Pitru Paksha Importance and Rituals - Shradh 2018 Start Date
By: Future Point | 07-Sep-2018
Views : 3771Pitru Paksha is that time in the HIndu calendar when the Hindus pay their respect to their ancestors. They simultaneously offer their gratitude to their gods so that the gods and ancestors will bless their living relatives and their souls rest in peace.
Hindus are of the belief drawing inspiration from the Srimadbhagvat Gita that soul has no destruction and it is not dead neither reborn. There is nothing in the world that can spell ruin on the soul and it recycles through bodies thereby ensuring the immortality. The soul however has a purpose that is liberation and salvation. When we are performing Sradh of a deceased person it means that we are helping the soul to depart and dissolve into the creator. There is Tarpan that is performed during the Sradh which means paying homage to the ancestors. In the Pitru paksha, food is offered and surprisingly this ritual is deemed inauspicious among the Hindus. When the Sradhha or Tarpan is performed, the rice that is offered is called death rice and the paksha falls in the 2nd paksha of Hindu When the Sradhha or Tarpan is performed, the rice that is offered is called death rice and the paksha falls in the 2nd paksha of Hindu lunar month in Bhadrapada or September which comes at the heels of Ganesh Festival.
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The history and origin of Pitrupaksha:
It is widely believed in Hinduism that the souls of the three preceding ancestors hover in the pitru-loka and as soon as the next generation dies, the soul of the previous generation sets sail for heaven and becomes one with god, so sradhha offerings are given. The three generations that stay in the pitru-loka are the contenders of Sradhh. hindu epics have it, in the beginning of Pitru Paksha, The Sun enters the zodiac sign of Libra In this time the spirits leave pitru-loka and reside in their descendant's home for a month until the Sun enters the next zodiac-which is Scorpio or Vrishchika. During the dark fortnight, Hindus offer rice and water to appease the ancestors in the first half.
Read: What is Shradh & How one should proceed during this period?
What is the history behind Pitru Paksha?
The name of the legendary donor Karna is not alien to us. When he breathed his last in the epic Mahabharata war, his soul departed to heaven and he was offered gold and jewels as food. This prompted Karna to walk up to god Indra to ask for real food as he was hungry, to which Indra replied that he has donated gold all his life but he never offered food to his ancestors. To turn back the situation, Karna was permitted to go back to Earth for a 15 day period so that he could donate food as he was hungry, to which Indra replied that he has donated gold all his life but he never offered food to his ancestors. To turn back the situation, Karna was permitted to go back to Earth for a 15 day period so that he could donate food and water to their memory which eases his own stay in the heaven. Ever since then, this period was known to the people as Pitru Paksha.
Why Pitru Paksha is a compulsion among the Hindus?
This is regarded as the highest compulsion among the Hindus that the soul of the ancestors go to heaven. As per the ancient scripture Gaduda Purana, 'There is no salvation of a man without a son' which is why Indian households wait for a son with bated breath. The scripture suggests that the man of the house should appease the ancestors or Pitri in line with the Gods or devas and ghosts or bhutas and guests.
Read: Sarvapitru Amavasya Shradh - 8th October 2018
The September Ritual Calendar of the Hindus:
| 24th September |
Monday |
Purnima Sradh |
| 25th September |
Tuesday |
Pratipada Sradh |
| 26th September |
Wenesday |
Dwitiya Sradh |
| 27th September |
Thursday |
Tritiya Sradh |
| 28th September |
Friday |
Chaturthi Sradh |
| 29th September |
Saturday |
Panchami Sradh |
| 30th September |
Sunday |
Sashthi Sradh |
| 1st October |
Monday |
Saptami Sradh |
| 2nd October |
Tuesday |
Ashtami Sradh |
| 3rd October |
Wednesday |
Navami Sradh |
| 4th October |
Thursday |
Dashami Sradh |
| 5th October |
Friday |
Ekadashi Sradh |
| 6th October |
Saturday |
Dwadashi Sradh |
| 7th October |
Sunday |
Chaturdashi Sradh |
| 8th October |
Monday |
Sarva Pitru Amavasya |
Pitru Paksha Dosha:
You are likely to face many miseries in life because of Pitru dosha. This starts from affecting your birthchart itself because you didn't know how to pacify your ancestors. When you are afflicted with Pitru dosha, you are likely to face unnecessary clashes in your house, problems related to your offspring, and all these miseries are called 'Pitru dosha' jointly. You will be engulfed by deep sorrows if you are in the receiving end of this dosha and there is only tarpan that can liquidate the malefcic effects of this dosha.
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