The cosmic vibrations ( think of DNA as an example) of PITARS (forefathers) and the direct descendants are most similar. The experience of pain, love and happiness are similar too, and they resonate. Hence, it is the SON who performs Shradh in Pitrapaksh. Because of this similarity, Pitras find it easy to accept the Tarpan (offering).
WHY IS SHRADH Performed?
We live in Bhulok. After death, our Pitra (ancestors) go to Pitralok, a level above Bhulok. But the final destination is BHUVARLOK and beyond. Till death, the soul keeps wandering in various worlds; Pitra Paksha is the occasion to pacify the departed ancestors by performing Shradh.
Shradh is our way of repaying the debts of our Pitras.
As the descendants, we respect our ancestors. We donate in their name and undertake activities that will please them. As per the scriptures, performing Shradh is a part of abiding by Dharma. The pitras are satisfied only after receiving pinḍa and water from their sons or the person who qualifies (as per scriptures) to perform their Shradh.
In Shribhagwatgita, it is said that if Shradh, Pindadan and Tarpan are not performed, the departed soul goes to the Hell region as a consequence of preventing the emancipation of the descendants.
Souls need energy on the onward journey. The food offered in shradh performed as per the tithi ( read day, not date) nourishes that individual’s subtle body for the whole year. So long as there are unfulfilled desires and expectations, the deceased expects food from his descendants on that particular shradh day. By performing Shradh, the desires of the pitras are fulfilled, and they also get energy for their onward journey.
If the deceased individual wishes of someone performing Shradh are not fulfilled by the expected descendant, the dead person’s soul becomes unhappy. It may lead to the dead person’s soul becoming a Pishach (A type of spirit) and taking revenge on its relatives for not performing the Shradh rites. The deceased soul may manifest in its relative and start speaking.
In Bhramapuran, it is said that; ‘He who performs the Shradh rites diligently and as per his financial status, satisfies everyone right from Lord Brahma to the insignificant blade of grass. No one in the family of the individual performing the Shradh remains unhappy’. Hence, Shradh rituals are performed.
In a nutshell, Shradh rites help pitras in the Pitrulok (Region of the pitrars) gain momentum for their onward journey. Pitra, stuck in the inferior region due to unsatisfied wishes and desires, gain momentum to their onward journey. Some PITAR, due to their Karma, do not go to Pitrulok; they enter the ghost area. To relieve them, Shradh is performed.
WHEN IS SHRADH PERFORMED?
Shradh Paksha ( also called Pitri Pokho, Sola Shradha, Kanagat, Apara Paksha or Jitiya ) is 16 day period in the lunar period of Bhadrapada. It follows Anant CXhaturdasi- the day of Ganesh Vusharjan.
Shradh is performed yearly on the tithi of a person’s death and not on the date per the English calendar. If the tithi is not known and only the month is known, then the Shradh can be performed on the Amavasya of that month. If we don’t know the tithi and the month of death, Shradh can be performed on Amavasya of Magha or Margashirsha month.
Shradh for the pitras should preferably be performed every day. It can be performed simply through Tarpan. But nowadays, due to the changed lifestyle, Pitra Shradh is performed in the Pitra Paksha.
WHAT ARE THE TITHI ON WHICH SHRADH CAN BE PERFORMED?
Pitra Shradh is performed during PITRA PAKSHA. Some other tithi (read the time- and not the date) are also considered appropriate for performing Shradh. These are
- Amavasya
- 12 Sankranti that in a year
- Solar-lunar eclipses
- Yugadi tithi – Tithis of commencement of Era – also referred to the first day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Chaitra- when UGADI is also celebrated.
- Manvadi tithi. As per the Vedic astrology. One Kalpa is the time since history evolved and equals 4.32 billion solar years. This Kalpa is segmented into 14 Manvantara. Each Manvantara has an associated Manvadi Tithi.
- Ardhodayadiparva
- Date of death
- Arrival of shrotriya Brahmans; A Brahman versed in the study of the Vedas.
SIGNIFICANT TITHI.
- Pratipada Shradh (the 1st day of Shradh Paksha) is considered suitable to perform Shradh for maternal grandfather and grandmother (Nana-Nani).
- The Chautha Bharani (4th) and the Bharani Panchmi (5th) is for people who died in the previous year.
- Panchami Shradh (5th)is also for family members who died unmarried.
- Avidha Navami (9th) is suitable to perform Shradh for married woman who died before her husbands and Shradh of one’s Mother (also referred as Matrinavami).
- Dwadashi Shradh (12th) is for people who had taken renunciation before death.
- Trayodashi Shradh (13th) is for dead children.
- Ghata Chaturdashi (14th) is for people who died a sudden and violent death.
- The Mahalaya or Sarvpitri Amavasya is for all the ancestors and forefathers.
WHAT IS THE STORY OF ORIGIN OF SHARDH?
As per Hindu sacred texts, Rishi Atri ( one of the 10 sons of Lord Brahma) was the first one to decipher the rituals of Shradha as told by Lord Brahma to his son Nimi Rishi.
Nimi Rishi, guided by Narad Muni, started invoking his ancestors who appeared and told, “Nimi, your son has already taken place amongst Pitra Devas. Since you have performed the act of feeding and worshipping the soul of your departed son, it is same as if you had performed Pitri Yajna”. Since that time the Shradh is accounted as an important ritual of the Sanatan Dharma.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF PERFORMING SHRADH?
आयुः पुत्रान् आयुः पुत्रान् यशः स्वर्गं कीर्तिं पुष्टिं बलं श्रियम् ।
पशुन् सौख्यं धनं धान्यं प्राप्नुयात् पितृपूजनात् ।।
Garuḍpuraṇ, Ansha 2, Adhyaya 10, Shloka 57
The benefits of performing Shradh are a Long life, a male child, success, heaven, fame, nourishment, strength, riches, animals, happiness and wealth. Performing Shradh during the eclipse gives fruits equivalent of donating the earth.
One of the debts people have is PITRA-RIN, an obligation towards the creator- Brahma. Pitra Rin is only paid off by offering Pindadan, performing Shraddh and Tarpan for the ancestors.
The other two are DEV-RIN- obligation towards Vishnu and RISHI-RIN towards Lord Shiva. It is suggested that man should aspire to clear himself of these Rin, or life remains unfulfilled and wasted.
WHO ARE THE PRESIDING DEITIES OF SHRADDHA?
Vishvedevs (a group of Deities representing the Deities during a sacrificial fire’), namely Pururav-Aardrav and Dhurilochan ( Dhuri-smoke Lochan -eyes), are deities of ancestors’ souls. They are invoked to preside during Shradh.
The other Deity associated with shradh are Vasu, Rudra and Aditya. The person for whom the ritual of Shradha is performed is considered a follower of Vasu. His parents are regarded as followers of Rudra. And his grandparents’ followers of Aditya. Therefore, during Shradha, the names of father, grandfather and great-grandfather (or mother, grandmother and great-grandmother) are pronounced as representatives of Vasu-Rudra-Aditya respectively. Vasu-Rudra-Aditya also represents DESIRE-DISSOLUTION and ACTION.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SHRADH?
12 kinds of Shradh are Nitya, Neimitik, Kaamya, Vriddhi, Sapindan, Paarvann, Goshtth, Shurdhyarth, Karmaang, Deivik, Oupcharik and Saanvatsarik Shradh. There are more than 96 types of Shradh, but this article only focuses on Pitra and Parental shradh.
WHO SHOULD PERFORM SHRADH?
Son is typically expected to perform Shradh. Shradh should ideally be performed by the person for parents and ancestors. But, as we do not know the ritual– we outsource it to the Brahman.
For whom can Shradh be performed?
An individual can perform Shraddh for the father, grandfather, great paternal grandfather, mother, grandmother, great maternal grandmother, stepmother, mother’s father, grandfather and great maternal grandmother, wife, son, maternal uncle, brother, father’s sisters, mother’s sisters, sisters, father-in-law, daughters, guru, paternal cousins and disciple.
WHAT IS THERE IS NO SON TO PERFORM SHRADH?
Hindu rituals have dictated a line of order for deciding who performs the shradh. Hence, Shradh is possible for all Pitra. The Holy text Dharmasindhu says that after considering every likely candidate, if we do not find anyone to perform shradh, then the King should perform Shradh.
Here is the order of the person eligible to perform shradh.
- Son (including one whose thread ceremony has not been done)
- Daughter
- Grandson
- Great-grandson
- Wife
- Daughter’s son (if he is one of the heirs to the property)
- Real brother
- Nephew
- Cousin’s son
- Father
- Mother
- Daughter-in-law
- Children of elder and younger sisters
- Maternal uncle
- Sapinda individual (anyone from seven generations and belonging to the same family lineage)
- Samanodak individual (anyone after the seven generations and belonging to the same gotra (The same family domain)
- Disciple
- Upadhyay (Brahmans)
- Friend
- Son-in-law of the deceased individual
WHO PERFORMS PITRA SHRADH IN A JOINT FAMILY?
The head of the family, the eldest in the family or Karta; one who shoulders the responsibility of caring for everyone, should perform all the Shradh.
CAN / SHOULD WOMEN PERFORM SHRADH?
Yes, women can perform Shradh. If you look at the order of people to do Shradh, women are part of it. In earlier times, even women used to have their thread ceremony and were eligible to perform Shradh. Now, as thread ceremony is not done for the women. Brahman refuses to be part of Shradh, where the person doing Tarpan is a woman. However, if there is no one to perform Shradh. in that case, it is considered better and appropriate that Shradh is performed by a woman than not performing it at all.
STORY BEHIND FEEDING BRAHMINS DURING SHRADH.
Kunti Putra Karna of Mahabharat fame donated a lot of wealth as a charity to the poor and needy during his lifetime, but he never offered food to them. After his death, when Karna went to heaven, he was offered all the luxurious and materialistic pleasures but not food. Karna understood the cause and requested Yamraja to send him back to earth for 15 days to donate food to Brahmins and the needy. Yamaraja accepted his request and sent him to earth for a fortnight. When Karna returned, he was greeted with abundant food. It signifies Brahmin bhoj, and feeding poor people is an effective ritual to gain fulfilment in the afterlife.
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF COW, CROW, DOG AND THE ANT IN SHRADH?
When food is cooked in Shradh, we take out five portions. One for Cow representing Earth, Dog representing water, Crow representing ether and Ant representing fire. The fifth portion is for Devtas, representing the sky. In this way, we pay respect to all the five elements of life.
It is also said that PITRA comes in the form of animals to consume Shrad Bhog; hence, it is served to them.
The third reason. COW represent all the five elements and helps the soul cross the mythical Akashganga. Crow is the messenger and the Dog- an associate of Lord Yamaraj and gives company to the deceased soul.
WHAT PART OF THE DAY IS BEST FOR SHRADH?
If the day ( sunrise to sunset) is divided into 5 parts, the fourth part is called the ‘aparanha‘ period. This period is most appropriate for performing Shradh. If the day is divided into two parts, it is the second part until sunset. You may call it Afternoon.
WHEN SHOULD SHRADH NOT BE PERFORMED?
Generally, Shradh should not be performed during the transition period from one prahar (one-eighth of a day) to another. And it should not be performed in the evening or at night and at a time close to these times.
WHY SHOULD ONE CHANT THE NAME OF THE DEITY DATTATREYA DURING PITRUPAKSHA?
Chanting of ‘Shri Gurudev Datta’ during the Pitrupaksha is a tradition. It is supposed to help the pitras gain momentum for their onward journey. At the other time, this chanting provides protection from distress caused by the pitras, and they gain momentum for their onward journey.
God Dattatreya is the incarnation of the Divine Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. The word Datta means “Given”, as the divine trinity have “given” themselves in the form of a son to the sage couple Guru Atri and Mata Anusuya. He is the son of Guru Atri, hence the name “Atreya.”
WHERE SHOULD SHRADH BE PERFORMED?
There are many locations considered appropriate for Shradh Performance.
- The ground floor of the performer’s house. It is said that when Shradh is performed in the performer’s home, it gives eight times the merit as compared to performing at a Holy place.
- Holy place
- A place smeared with cow dung, A place without insects, animals and inauspicious objects.
- Places not owned by anyone. Forests, mountains, banks of rivers or lakes, places of pilgrimage and temples.
- Land with the slope in the southern direction.
WHY IS SHRADH AT GAYA CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT?
When pinda is offered on the pretashila (Shila=stone) at Gaya, the corpse state is destroyed, and the soul goes to Pitrulok.
WHY SHRADH IS DONE AT HOLY PLACES?
It is said that when Shradh is done at specific holy places, the departed soul obtains an eternal position. These holy places ( in addition to the above) are
- House of the Shradh performer.
- Banks of Holy rivers. Ganga, Saraswati, Yamuna, Payoshni ( an ancient river mentioned in the epic Mahābhārata. Pandavas had visited this place as part of their pilgrimage. It lies in Vidarbha.
- Seashore
- Places of pilgrimage. Prabhastirth ( Near Somnath Mahadev), Pushkartirth ( Pushkar), Prayag ( Allahabad), Kashi ( Varanasi), Gaya, Matrugaya ( Near Sidhpur Gujarat), Kurukshetra and Gangadwar (38 km from Nasik. It is the place where the Godavari River makes its first appearance on the Brahmagiri hill.
- Forests such as the Naimishkshetra. 32 km from Sitapur and 42 km from the Sandila railway station, 45 miles north of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Dharmaranya near Gaya, Dhenukaranya (meaning area of darkness) is mentioned in Mahabharata; it refers to the forest in Chattisgarh. It includes Balaghat ( MP), Abhujhmar hills and Bastar ( Chattisgarh) Bhandara, Gondia, and Gadchiroli in Maharashtra are part of Dandakaranya.
- Near the lakes of Brahmasarovar; an ancient water pool sacred to Hinduism in old Kurukshetra city- Thanesar, Mahasarovar or Mansarovar, Pushkar Sarovar, Bindu and Narayan Sarovar in Gujarat, Pampa Sarovar in Karnataka.
- Akshayyavat, the “indestructible Banyan tree”, is a holy tree located near the Patalpuri Temple at the Allahabad fort. There is a Bodh Tree in Gaya, and one is Varanasi which is also considered as Akshayyavat.
- Mahakshetra like Krukshetra
- In a garden with tulsi (Holy basil plant) and amla trees.
WHERE SHRADH SHOULD NOT BE PERFORMED?
Shradh should not be performed in a cowshed, an elephant shed, a horse stable, on a stone seat or in a water bed. If performed at such places, the pitras destroy the Shradh rites.
What is the significance of Black Seesum Seeds in Pind Daan and Shradh?
Black sesame seeds absorb negative energies both from the external environment and the body’s internal system. Thus, Sesame seeds, in a way, help to purify the surroundings.
OTHER ASSOCIATED WITH SHRADH PERIOD?
Typically, Hindu families do not take non-vegetarian food during Shradh.
Food is offered to Brahmins after the Pitri Puja, who partake it in silence while remembering the deceased.
Food or Prasad is served to the poor and needy people.
A small portion of the prepared meal for cows, dogs, crows, and ants, separately.
SOME DO’S AND DON’TS WHILE PERFORMING OR IN SHRADH PERIOD.
- Use Only Cow Milk, Curd or Ghee for the Pooja and Food Preparations.
- Use sesame in preparation and Tarpan, protect against evil forces and brings good luck and good fortune.
- Serve kheer; is an indispensable part of every Hindu ritual.
- The use of silverware in Shradh rituals is preferred. Silver is believed to eradicate evil forces. Do not use Utensils made of bronze and copper in Shradh as they are considered auspicious.
- it is considered auspicious to use barley, Kaangani (a type of millet), peas and mustard in the Shradh pooja.
- Avoid rotten foods – fruits and non-veg during Shradh.
- Do not milk a cow who has recently given birth to a calf.
- Avoid eating rice, non-veg, garlic, onion and outside food. Eat only homemade satvik food. Avoid cooking or eating brinjal as well.
- Don’t use masoor, kali urad, chana, black jeera, black salt, black mustard and any impure or stale food product in Shradh food.
- The person performing Shradh rituals should not cut his nails, shave or get a haircut. Avoid using leather-made products like belts, wallets or footwear while performing Shradh rituals and don’t wear slippers in the house.
- Do not chew tobacco, smoke cigarettes, or consume alcohol.
- Avoid physical relations. Be on celibacy mode.
- Avoid using black or red flowers and extremely scented or odourless flowers for Shradh pooja and rituals.
- Don’t buy or wear new clothes, enter a new house, buy new materialistic things, or start a new business/venture during the Shradh period.
- Don’t wash clothes on Shradh day.
WHAT IS TARPAN, AND HOW IS IT DONE?
It is said that one should do Pitra Tarpan every day. ‘Trup’ in Sanskrit means ‘to satisfy. Offering water to Deities, Sages, pitras and human beings and satisfying them through it, is called Tarpan.
Shraddhanga (performed during shraddha) is one of the Tarpans. It is done by sending water flowing from the palm of the right hand with the thumb pointing downwards. When Tarpan is done for deities, the pam is open and angled to the top straight. That the water flows from palm to fingers ad out. When Tarpan is done for sages – the thumb I s upside and the water goes from the pam ( not fingers) on the other side of the thumb.
Pitara Tarpan is preferably done facing south. Darbha is necessary for performing Tarpan. Tarpan for pitra is performed from the root and tip of two darbhas. Three Anjali’s Tarpan is done for pitras. In the case of matrutrayi (Mother, grandmother and great-grandmother), offer three anjalis and for other ladies, offer Tarpan of one Anjali. Two for sages and one for deities.
A Jivatpitruk ( a person whose father is alive) is not allowed to perform Pitrutarpan but can do Tarpan for grandfather and ancestors.
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During Pitru Paksha, pray earnestly to God and your ancestors to cleanse your past karmas and bring happiness and prosperity to your life.
“Shri Gurudev Datta”
Shri is a symbol of prosperity and auspiciousness. Gurudev.
“Digambara Digambara Shrīpad Vallabh Digambara”
The Lord has venerated feet and is adorned with the dress of the universe. He roams everywhere with ultimate grace and brilliance, blessing the world with happiness and prosperity.
“Hari Om Tat Sat Jai Guru Datta”
I perceive Lord Dattatreya as the supreme reality and the master of the whole universe.
DATTATREYA MANTRAS are considered powerful for removing or decreasing the effect of PitraDosha.
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#IgnorantHindu is a project of collation of information on Indian festivals and God, episodes and incidents- and to share the same. Some of the festivals and episodes covered are Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Antim Sanskar, Yama- the lord of death, Baishakhi and Bihu, Holi, Makar Sankranti, Assthmangal Prasanam- the way of predicting future, Rahu-Ketu– the shadow planets, the 12 houses of horoscope, Maa Narmada Parikrama, Mahashivratri, Bhai Dooj, Navratri, Diwali, Dhanteras, Karva Chauth, Dussehra or Vijyadashmi, Ram Navami, Adhik Mass– the Hindu leap year and Shradh And Pitra Shrad.
DISCLAIMER
This collation of information does not guarantee factual correctness. It is a collation from different sources. The author is not an expert on the subject. This is part of the #IgnorantHindu series of articles and blogs- where the author has tried to place basic information for public consumption.
Blog/67/2020/#IgnorantHindu/05/Updated 2023
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