Pitru Paksha is a dark fortnight period in the lunar month of Bhadrapad which is dedicated to deceased ancestors. During this period deceased ancestors or family members are believed to transcend from Pitru Loka and visit their family homes. Just as a duty we serve our parents and relatives, similarly certain duties are also prescribed for them after their death. Shradh, Tarpan, Pind Daan and other rituals related to Pitru paksha makes a great opportunity to fulfill these duties, especially during the Pitru Paksha period. These rites are also important because they help ancestors to get satisfied, gain momentum in their onwards journey to higher regions and provides them relief if they are stuck in inferior regions, cursed or stuck due to unfulfilled desire. ( source Times of India )
Mahalaya or Pitru paksha is a 15 days Lunar period when Hindus perform shradh rituals for their departed ancestors parents and relatives by offering food and performing tarpan or shradh ritual on river banks if possible Food is the main offering .
Our parents leave the world leaving behind the body which is made of five elements. They obtain a watery body and become PITRUS and also become the citizens of the kingdom Vaivasvata Aadi. There they will not be in a position to get the things they need for their very existence. Only under such circumstances they expect the assistance of their children. Yamadharma out of compassion for the PITRU DEVATAS, sends them to earth with an instruction to take food from their children. The period when Yamadharma allows them to this world is called MAHALAYA PAKSHA. Either to cleanse the place where PITRUS lived once or to consume the food offered by the children, PITRUS are sent to this world. The PITRUS fond of getting the six type of food eagerly come down. During the sixteen days the children would perform MAHALAYA SHRADDHA ceremony. The PITRUS feel as if they are part of a festival with their children. That is why this period is called MAHA AALAYAM i.e. Meaning great temple.
Mahalaya Amavasai and most important day and also called the sarva pitru shradh when the Shradh can be performed without looking at thithi or nakshatra
Mahalaya is also the beginning of the the advent of Godess Durga and as a countdown to Durga Pooja . It is believed that the Goddess Durga descends to earth with her family during this period hence most auspicious and pious.
Legend behind Mahalaya
It is believed that after the battle of Mahabharata Karna died and his soul transcended to heaven .
He was offered gold and jewellery as food . Karna was surprised and asked Indra the reason for this strange offering .
Lord Indra told Karna that as he had never offered food to his ancestors during his lifetime on earth he was receiving this treatment .
Karna said that he was not aware of his ancestors and asked to make amends for his actions . and so Indra sent him back to earth to make amends
Karna returned to earth for a 16 day period and this is the Pitru paksha month to perform shradh rituals and offer food to his ancestors .
This period is also called the first day of Devi paksha when the Godess begins her descent to earth and marks the beginning of the festival days ahead .
Mahalaya Amavasya marks the beginning of Navratri festivity, It is a special day dedicated to making an offering to express our gratitude to all the previous generations of people who have contributed to our life.
The Mahalaya Amavasya is the day that marks the culmination of the Pitru Paksha period and the beginning of the Devi Paksha. On this day, Shradh and Tarpan rituals are performed for those who breathed their last on the Purnima Tithi, Chaturdashi Tithi and Amavasya Tithi.
Moreover, it is also considered an ideal day for paying obeisance to all the departed souls in the family. People begin preparations to welcome the Goddess on the day of Mahalaya Amavasya although the Durga Puja celebrations last for days. It is believed that the Goddess arrives with her children, Kartikeya, Ganesha and Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati .
The purpose of the Shraddha ceremony performed during the Pitri Paksha is two fold: i) to offer food and water to the departed souls, ii) to help them get released from the hellish or ghostly realms that they may be stuck in.
It is obligatory for the descendants to perform the Shraddha ceremony, because, it is highly likely that out ancestors may be suffering in some hellish condition of life after departing from their previous body.
when we offer food and water to our ancestors once every year here on earth, for them it is like getting to eat everyday.
. During this period deceased ancestors or family members are believed to transcend from Pitru Loka and visit their family homes. Just as a duty we serve our parents and relatives, similarly certain duties are also prescribed for them after their death. Shradh, Tarpan, Pind Daan and other rituals related to Pitru paksha makes a great opportunity to fulfill these duties, especially during the Pitru Paksha period. These rites are also important because they help ancestors to get satisfied, gain momentum in their onwards journey to higher regions and provides them relief if they are stuck in inferior regions, cursed or stuck due to unfulfilled desire.
But if an ancestor takes rebirth, the Shradh, Tarpan and other rituals do not go in vain but certainly reach them even in their new birth. Because the baggage of previous birth accompanies an individual even in his/her new birth. So, when the rituals are performed for the ancestors who have taken new birth, the fruits of rituals are experienced by them in form of internal satisfaction.
The human life is indebted to 5 loans and it's duty of a grihasth or householder to repay these.
These 5 loans are
Dev rina
Pitru rina
Rishi rina
Vanaspati rina
Pashu rina
Each of the five groups we are indebted have provided us essentially of leading this life happily and even a chance which only few can utilise to attain nirvana. The ancestors gave us this body, gods have made earth favourable through balance of elements, sages have shared their knowledge with us , plants nourish us, and animals are used for dairy, manure, ploughing etc. Thus each has a contribute and deserve back the respect.
Thus the case of ancestral worship arises. We call and Revere our ancestors and express our gratitude.
on the day of AMAVASYA, TARPANA shall be done for two sides of the family (ie) PITRUS from the father’s side and PITRUS from the mother’s side. During the MAHALAYA PAKSHA TARPANA ought to be done to KARUNIKA PITRUS too.
KARUNIKA PITRU DEVATAS
The following are called KARUKINA PITRU DEVATAS:
Younger brother of the father
Elder brother of the father
Elder brother
Younger brother
Sisters
Ones own sons
Aunt (Sisters of father)
Aunt’s son (Amman)
Wife of father’s elder brother
Wife of father’s younger brother
Daughters and sons of father’s brothers
Wife
Father in law
Mother in law
Daughter in law
Wife’s brothers
Guru
Master under whom one serves
Friends
source.Kanchi Mutt
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