Significance of Pitru Paksha
Pitru Paksha literally means fortnight of the ancestors. It is a 16-day span which falls in the second fortnight of the Hindu lunar month Bhadrapada, and starts immediately after the Ganesh Utsav. It spans the time between pratipada (first day of the fortnight) and the no-moon day which is known as Sarvapitri Amavasya (also called Mahalaya Amavasya). There is a tradition among Hindus to pay homage to their ancestors by offering food, and perform their death rites as a part of the Shraddha or Tarpana, during this 16-day span.
Astronomical Importance of Pitru Paksha
Most of the times, the Pitru Paksha coincides with the time during which the Sun moves from the northern to the southern hemisphere and the autumnal equinox occurs within this timespan. As per Hindu belief, the south celestial sphere is consecrated to the ancestors, which is why the southward transition of the Sun marks the start of the time for ancestors, during which certain religious rites are to be performed, as a token of respect and gratitude towards one’s earlier generations.
It is a belief among Hindus that, when the Pitru Paksha starts, the sun enters the zodiac sign Kanya and at this moment the spirits leave the Pitruloka to reside at their descendants’ places for a month until the sun enters the next zodiac sign Tula.
Legends About Pitru Paksha
As per Hindu legend, it is believed that the three preceding generations of one’s ancestors stay in the Pitruloka, which is said to be somewhere between the heaven and Earth, and is ruled by Yama, the god of death. Shraddha rites are to be performed for the three earlier generations, and the individuals performing these rites, pray for the moksha of their ancestors and themselves.
There’s another Hindu legend according to which, when Karna in Mahabharat died, and his soul ascended towards heaven, he was hungry but any food he touched turned into gold. Karma and Surya went to Indra (some versions of this story say that they approached Yama), who told them that Karna donated gold but never gave food to his ancestors in shraddha, for which the Kuru ancestors had cursed him. Karna said that being unaware of his ancestry, he never donated anything in their memory. To correct this mistake, Karna was allowed to return to Earth for 15 days to perform shraddha and donate food and water in his ancestors’ memory, and this timespan came to be called Pitru Paksha.
Pitru Paksha Rituals
It is believed that during the Pitru Paksha, the departed souls return to Earth to accept offerings and prayers from their descendants. The most important rituals to be performed during this time are Tarpan and Shraddha in which food, water and other things are offered to the ancestors, to please their souls. Traditionally, water, sesame seeds and rice are offered to the ancestors while reciting their names and lineage (gotra). These rituals are said to nourish the departed souls, give them peace, and are also intended to seek the ancestors’ blessings for the newer generations. Performing the Shraddha or Tarpan rituals is believed to give the family prosperity, good health and longevity.
- Shraddha includes performing offerings to the ancestors in the form of food, water and Pind daan. It is to be performed by the eldest male member of the family, but can be performed by any other family member as necessary. Brahma Bhojan (hosting a meal for brahmins) is practiced by some people as a part of the Shraddha ritual.
- Tarpan is a ritual in which water and black sesame seeds are offered to the forefathers. It is believed that this ritual ensures that the departed souls get pure water in their afterlife.
- Pinda Daan is the offering of rice balls with ghee and sesame seeds to the ancestors to nourish their souls and ease their journey towards salvation.
- Feeding animals like crows, cows and dogs during Pitru Paksha is considered to be auspicious and beneficial.
- Some individuals fast during the Pitru Paksha as a mark of their respect towards their deceased family members.
- Some people engage in acts of charity during this time, as it is considered that charity in Pitru Paksha can get them blessings and give peace to the departed souls.
- It is believed that reading scriptures like the Gita or chanting mantras during Pitru Paksha is beneficial. During this time, some engage in spiritual practices to honour their ancestors.
Each day of the Pitru Paksha is dedicated to a different generation of the ancestors. It is believed that the rituals should be performed on the days corresponding to the tithi on which they died. The ninth day of Pitru Paksha is for Navami shraddha which is to be performed for women who died after their husbands. The twelfth day is dedicated to ancestors who departed unmarried. The concluding day of Pitru Paksha, is considered important, as it is believed that all the departed souls are present on this day, and are most receptive to the offerings by their descendants. If one had forgotten or hadn’t been able to perform Shraddha for some of his ancestors on a specific tithi (day), they can perform the rites on Sarvapitri Amavasya to propitiate them and seek their blessings.
Things to Avoid During Pitru Paksha
- Since Pitru Paksha is the time to perform rituals for the deceased ancestors, it is believed that any kind of celebrations should be avoided during this fortnight.
- It is not advisable to start any new venture or begin anything new during this time, like moving into a new house, starting a new business or job, or taking up long journeys.
- It is said that big purchases, like buying a new house, a new vehicle, or other valuables should be avoided during Pitru Paksha.
- Many people believe that the consumption of non-vegetarian food should be avoided during this fortnight, as it hampers the sanctity of the rituals to be performed for the ancestors. Some people even refrain from eating onion and garlic during this time. It is said that alcohol consumption and activities like gambling should also be avoided during Pitru Paksha.
- It is said that one should not cut their hair during this time span.
- It is not advisable to visit major temples like the Jyotirlingas during this time.
Spiritual Importance of Pitru Paksha
As per Bhagwat Gita, the soul is unborn and eternal, and the concepts of birth and death do not apply to the soul. Pitru Paksha rites are believed to help liberate the soul from the circle of birth and death, and achieve salvation. Shraddha performed during Pitru Paksha is believed to help provide the ancestors with peace during their afterlife. It is a way to honour and remember the ancestors, seek their blessings and wish for a smooth transition of their soul into afterlife, or pray for their moksha. Swami Sivananda says that the purpose of the rituals during Pitru Paksha is to increase the enjoyment of souls in heaven before they take rebirth, and if they have taken another birth soon after death, the rituals can help reduce their pain and enhance joy in their new life.
As a token of respect towards the forefathers who have left this world, their favourite food is prepared during the Shraddha ritual performed during Pitru Paksha. Two ingredients that are key to the food preparations for shraddha are urad dal and rice. According to Hindu texts, food prepared for Pitru Paksha should be sattvic, and urad dal and rice are sattvic foods that symbolize simplicity and purity. They also depict nourishment of the soul, since they are easy to digest and nutritious. Hence, they are of importance during Pitru Paksha. The food offered to the ancestors is believed to ease their journey towards salvation. It is a tradition to offer pinda prepared from rice, sesame seeds and barley flour to the departed souls, as it is said to satiate their hunger in the other world. The food prepared for shraddha during Pitru Paksha is thus meant for nourishment of the body and spiritual satisfaction of the soul.
Pitru Paksha is the time to deepen one’s spiritual relation with their ancestors, it is the time to pay respect to the deceased family members and pray for their peace and salvation. It is the time to get together as families to remember the ancestors, to engage in acts of giving in their memory, to feel grateful for their presence, seek their blessings and wish well for their departed souls.
Mahalaya Amavasya, the day when Pitru Paksha culminates, is considered as a highly important day to pay respect and express gratitude towards one’s ancestors. Sadhguru says that without the generations that came before us, we would not exist, and they have played a crucial role in who we are today. According to him Mahalaya Amavasya is a day to thank all the generations of ancestors.
At Isha foundation, a special Kalabhairav Shanti is held on Mahalaya Amavasya every year. One can register for the same by providing necessary information about the deceased, as stated on their website. Kalabhairava Shanti includes a ritual called Agni Arpanam in which fire is offered to Devi Linga Bhairvai, as an expression of gratefulness towards the departed ancestors. One can take part in this ritual as a way to thank and honour all their loved ones who have left this world, and have played a major role in shaping their lives. One may register for the same here.
Thus, you can see that Pitru Paksha is an important timespan in the Hindu belief system, and is regarded as the time to pay homage to the deceased members of the earlier generations. The various rituals designated to this fortnight, are ways to thank and please the departed souls and seek their blessings. The dos and dont’s of Pitru Paksha are certain acts like charity and fasting, meant to express gratitude to the ancestors and some actions like purchases, ventures and consumption of tamasic foods are prohibited, with the intent to maintain sanctity during this time span. The purpose of the practices advised during Pitru Paksha, is to create an environment conducive to spiritually communicate with one’s ancestors who have left this world.