Pitrupaksh

ll Sree Gurudev Datta ll
Ritual of Shraddh

Pitrupaksh, the 14 days of the year which fall in the Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapad, beginning with the first day of Krishnapaksh till the day of Amavasya the new moon day are the days to pay our debts to our ancestors. This year Pitrupaksh is from 5-18th September.

• What is the importance of the ritual of Shraddha?
• When should the Shraddha be performed?
• Why should every son perform the ritual of Shraddha?
• When can females perform Shraddha?
• What is the method of performing Tarpan and Pitru tarpan?

For all these answers visit

http://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/knowledge/category/shraddha

Watch a series of videos on how to perform Shraddha at:

http://www.hindujagruti.org/videos/index.php?id=7

Alongside the rituals, it is necessary for all descendents to chant 'Sree Gurudev Datta' for the appeasement of their ancestors and speeding up their journey onward for a better afterlife for them, during this period.
Benefit of chanting Lord Dattatreya's Name

A. The ancestors get speed in their journey to the next region and this makes the atmosphere in the house pleasant.

B. An embodied soul gets energy from Lord Shiv also.

Here are answers to some of the questions:

1. How does an embodied soul get entangled in its desires after death?
   After death a Jiva, that is, the subtle body constantly makes efforts for fulfilling its desires. Sometimes it enters another body forcibly. Due to desires a Jiva goes to various subtle regions (lokas) as per his actions.
2. When should the Shraddha be performed?
   Normally, no moon night, 12 sankrants in a year, solar-lunar eclipses, Yugadhi and Manvadi dates, Ardhodayadi parva, date of death, arrival of Shrotriya priests (Brahmins) etc dates are considered appropriate for performing shraddha
3. When can females perform Shraddha?
   ‘Ideally, the host should perform the ritual of Shraddha by himself. However, since we do not know how to perform it, we get it done through the priest (Brahmin).
4. What is the method of performing Tarpan and Pitru tarpan?
   On the day of Shraddha, sesame seeds should be sprinkled all over the house, sesame seeds mixed in water should be given to the invited priests (Brahmins) and sesame seeds should be donated.
5. What are the presiding deities and results of Shraddha?
   Matsya Puran mentions 'नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं त्रिविध श्राद्ध मुख्यते ।', meaning, primarily there are three types of Shraddha - one performed daily, periodically and with purpose (Kamya).
6. What are the presiding deities and results of Shraddha?
   Matsya Puran mentions 'नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं त्रिविध श्राद्ध मुख्यते ।', meaning, primarily there are three types of Shraddha - one performed daily, periodically and with purpose (Kamya).
7. What are three historically established phases of Shraddha?
   During the era of Rugveda, deceased ancestors were worshipped by offering Samidha (a kind of wooden stick) and Pinda (a rice bowl) to the sacrificial fire
8. What is the importance of the ritual of Shraddha?
   The ritual of Shraddha not only repays debts towards deceased ancestors, but also makes it easy to repay debts towards God and Sages.

Sent by -

Nandakumar Hattiangadi

Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

P. S. :- This piece of information was sent to members of Google Groups "Shri Chitrapur Saraswats" group on date 7th September, 2009.

Even though it doesn't give clear enough idea of Mhaal Mahina / Pitrupaksh, we all can research further on and add to discussion