Pitru paksha or Shradh paksha falls in the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada month of hindu Amanta calendar (A month system in which month starts from the very next day of the new moon day) during this period souls of deceased ancestors are allowed to visit earth to accept offerings from their family members. It is of 15 days starting from the next day after Purnima tithi i.e. full moon day and it ends on the Amavasya tithi i.e. new moon day which is popularly known as the Sarva Pitru Moksha Amavasya.
As the name suggests sarva means ‘all’, on this day Shradh, Pind Daan and Tarpan rituals can be performed for any or all the deceased ancestors upto three generations who's date (tithi) of death is not known. It is believed that by performing these rituals on this very day helps the ancestors get liberated and attain moksha means ‘salvation’ or at least complete the journey of the soul by promoting them to higher worlds (lokas).
As the name suggests sarva means ‘all’, on this day Shradh, Pind Daan and Tarpan rituals can be performed for any or all the deceased ancestors upto three generations who's date (tithi) of death is not known. It is believed that by performing these rituals on this very day helps the ancestors get liberated and attain moksha means ‘salvation’ or at least complete the journey of the soul by promoting them to higher worlds (lokas).
This year sarva pitru moksha amavasya is falling on Thursday 2 of October 2024. All these rituals are means to provide food and water to the ancestors in higher lokas such as pitru lokas. In Hinduism it is believed that soul travels from one loka to another according to its deeds (karma), in its journey the soul needs food and water in other realms and also it is the duty of their descendants to perform these rituals so as to get rid of the debts (pitra rin) which they owe towards their ancestors and to reduce the ill effects of Pitradosh.
Timings: Best time for doing shradh starts during the commencement of Kutup muhurta which falls between 11:45 am to 12.33 pm depending on the time of sunrise after which the next forty eight minutes constitutes the Rohin muhurta ideally shradh should be completed before it's over. Atleast it should be started during these periods and should be completed before the end of Aparanha kaal i.e. before 15:47 pm.
Black Sesame seeds, Tulsi (Basil) leaves, silver utensils, white aromatic flowers and kheer are considered very very pious in shradh. All the rituals should be done facing towards south direction. Start the proceedings by reciting this mantra thrice and also at the time of completion this mantra should be recited three times.
ॐ देवताभ्यः पितृभ्यश्च महायोगिभ्य एव च।
नमः स्वाहायै स्वधायै नित्यमेव नमो नमः।
Om Devtabhyah Pitrubhyashcha Mahayogibhya ave Ch.
Namah Swaahayai Swadhayai Nityaymeva Namo Namah.
Meaning: Oh lord, great saint, goddess Swaaha, goddess Swadha I salute you again and again.
This mantra should also be chanted during the pind daan with full devotion as it gives enormous amount of satisfaction to pitars.
Generally Parvan shradh vidhi is performed on this tithi in which a rice ball is prepared from cooked rice mixed with black sesame seeds. This rice ball is called as the Pind which is offered to the pitars (ancestors) by their descendants. The size of pinds depends on the type of shradh, in this kind of shradh the pind must be of the size of an Indian gooseberry. If this is not possible then Shradh can be done by inviting people in odd numbers possibly 3 or atleast 1 to accept the food in the name of pitars followed by offering water known as Tarpan. After this one has to donate food clothes or money to needy people as per one's capacity.
Note: The guests who are invited for Shraddha and the person who is performing it must follow celibacy one day before the ritual and on the day on which it is performed.
Note: The guests who are invited for Shraddha and the person who is performing it must follow celibacy one day before the ritual and on the day on which it is performed.
It's a great opportunity to please your pitars by doing charity works on this day in whichever form possible and showing gratitude towards them. Satisfied Pitars always bless their family members with good health, luck and prosperity and mental piece for future generations as well.
