancestor world) at sunset.
Method:
On
a tray place a banana leaf. On the banana leaf place a tablespoon of all the
food that was cooked. Go to your prayer place and offer the food first to God.
Leave the food at the prayer place for about 10 minutes. Now take the tray with
the food and go to a corner of your yard facing South in a clean place and offer
the food together with a small cup of water or milk. Say “all my ancestors
please partake in this prashad”. Then leave that food. You can later on offer
this food to a priest or alternatively offer food to crows. It is
believed that the pitras take the form of crows to eat the offerings made to
them. One
should do this for 15 days. On the last day (the 15th October before 14hr01)
you can either perform a havan or donate charity (whichever suits you and can
afford – like 3 three types of grains, fruits, vegetables…) to your family
priest or a poor person. Please note that on the 11th October is Indira
Ekadashi. On this day you must only offer your Pitr's Ekadashi (non-grain)
food.
You
can also prepare rice balls on the day you are performing Shraadha ceremony.
Offer one rice ball to fire in havan kund and after conducting puja and havan,
rest of the rice balls could be offered to crows and cows. I think what matters
most is your devotion and sincerity. Whatever you do with sincerity and
devotion is accepted by God and your ancestors. Focus more on remembering and
paying homage to your ancestors with full devotion rather than indulging in
just formality in conducting Shraadha to your ancestors.
"Hari
Om Tat Sat"
Acharya
Vikas Malhotra
Astrologer, Numerologist and
Spiritual Healer
