Contents

1. Importance of doing the shraddha ritual ardently

2. Options for the shraddha ritual
3. How is the benefit of the shraddha acquired merely by praying ?
4. Spiritual experiences about shraddha
5. Importance of chanting Sri Gurudeva Datta

Lord Dattatreya
1. Importance of doing the shraddha ritual ardently
During the shraddha rites and the meal, one should not entertain anger and meaningless
thoughts. The vibrations generated due to the meaningless thoughts adversely affect the
Vishvedev and the deceased ancestors (Pitars) coming to that place. That is why one should
completely avoid the meaningless thoughts and the meaningless conversation with others while
performing the ritual.
Spiritual experience Experiencing the smell of Puranpoli, an Indian sweet delicacy, for
five minutes; the next day a friend saying that, I wanted to give you Puranpoli and then
having the realisation of his subtle-body getting the Puranpoli due to the intense desire of
his friend: One day I got the smell of Puranpoli. Then I started getting hiccups. I felt that My
friend is remembering me. The next day my friend said, We had made Puranpoli last night and
I really wanted you to have it. My subtle-body (ling-deha) had got the Puranpoli due to his
intense desire.

This spiritual experience confirms that the holy sacrament (naivedya) offered ardently to Deities
and the Pitars reaches them. Through this spiritual experience we understand that the Pitars are
satiated by performing shraddha ardently.

2. Options for the shraddha ritual

If brahmins are not available for performing the shraddha ritual of ones mother, then
one can invite married women and perform the shraddha.
If two brahmins are not available then seat the brahmin on the seat for Pitars
(Pitrusthan), place an idol of Shaligram or baby Krushna on the seat of the Deity
(Devasthan) and make a resolve to perform the shraddha.
If due to some reason one is unable to perform shraddha, then he can get the shraddha
performed through his son, disciple or a brahmin.
Invite a brahmin, after he has washed his hands and feet, offer him a seat and after
worship with five substances offer him a meal.
In case of unavailability of money and brahmin, do a shraddha with sacrificial fire
(Homa-shraddha).

The Scriptures have also delineated what a person should do who is incapable of doing any of
the above stated options. They are as follows:

Give a pitcher filled with water to a brahmin.

Give some food to a brahmin.
Give sesame seeds to a brahmin.
Give some money to a brahmin.
Give food grains as per capacity to a brahmin.
Feed grass to a cow.
Forgoing rituals etc. merely do pinda-dan.
After bathing release water containing sesame seeds (Pitru-tarpan).
Observe a fast on the tithi of the shraddha.
On the day of the shraddha, recite the shraddha ritual.

If even this is not possible, then go to a forest and exposing your armpits by putting both the
hands up, wave a blade of grass towards the Deities of the regions (Lokapal) like Sun etc. and
pray, I do not possess anything useful for shraddha like wealth etc. I pay obeisance to all my
Pitars. Let all my Pitars be appeased with my devotion. I am helpless.
Alternatively, go to a secluded forest and pray in a loud voice raising your hands, I am penniless
and without food. Liberate me from the debt of my Pitars. If even this is not possible, then
lament facing the south direction.
This shows how inevitable it is for everyone to perform shraddha.

3. How is the benefit of the shraddha acquired merely by

praying ?

By praying with spiritual emotion the Pitars, inferior Deities and other Deities are appeased and
attracted towards the person who prays. Together with their blessings the person also acquires
the benefit of the shraddha. Invoking the Deities by raising hands and praying to the Pitars is a
symbol of the devotees spiritual emotion (Bhav) of helplessness.

4. Spiritual experiences about shraddha

The pindas prepared for the shraddha of my father were appearing very radiant. After the
brahman-bhojana was concluded, I felt that my deceased father and other deceased ancestors
(Pitars) were satiated. Mr. Nitin Sahakari, Goa
At the time of the shraddha of my father-in-law, I experienced the existence of only my fatherin-law, his father and his grandfather. A light yellow colour was visible around the three pindas.
I felt the three were satiated and were bestowing blessings. Mrs. Shruti Nitin Sahakari.
In Hindu Dharma, at the time of shraddha of the father, pinda is offered in the name of the
grandfather and the great grandfather also. This seeker had the practical spiritual experience of
the theoretical part explained by Hindu Dharma.
One can understand from this type of spiritual experiences whether the Pitars have been satisfied
or not. Contrary to this, when they are not satisfied with the shraddha, their subtle bodies keep
wandering in the atmosphere. Then various distresses are felt at the place associated with the
Pitars like heaviness of head, giddiness, reduction of vital energy etc.

5. Importance of chanting Sri Gurudeva Datta

Due to the unsatisfied Pitars there is a risk of distresses like not getting married, financial
difficulties, seeing cobra or Pitars in a dream or in waking state. For overcoming such distress, it
is important to chant the Name of Lord Dattatreya along with the ritual of shraddha.
Spiritual experience By chanting Sri Gurudev Datta in Pitrupaksha, the dairy on the
verge of closure being revived: My husband was working in a dairy for many years. For the last
few months the dairy was on the verge of closure. I began to chant Sri Gurudeva Datta during
Pitrupaksha. Thereafter, suddenly the supply of milk increased manifold in the dairy. Before this
incident, people had said that the dairy would be closed; but by the Grace of Lord Dattatreya this
danger was avoided. Mrs. Rajashri Mahadeva Vandare, Miraj, Maharashtra
Deity Dattatreya is the Principle created from the combination of the Principles of the three main
Deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. One of His functions is to give momentum to the journey
of our deceased ancestors (Pitars) to the next region. Hence, once should chant Sri Gurudeva
Datta.
Benefit of chanting Sri Gurudeva Datta:

The Pitars getting momentum in their onward journey and reduction in the distress due to
them: Many desires of the person attached to materialistic life remain unfulfilled after
death. Such unsatisfied subtle bodies get trapped in the region of the dead (Mrutyuloka).
Such subtle bodies cannot go to the next region because of their unfulfilled desires. By
chanting Sri Gurudeva Datta Pitars trapped in the Mrutyuloka gain momentum.
Creation of a protective sheath: By chanting Sri Gurudeva Datta a protective sheath is
created around the body of the person. Keeping in mind this benefit of chanting Sri
Gurudeva Datta, one should do maximum chanting during Pitrupaksha. To avoid the
risks of future distress due to unsatisfied Pitars and as spiritual healing for mild distress,
chant for one to two hours daily. If the distress is medium, chant for two to four hours
daily and if it is severe chant for four to six hours daily.

Similarly to perform the shraddha with Bhav:

Put up the Name-strips of Sri Gurudeva Datta in the room where shraddha ritual is
done.
Play the audio of the chant Sri Gurudeva Datta in low volume.
Before the shraddha, worship the sattvik picture of Lord Dattatreya and offer arati.

With these actions the obstacles of the negative energies in the ritual of shraddha are removed.
The Energy and Chaitanya of Lord Dattatreya is emitted in the venue of the shraddha and the
family gets its benefit.
Filed under: Hindu Rituals of Shraddha | Leave a comment

Brahman Bhojan, Agnoukaran & Pindapujan Ritual

Posted on September 16, 2010 by ariseohindu

Contents

1. Preparation for serving the meal at the time of shraddha

2. Ritual of Agnoukaran in the Mahalaya shraddha
3. Serving meal to the brahmins in the Mahalaya shraddha
4. How are the pitars in various forms of existence satisfied by the food offered in the
ritual of the shraddha ?
5. If a person (Jiva) is already reborn, what is the use of taking his name?
6. The Pindapujan of Mahalaya Shraddha
7. Options available if one is unable to perform the ritual

1. Preparation for serving the meal at the time of shraddha

The brahmin invited for the place of the deceased ancestors (pitars) in the ritual is seated facing
the north. He is called the pitar-brahman. The brahmin invited for the place of Deity in the ritual
is seated facing the east. He is called dev-brahman. A small square is marked with water on the

ground in front of the Dev-brahman from the northwest to the northeast and the banana leaf is
placed on it to offer the meal to him. A circle is marked on the ground with water in front of the
pitar-brahman in the same way. Thereafter the meal is served on leaves to the Family Deity,
Deities worshipped traditionally in the house, cow, for pindbhojan etc. A sheath of Holy ash
(bhasma) is drawn around the leaf to prevent negative energies from creating obstacles in the
meal.
The three main aspects of the ritual of shraddha are:

Offering oblation in the fire (Agnoukaran). In the Rugved period, pitrupuja was
performed by offering the pinda as oblation in the sacrificial fire.
Offering meal to the brahmins (Brahman-bhojan)
Pindpujan, that is, offering the pinda.

2. Ritual of Agnoukaran in the Mahalaya shraddha

In agnoukaran ritual, ghee is first smeared on the leaves to purify them. The person performing
shraddha sits in front of the pitar-brahman, places cooked rice on a small leaf, and puts ghee on
it. This heap of rice is parted in two with the help of a darbha. Fire in the form of darbha is
installed on the hand. After making two parts of the rice, the person performing shraddha picks
up some rice from the center of the rice on the north side in his right hand. He smears it with
ghee by his left hand and places it in the hand of the pitar-brahman. This action means, oblation
to pitars in the form of Soma, that is, Deity and to fire.
A rule laid down by the Vedas is, The entire world is in the form of fire (Agni) and Soma. In the
agnoukaran ritual, by offering oblation of rice in the form of Soma Principle in the fire which is
in the form of darbha, the pitars get the essence of food.

3. Serving meal to the brahmins in the Mahalaya shraddha

For this meal, food items are served on a banana leaf in a specific manner. The person
performing the shraddha sits in front of the Dev-brahman by placing his folded right knee on the
ground and offers the leaf to Vishvedev. Then by holding the right hand of the Dev-brahman,
meal is offered to Vishvedev. A prayer is made, Let this food be partaken and also, Let the
fruit of offering food close to Vishnupad at Gaya ji be acquired.
In the ritual of shraddha, reference to Gaya ji appears many times. The place, Gaya ji is charged
with subtle, inferior desire vibrations. Hence, shraddha performed there is more fruitful.

The banana leaf is offered to the pitars by placing the bent left knee on the ground in
front of the pitar-brahman.
The food is offered by holding the hand of the pitar-brahman in a reverse manner.
Now the person performing the shraddha says, I have offered you the meal considering
you in place of my pitars of this particular lineage (gotra). Please partake it. Let me
acquire the fruit similar to food offered at Gaya.

Now both the brahmans offer pranahuti.

Shlokas should be recited during the meal of brahmans (brahman bhojan).
After the meal is over, the person performing the shraddha stands up and asks, Are you
satiated?
Brahmans express their agreement. The person performing the shraddha asks, What
should be done with the remaining food? Brahmins say, Let the family members have it
as Holy sacrament (prasad).

The Moon channel gets activated by sitting with the right knee on the ground. Hence, the person
performing the shraddha can easily receive the frequencies of Deities. The Sun channel gets
activated by sitting with the left knee on the ground. Sun channel is associated with raja guna. It
becomes easier to invoke the pitars with the help of this raja guna. In a way, brahman bhojan is
an oblation given in the fire present in the stomachs of the pitars and Deities.

4. How are the pitars in various forms of existence satisfied

by the food offered in the ritual of the shraddha ?
For the nourishment of the physical body, gross food is necessary. Deceased ancestors do not
have the sheath of the physical body (annamaya-kosh) but have the mental sheath (manomayakosh) containing desires. Stomach getting full and becoming satiated are two different things. As
per the Science of Spirituality, getting satisfied is associated with the subtle body. The necessary
subtle essence of food is carried to the deceased ancestors, in the form of Divine nectar if they
are in Deity form of existence, as edibles if they are in the celestial being form of existence and
as meat if they are in the form of demons.

5. If a person (Jiva) is already reborn, what is the use of

taking his name?
To give the portion offered to the deceased ancestors in the shraddha to the particular subtle
body is the responsibility of the Deities of Pitruloka. The mental sheath, that is, the baggage of
previous birth accompanies a person. The action addressed to this baggage definitely reaches
there. If without any reason we suddenly feel satiated on some day, we can surmise that
somewhere our son from the previous birth has performed our shraddha.

6. The Pindapujan of Mahalaya Shraddha

The Pindapujan has been mentioned in the Yajurveda, Brahman, Shrutis and the Gruhya
Scriptures. According to Mahabharat, Varahadeva, the incarnation of Sri Vishnu, gave complete
information about shraddha to the world. He took out three pindas from His molar tooth and
kept in the south direction on a darbha. Proclaiming that these three pindas should be
considered as the forms of the father, grandfather and great grandfather, He performed ritualistic
worship of the pindas with sesame seeds.

The remaining portion of the rice meant for Agnaukaran is added along with Tilodak, black
sesame seeds, curd, honey and ghee to the rice. Four big pindas and other small pindas are made
as per requirement. The big pindas should be of the size of a Bel fruit. The venue is purified with
the Tilodak and darbha is spread on it. Darbha is purified. While placing every pinda, the person
performing the shraddha says, I am offering the pinda in the name of so-and-so relative of soand-so name in the form of Vasu or Rudra or Aditya of so-and-so lineage, that is, gotra. It is my
faith that I am offering the pinda in Gaya.
After offering a pinda for those about whom one has definite information, a Dharmapinda is
offered. This Dharmapinda is given to the deceased ancestors who are in the Hell region of
Asipatravan and Kumbhipak, those whose family lineage has ended and others. Kajal is made by
mixing ghee with burnt darbha. The deceased ancestors in the form the pinda are offered kajal, a
thread of wool, a flower, a Tulasi leaf, maize, incense, lamp etc. They are then offered Holy
sacrament (naivedya), water for drinking, washing hands and cleaning the mouth and a betel leaf
for mouth freshness. Now the person performing the shraddha stands, offers barley and black
sesame seeds and says, O my deceased ancestors! I Pray for food and strength for my family
and that all should progress. O deceased ancestors! Grace us with wellbeing. Thereafter the
Pitru-brahman is given Tilodak and the Dev-brahmin Yavodak and water is released on the
pinda.
Tilodak is offered on a special pinda made for those deceased ancestors who had died by burning
in fire or who died in the womb. The person performing the shraddha asks, Are the Vishvedev
appeased ? Are the deceased ancestors appeased ? After saying, Let all the Deities be
appeased and the karma of shraddha be done as per the Scriptures, the person performing the
shraddha pays obeisance. The priests say, Let the desire of the person performing the shraddha
be fulfilled by the grace of Deities and the deceased ancestors. Thereafter, the other members
of the family pay obeisance to the pindas.
After this, the person performing the Shraddha remembers the seven places that bestow Final
Liberation; Ayodhya, Mathura, Gaya, Kashi, Avantika, Dwaraka and Jagannathapuri and places
the pindas in a big vessel.
The person performing the shraddha pays obeisance after the conclusion of the ritual. The
pindas are immersed in clean flowing water before sunset. Food is served on a leaf outside the
house for the crow. In the ritual of tarpan, first tarpan is done for the Vishvedev and thereafter
for the deceased ancestors. The person performing the shraddha says, I am offering water, I am
offering water, I am offering water in the name of so-and-so relative of so-and-so name in the
form of Vasu or Rudra or Aditya of so-and-so lineage, that is, gotra. Thereafter for the sake of
those born in the family lineage (gotra) who had no sons, a corner of a cloth is dipped in the
Tilodak, the cloth is squeezed and water is released.
Subtle experience of the subtle at the time of the pindapujan in a ritual of shraddha: Some
pindas are placed at the center of the darbha. Four Dharmapindas are placed in the four corners.
Red rays are emitting from the dharmapindas, a symbol of dharmashakti. Yellow spirals of
Chaitanya are seen around the pindas of pitars.

7. Options available if one is unable to perform the ritual

If a person is unable to perform this ritual, many options are open to him. If brahmin is not
available for brahman bhojan, darbha is used. If performing the ritual is not possible, then
merely reciting the ritual with faith is also useful. The person can choose any option. The main
objective in clarifying all this is that shraddha must be performed in pitru-paksha. The
importance of faith in the ritual of shraddha has been explained in Brahmapurana as:

Meaning: If a person performs shraddha using mere grass but with faith and devotion, then
nobody in his family becomes unhappy.
Filed under: Hindu Rituals of Shraddha | Leave a comment

Preparation and the method of Mahalay Shraddha

Posted on September 16, 2010 by ariseohindu

Contents

1. Deities of Shraddha
2. When should one perform Mahalaya Shraddha during the Pitrupaksha?
3. Preparation for the ritual of Mahalaya Shraddha
o 3.1 Substances required for the Mahalaya Shraddha
o 3.2 Preparation for the person performing Shraddha
o 3.3 Religious actions to be performed before the main ritual
o 3.4 The welcome of the priest and Annaprokshan
o 3.5 Invocation and worship of Vishvedev
o 3.6 Invocation and worship of the ancestors

1. Deities of Shraddha
Our deceased ancestors could be in various forms of being and they need food according to that
form of being. Except in the Earth region, food is unavailable in any other subtle region. In the

ritual of Mahalaya Shraddha, Vasu, Rudra and Aditya are the presiding Deities of the deceased
ancestors. Vasu means desire, Rudra means dissolution and Aditya means Absolute Fire
Principle and action. With the combination of the three, the father, grandfather and great
grandfather respectively can be liberated.
The mission associated with the presiding Deities of the departed ancestors
Presiding Deity of
Associated mission
the departed ancestors
Vasu
Desire
Rudra
Dissolution
Aditya
Action
During the ritual of Shraddha the Vishvedevs called Pururav-Ardrav and Dhurilochan are also
invoked. Vishvedev means the group of Deities which represents the Deities during a sacrificial
fire.

2. When should one perform Mahalaya Shraddha during the

Pitrupaksha?
The Mahalay Shraddha is performed on the tithi of the death of the father of the person doing
Shraddha during the Pitrupaksha. If the tithi is not known, perform the Shraddha on the no moon
day (Amavasya) of the month of Bhadrapad according to the Shaka Samvat and according to
Vikram Samvat on the Amavasya of the month of Ashwin.

3. Preparation for the ritual of Mahalaya Shraddha

The person performing the Shraddha and the person invited for the meal to be offered to brahmin
should not take meals and avoid physical relations with a woman on the previous night of the
day of Shraddha. As far as possible the Shraddha should be performed on the ground floor of the
residence. The venue of the Shraddha ritual should be clean.

3.1 Substances required for the Mahalaya Shraddha

First collect the list of substances required for the Mahalaya Shraddha from the ritual booklets or
the priest invited for the ritual. As far as possible collect all the instruments one day in advance.
The substances essential for this ritual other than the normal substances required for a ritualistic
worship are barley, black sesame seeds, maize and basil leaves. Nowadays, two priests are
invited for the ritual. One priest sits facing the north which is the place of the ancestors. The
other priest sits facing the east which is the place of Gods. The person performing the Shraddha
sits facing the south-east. One more place is made for the priest narrating the ritual.

3.2 Preparation for the person performing Shraddha

Due to various incidents taking place during daily life a black covering is created on our body.
From the viewpoint of gaining benefits from the ritual, some religious actions are done before
commencing the ritual of Shraddha like wearing the Holy thread, applying the Holy ash,
partaking of the five substances, that is, panchagavya, sipping of water, that is, achaman etc.

3.3 Religious actions to be performed before the main ritual

It is essential for the person performing the Shraddha to perform some important religious
actions before the actual ritual of Shraddha.

The person performing the Shraddha should wear a white dhoti and an upavastra for the
ritual.
He should commence the ritual with sipping of water, that is, achaman.
After this, he should apply Holy ash on the various parts of the body.
Thereafter he should hold darbha, that is, a specific type of grass in hand and on various
parts of the body.
Now he should make a ritualistic narration to God about the time period and the time of
the ritual.
After this he should make a resolve for the ritual. In Mahalaya he should make a resolve
for the Vishvedev called Dhurilochan.
After this he should make apasavya, that is, hold the Holy thread on the right shoulder
and make a resolve for the ancestors.In this, the person performing the Shraddha says, I
am performing the Shraddha of my father, grandfather and great grandfather who are in
the form of Vasu, Rudra and Aditya who are born in so-and-so lineage. In addition to
the three paternal ancestors, in Mahalaya Shraddha a resolve is made for the three
maternal ancestors, that is, mother, her father and grandfather as also grandmother and
great grand mother, wife, sons on whom the sanskar of Holy thread was performed,
daughters, paternal uncles, maternal uncles, brothers, paternal aunts, maternal aunts,
sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, Guru, the one who imparts knowledge, guide and
those who are born in the same lineage but have no closer relatives in the world, who are
dead.
After this, invoke the Holy rivers of Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati etc. and prepare
Yavodak, that is, the water mixed with sandalwood paste, flower, Basil leaf, that is,
Tulasi, coins, a betel nut and darbha.
Similarly prepare Tilodak, that is, the water mixed with black sesame seeds and maize
and charge it by reciting mantras.
Now he should purify himself by sprinkling the charged water first on himself and
thereafter purify the venue of the ritual.

Spiritual importance of Tilodak: There is charged Tilodak in the copper vessel. Due to it, the
momentum of the subtle deceased ancestor-frequencies is increased. Due to this momentum, a
whirlpool charged with attraction-energy is created. The subtle body is attracted towards the
whirlpool.
To make the Karmakanda of Shraddha ritual successful, the person performing the Shraddha
(host) and the venue of the Shraddha are purified with the charged Tilodak. The various religious

rituals in Hindu Dharma are spiritual experiments in themselves. Science originated from the
science of Spirituality. Hence, this same process happens in science too.

3.4 The welcome of the priest and Annaprokshan

The host of the Shraddha holds in hand a spoon, water pot, darbha and sesame seeds and does
circumambulation around the priest. He pays obeisance by prostrating on the ground in the
south-east direction. Then placing the Holy thread on the right shoulder he says, We will keep
aside anger, observe celibacy even at the mental level and perform the Shraddha.
The host says, Let me get the authority today to perform the Shraddha of my father and
grandfather. Thereafter he hands over the darbha to the God-priest. This action is called giving
kshan. Then he gives kshan to the Pitru-priest. Now, in front of the God-priest, the darbha of
Yavodak is moved in this manner and a line is drawn with barley. In front of the Pitru-priest, the
Tilodak is used first and then black sesame seeds are used. Now circumambulation is done in
reverse direction around oneself, that is, from his right to left and the sesame seeds are showered
in the eight directions. Then one goes in the kitchen and the charged water is sprinkled on the
food. By showering of sesame seeds in the four directions by the host, round circles of
frequencies of deceased ancestors are created in the premise. The subtle bodies of the deceased
ancestors situated in the premise are attracted to these circles. By doing this ritual the premise
gets the form of the region of Pitar.

3.5 Invocation and worship of Vishvedev

Now the Holy thread is placed on the left shoulder and sitting in front of the God-priest a prayer
is said, O Vishvedev, the most powerful one ! Please come here and get this ritual done
attentively. Now the Holy thread is placed on the right shoulder and sitting in front of the Pitrupriest a prayer is said. Then barley and darbha are placed below the God-priest and a seat is
offered to Vishvedev. Two vessels for giving arghya are kept in the front and Yavodak and
barley are put in it. These vessels are charged with mantra. Now transferring the barley from left
hand to right hand, he puts it on the body of the priest, from the feet to the head. The remaining
barley he keeps on the ground and gives arghya with the right hand. He performs worship with
sandalwood paste, flowers, incense stick and a lamp.

3.6 Invocation and worship of the ancestors

The host takes the Holy thread on his right shoulder and hands over the sandalwood,
maize and a flower to the Pitru-priest. He waves incense stick in an anti-clockwise
direction and performs arati with a lamp.
The betel nut, darbha and sesame seeds are placed in the hands of the Pitru-priest and
with this the rituals of this worship are complete.
The host says, If there is any mistake on my part in the worship, please forgive me.
Water, flower and sesame seeds are put in the vessel kept in front of the Pitru-priest.
Placing a hand on the vessel, it is charged with mantra.
Now the sesame seeds are put on the body of the Pitru-priest right from the feet to the
head.

Now arghya is offered to the deceased ancestors. After this the host stands in one place
and does circumambulation around himself.

Filed under: Hindu Rituals of Shraddha | Leave a comment

When should the Shraddha be performed?

Posted on September 16, 2010 by ariseohindu

Ritual of Shraddha

Contents

1. In general appropriate dates for performing shraddha

2. Hindu Dharma does not give any chance to anyone to say that the shraddha was not
performed due to non-feasibility in a particular period!
3. Appropriate time of the day
4. Special dates for performing Shraddha and the benefits derived after performing
shraddha for deceased ancestors souls on these dates
o 4.1 Kalpadi date (tithi)
o 4.2 Akshayya Trutiya (3rd day within the bright fortnight of Vaishakh)
o 4.3 Pitru fortnight (Pitrupaksha) (Mahalaypaksha)

1. In general appropriate dates for performing shraddha

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.

2. Hindu Dharma does not give any chance to anyone to say that the shraddha
was not performed due to non-feasibility in a particular period!

Normally every year Shraddha should be performed on the date of death of the person (as
per the Hindu calendar and not as per the English calendar.) If the date is not known and
only the month is known, then in that case the shraddha can be performed on the no
moon night of that month.
If both, the date as well as the month is unknown then the shraddha can be performed on
the no moon night of the Hindu calendar month of Magh or Margashirsha.
If the definite date of death is not known then the shraddha can be performed on the date
when the news of the death was received.
Shraddha for deceased ancestors souls should be performed everyday and it can be
achieved just by offering water (tarpan) to them.
If it is impossible to perform Shraddha daily, then Darsha Shraddha should be
performed. This fulfills the requirement of doing the Shraddha daily. Darsha means no
moon night. Therefore Darsha Shraddha is the one, which is performed on the no moon
night of every month.
If it is not possible to perform Darsha Shraddha every month, one should at least perform
it on the no moon night of Hindu calendar months of Chaitra, Bhadrapad and Ashwin
months.
If it is not possible even to perform Darsha Shraddha on no moon nights of Chaitra,
Bhadrapad and Ashwin, then at least the ritual of Mahalaya should be performed in the
Pitru fortnight of the month of Bhadrapad. If this too is impossible then Shraddha should
be performed on the no moon night of the month of Bhadrapad (sarva pitri amavasya)
(11)

(Hindu Dharma has kept so many provisions to act in a righteous manner. In spite of this,
Hindus do not perform Shraddha and other rituals. Then who will help such Hindus?
Compiler.)

3. Appropriate time of the day

If the day is divided into 5 parts, then the fourth part is called the Aparanha period. This period
is most appropriate for performing shraddha.
4. Special dates for performing Shraddha and the benefits derived after performing
shraddha for deceased ancestors souls on these dates
4.1 Kalpadi date (tithi): Lord Brahmas day is considered as the day of origin. This is also
called as Kalpadi tithi. The 1st and 5th day of Chaitra, 3rd day of Vaishakh, 7th day of Kartik,

9th day of Margashirsha, 13th day of Magh, 3rd day of Falgun (all days from the bright
fortnight) indicate the start of the era (kalpa). As per the science, if shraddha is performed on
these dates, the deceased ancestors souls get satisfied.
4.2 Akshayya Trutiya (3rd day within the bright fortnight of Vaishakh): Akshayya Trutiya
indicates the start of the Kruta era. The benefits derived by performing rituals like Shraddha,
Tarpan for deceased ancestors souls and donations on this date is everlasting. Therefore one
should at least perform Apinda Shraddha or Tarpan for their deceased ancestors souls.
The holy texts of Puranas say that, on the day of Akshayya Trutiya one should donate uncooked
food (aamanna), a water pot, a fan made of mint grass, an umbrella, footwear etc with the
intension of offering them to the deceased ancestors souls. It is mentioned in Garud Puran that,
once the donations are made with the intention of offering them to deceased ancestors souls on
this day, the messengers of Lord Yama do not cause distress to the ancestors souls.

Meaning: When clothes and ornaments are donated, the dark, brown eyed, cruel messengers of
Lord Yama having sharp and long teeth do not cause distress to the deceased ancestors souls.
4.3 Pitru fortnight (Pitrupaksha) (Mahalaypaksha)
4.3.1 Importance
1. The dark fortnight in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapad is called as Pitrupaksha. This
fortnight is very dear to the deceased ancestors souls. If Mahalay Shraddha is performed for the
deceased ancestors souls during this fortnight, they remain satisfied for the entire year.
2.

- Mahabharat
Meaning: The householder who does not perform shraddha during the period when the Sun is in
the Virgo sign, how will he earn money and be gifted with a baby boy as he would have enraged
the deceased ancestors souls? Additionally, the abode for deceased ancestors souls remains
vacant till the Sun moves from Virgo and Libra sign to the Scorpio sign. The abode for deceased
ancestors souls remaining vacant during this period implies that the deceased ancestors souls
come closer to their descendants for blessing them and if Shraddha is not performed, they give

curse to their descendants and return. Due to this it is important to perform Shraddha during this
period.
4.3.2 The deceased ancestors that arrive at the occasion of Mahalay Shraddha
1. Father, grandfather, great grandfather
(Pitrutrayi)

10. Maternal uncle

2. Mother, grandmother and great grandmother 11. Brother

(matrutrayi)
3. Step mother

12. Fathers sisters

4. Mothers father, grandfather and great

grandmother (matamahatrayi)

13. Mothers sisters

5. Mothers mother, grandmother and great

grandmother

14. Sisters

6. Wife

15. Father-in-law

7. Sons

16. Other relatives

8. Daughters

17. Guru (if the Guru-disciple relationship

exists)

9. Paternal cousins

18. Disciple (if the Guru-disciple relationship

exists)

Filed under: Hindu Rituals of Shraddha | Leave a comment

What is the method of performing Tarpan and

Pitru tarpan?
Posted on September 16, 2010 by ariseohindu

Contents

1. Terminology of Shraddha
2. Tarpan and Pitru tarpan
o 2.1 Tarpan
1. Significance and meaning:
2. Objective
3. Types
4. Method of performing Tarpan
o 2.2. Pitru tarpan
1. Meaning
2. Why should it be done?

3. Importance
4. Pitrutirtha: When should it be done?
5. Tarpan of sesame seeds (tila tarpan)
6. Importance of performing tila tarpan

1. Terminology of Shraddha
A. Pitar: When a human being dies, its subtle body gets freed from the dead body after
performing the ritual of Shraddha and it gets position in the subtle plane meant for souls of dead
persons. At that moment it assumes the designation of Pitar.
B. Parvan: After performing Sapindikaran Shraddha (Shraddha performed one day prior to oneyear completion after the death of the person is called Sapindikaran Shraddha), the soul that has
assumed the designation of Pitar now joins other Pitars and then gets further categorised as
Parvan. Also, it gains authority so as to allow its descendants to perform Parvan Shraddha for it.
(Detailed information on Pitar and Parvan is under point 3 B in volume 2)
C. Pitrutrayi (Trio in Pitars): Generally son of the dead person has authority to perform
Shraddha for the dead person. In his absence, other options are explored. The terminology of
Shraddha has been prepared assuming the son as being the person who performs the shraddha.
Therefore the soul of dead person for whom the Shraddha is being performed, is invoked as
father (father of the son performing Shraddha). One generation before, i.e. the father of dead
person is referenced as Pitamaha (grandfather of the son performing Shraddha). The
grandfather of the dead person is referred to as Prapitamaha (great grandfather of the son
performing Shraddha). The earlier generations than these are not counted in trios of Pitars
(Pitrutrayi), because it is assumed that they are liberated.
D. Jivatpitruk: When there is a male person whose father is alive, then such a person does not
have authority to perform Shraddha. But he has right to perform Shraddha for his mother and
grandfather (mothers father). Also, generally, he even does not have the right to perform rituals
of Narayannagbali,Ttripindi etc; however if these rituals are performed with the objective of
conceiving a child, then the jivatpitruk can do so. In order to perform Apasavya, a jivatpitruk
can only hold the thread in the thumb of the left hand and cannot hold it completely in his left
hand.
E. Three ways of wearing the thread (janve) are Savya, Apasavya and Nivit: The thread
should always be worn on the left shoulder. This style of wearing the thread is known as savya.
When it is worn on the right shoulder it is known as Apasavya. When worn as a necklace, it is
known as Nivit.
F. Offering kshan: During the ritual of shraddha, the deity and the deceased ancestors soul
are invited by offering grass twigs (darbha) to them. This is called the offering kshan.

G. Pishangi: Rangoli drawn using ash and with chanting of mantras, around the meal plate
arranged for the priest (Brahmin) is called as pishangi. (Offering food to priest (Brahmin) is
considered as an important part of Shraddha. Rangoli is drawn in a clockwise direction (similar
to circumambulation) around the food offering plate arranged for the deity and in the reverse
direction around the plate arranged for the ancestors soul. Pishangi is one of the aspects of the
ritual of shraddha. Nowadays, Pishangi is drawn only in case of offering of Pinda (Pinda daan).
However, Pishangi should be drawn during all types of shraddha.
H. Vikir: During Shraddha, after finishing offering of Pinda (Pinda daan) and worship of Pinda,
Savya is performed and a morsel of rice is kept in front of the plate with the food offering
arranged for the deity. This is termed as Vikir.
I: Prakir: After performing Vikir, Apasavya is done and a morsel of rice is kept in front of the
plate which has the meal arranged for deceased ancestors soul. This is called as Prakir.
J: Ucchista Pinda: After performing Prakir, pinda is kept for the ones who have died by getting
burnt in a fire or due to partial burning or for the dead fetus, near the plate of food arranged for
the deceased ancestors soul or close to other offerings of pinda.
K: Shraddha Sampat: If two shraddhas occur on the same date (as per Hindu calendar) then it is
termed as Shraddha Sampat.

2. Tarpan and Pitru tarpan

2.1 Tarpan
1. Significance and meaning: Trup means satisfying others. The word Tarpan has been
formed from the root word Trup. Offering water to God, Sages, ancestors soul and human
beings and satisfying them through it is called tarpan.
2. Objective: The objective of performing tarpan is that God, deceased ancestors souls etc
whose names are pronounced while performing Tarpan, should bestow happiness on us.
3. Types: Brahmayadnyang (performed during sacrificial fires), snanang (performed daily after
bath), shraddhang (performed during Shraddha) are the various types of Tarpans that are part of
the various rituals and should be performed during the respective occasions.
4. Method of performing Tarpan

Bodhayan has mentioned that Tarpan should be performed at the riverside. While
performing Tarpan at the riverside, one should stand in the river so that the water level
touches the belly button or one should perform tarpan by sitting on the banks of the river.
Tarpan for God and Sages should be performed by facing East and that for deceased
ancestors souls it should be performed by facing South.

As per science, tarpan for God should be performed after doing Savya, that for Sages
should be performed after doing Nivit and for deceased ancestors souls after doing
Apasavya.
A dried grass twig (darbha) is necessary for performing tarpan. Tarpan for God is
performed from the tip of the darbha, tarpan for Sages should be performed by folding
the darbha in the middle, and tarpan for deceased ancestors souls should be performed
from the tip and root of the two darbhas.
Offering of water (tarpan) to deities should be done using the finger tips, while offering
of water to Sages should be done from the base of the little finger and the third finger and
that to the deceased ancestors souls should be done through the mid of the thumb and the
first finger of the hand.
Tarpan should be performed taking one handful (anjali) of water for each deity, two
handful of water for Sages and three handful of water for deceased ancestors souls. In
case of matrutrayi (mother-grandmother and great grandmother) three handful of water
should be used and for other females ancestors souls one handful of water should be
used for tarpan.(8)

(Original meaning of word anjali is handful (onjal). In this context, however, giving one
handful (anjali) of water for tarpan is to indicate that the tarpan should be given only once
compiler)

2.2. Pitru tarpan

1. Meaning: Offering of water to deceased ancestors souls (pitar) is called as Pitru tarpan. A
Jivatpitruk is not allowed to perform Pitrutarpan.
2. Why should it be done? Apart from expectation of Pinda and offering of food to priests
(Brahmins) from its descendants, the deceased ancestors souls also expect offering of water
(udak) from them.
3. Importance: By performing tarpan, the deceased ancestors souls not only get satisfied and
leave us, but they also bestow long life, radiance, superior intellect (brahmavarchaswa), wealth,
success and foodstuff (ability to digest the food consumed) on the host performing the tarpan
and satisfies him too.
4. Pitrutirtha: When should it be done?

Tarpan for God, Sages and deceased ancestors souls should be performed regularly
(daily). The daily ritual of tarpan should be accomplished in the early morning after
having bath. If it is not possible to perform Shraddha for deceased ancestors souls daily,
then one should at least perform tarpan.
Pitru tarpan should be performed on the day following the day on which Parvan
Shraddha is performed.

5. Tarpan of sesame seeds (tila tarpan): Sesame seeds should be used in the ritual of Pitru
tarpan. Sesame seeds are available in two varieties, black and white. Black sesame seeds should
be used for Shraddha. If sesame seeds are not available then gold or silver should be used.

Tila tarpan means offering sesame seeds mixed in water to the deceased ancestors souls.
Tila tarpan (as a part of Shraddha) should be offered to the same number of ancestors
souls for whom the shraddha has been performed.
Tila tarpan is performed before Darsha shraddha and in case of annual shraddha; tila
tarpan is performed on the following day of the shraddha. In case of any other shraddha,
tila tarpan is performed just after performing the shraddha.
Tila tarpan is not performed during Nandi Shraddha, Sapindi Shraddha etc. (9)

6. Importance of performing tila tarpan

Sesame seeds are the favorites of deceased ancestors souls.

By usage of sesame seeds, the demons do not obstruct the ritual of Shraddha.
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. Jaiminiya Ghruya sutra (2.1), Boudhayan Dharmasutra (2.8.8) and
Boudhayan Ghruya sutra

Filed under: Hindu Rituals of Shraddha | Leave a comment

Why should every son perform ritual of Shraddha?

Posted on September 16, 2010 by ariseohindu

Contents 1. Objectives of performing Shraddha

2. Importance and need of performing Shraddha
3. Benefits of performing Shraddha

1. Objectives of performing Shraddha

A. Providing momentum to the deceased ancestors present in the Pitru region so that they can
progress to a higher sub-plane of existence, through the means of Shraddha.

B. Satisfying wishes and desires of the souls of the deceased ancestors from ones family who
are trapped in the negative regions due to unfulfilled desires and providing momentum for their
further progress.
C. Some deceased ancestors, due to their evil deeds, become ghosts and reside in hell instead of
nether region. Through the medium of ritual of Shraddha, one can relieve them from being
trapped in this form.
The process through which the above objectives are met through Shraddha is documented under
the title Effects of Shraddha in Volume 2.

2. Importance and need of performing Shraddha

A. Repaying the debt to ancestors is as important as repaying the debt to God, Sages and the
society. It is the duty of descendants to respect their ancestors, make donations in their name and
to undertake activities that will please them. Performing Shraddha is a part of obeying Dharma,
as per science of Dharma.
B. Ancestors soul becomes satisfied only after receiving pinda and water from their son. In
relation to this, following is a verse in the holy text Mahabharat that describes who qualifies to
be called as son:
:
:
- Mahabharat 1.74.39

Meaning: The son protects his ancestors souls from the Hell named Puta. Therefore Lord
Brahma himself has named him as Putra.
A. Repaying the debt to ancestors is as important as repaying the debt to God, Sages and the
society. It is the duty of descendants to respect their ancestors, make donations in their name and
to undertake activities that will please them. Performing Shraddha is a part of obeying Dharma,
as per science of Dharma.
B. Ancestors soul becomes satisfied only after receiving pinda and water from their son. In
relation to this, following is a verse in the holy text Mahabharat that describes who qualifies to
be called as son:
:
:
- Mahabharat 1.74.39

Meaning: The son protects his ancestors souls from the Hell named Puta. Therefore Lord
Brahma himself has named him as Putra.

As per the above verse, to enable the deceased ancestors to progress to a higher sub-plane, to
relieve them from experiencing severe and everlasting distress and to initiate them to bestow
grace on their descendants, every son should perform ritual of Shraddha. It is amply clear in the
verse that the one who is believed to be a son, he should perform these duties.
C.

- Taittiriya Upanishad 1.11

Meaning: One should not commit mistakes in any task performed towards God or ancestors
souls. One should not avoid these rituals.
D. Following verse, regarding people who do not perform Shraddha, in the holy text Gita is
insightful

- Shrimadbhagwatgita 1.42
Meaning: Due to the nonperformance of rituals like pinda shraddha and offering water to
deceased ancestors etc, the ancestors of such people (who do not perform Shraddha) have to
reside in the Hell region. This results in stagnation and no progress of the descendants.(?)
E. Sage Sumantu has said,
, meaning that nothing is
as superior as the ritual of Shraddha. Therefore, a person having a pure intellect to discriminate
between right and wrong should never abstain from performing Shraddha.
F. Brahmavaivarta Puran says, Activities related to deceased ancestors are more important than
those related to God. Therefore every sacred ceremony begins with Nandi Shraddha.
G. Brahma Puran says, One who performs the ritual of Shraddha diligently and in accordance
with ones financial state, he satisfies everyone right from Lord Brahma to the insignificant blade
of grass. No one in the family of the person performing Shraddha remains unhappy. (4)
H. If soul of a deceased person wishes that someone should perform Shraddha for me and if it
does not get fulfilled from the expected descendant, then it becomes unhappy due to nonfulfillment of the desire. Such soul can transform into an evil spirit (a type of negative energy)
and cause distress to its relatives for not performing the ritual of Shraddha.
At times, souls of deceased persons manifest in their relatives and they start talking. An example
of this is mentioned below:
Once a spirit manifested in a person and then the person started leaping. H.H. Khshirsagar
Maharaj from Ahmednagar started a conversation with him and asked, Who are you? He
answered, I am the father of this person. Maharaj further asked him, What is purpose of your

arrival? The fathers soul manifested in the person answered, He does not feed me. He does not
perform Shraddha. I am starving. (?)
I. At the time of death if a person feels, Shraddha is meaningless and nobody should perform
Shraddha for me after my death and later because of Shraddha having not been performed, after
his death, he experiences that, I am trapped, even then he cannot convey this feeling to anyone.
He could become unhappy because of his wish remaining unfulfilled. Taking this point into
consideration, it is absolutely necessary to perform Shraddha for every deceased person.
J. By performing ritual of Shraddha for a deceased person, the give-and-take account that exists
with that person gets fulfilled, e.g. if we owe something to a person and he dies before we could
repay him, then by the virtue of performing Shraddha the loan can be repaid.
K. In the current age, people do not perform rituals like Shraddha or spiritual practice the way it
used to be done earlier. Therefore most of the people experience distress due to unsatisfied
ancestors souls. Only spiritually evolved (saints) can tell us if we are suffering due to distress
caused by ancestors souls or if we might face such distress in the future. If it is not possible to
take guidance from a spiritually evolved person, then the following problems can be assumed to
be caused by ancestors souls regular clashes between the family members, unable to cope up
any family member, unemployment, unable to save any money, serious illness, unable to get
married in spite of all favorable conditions, unable to cope up with the partner after marriage,
unable to conceive, abortion, giving birth to a physically or mentally handicapped baby and
developing addictions. By performing Shraddha one gets relieved from the distress caused by
the deceased ancestors since the deceased ancestors get satisfied and if they are trapped in a
particular region, they get momentum to progress to a higher sub-planes and in turn the
descendents are able to obtain their blessings.
(Spiritual experiences related to Unsatisfied ancestors souls causing distress to their family
members and the effect getting nullified after performing Shraddha and Obtaining assistance
and blessings from deceased ancestors souls are given in point 19, along with the Importance
of chanting the Name of Lord Datta, in a manner which is equivalent to performing the ritual of
Shraddha, in reference to providing momentum to the ancestors souls and to protect oneself
from the distress caused by the unsatisfied ancestors souls)

3. Benefits of performing Shraddha

A. The ritual of Shraddha is sacrificial fire performed for deceased ancestors and it is a sacred,
beneficial bestows blessings for conceiving a baby boy. The benefits derived after performing
the ritual of Shraddha are mentioned in Smrutichandrika and other holy texts in the form of a
verse as follows:
:

Meaning: One can conceive a baby boy and acquire a long life, success, heaven, fame, strength,
wealth, animals, happiness, food, etc. by worshipping (performing Shraddha for) deceased
ancestors.
B. If the ritual of Shraddha is performed on the day of an eclipse, the host derives benefit similar
to the one obtained after donating a piece of land to someone. (5)
C. Refer to the items B, G and K within point 6. Importance and need of performing Shraddha
and point 9 A 3. Shraddha done for a purpose
As per the above verse, to enable the deceased ancestors to progress to a higher sub-plane, to
relieve them from experiencing severe and everlasting distress and to initiate them to bestow
grace on their descendants, every son should perform ritual of Shraddha. It is amply clear in the
verse that the one who is believed to be a son, he should perform these duties.
C.
- Taittiriya Upanishad 1.11

Meaning: One should not commit mistakes in any task performed towards God or ancestors
souls. One should not avoid these rituals.
D. Following verse, regarding people who do not perform Shraddha, in the holy text Gita is
insightful

- Shrimadbhagwatgita 1.42
Meaning: Due to the nonperformance of rituals like pinda shraddha and offering water to
deceased ancestors etc, the ancestors of such people (who do not perform Shraddha) have to
reside in the Hell region. This results in stagnation and no progress of the descendants.(?)
E. Sage Sumantu has said,
, meaning that nothing is
as superior as the ritual of Shraddha. Therefore, a person having a pure intellect to discriminate
between right and wrong should never abstain from performing Shraddha.
F. Brahmavaivarta Puran says, Activities related to deceased ancestors are more important than
those related to God. Therefore every sacred ceremony begins with Nandi Shraddha.
G. Brahma Puran says, One who performs the ritual of Shraddha diligently and in accordance
with ones financial state, he satisfies everyone right from Lord Brahma to the insignificant blade
of grass. No one in the family of the person performing Shraddha remains unhappy. (4)
H. If soul of a deceased person wishes that someone should perform Shraddha for me and if it
does not get fulfilled from the expected descendant, then it becomes unhappy due to non-

fulfillment of the desire. Such soul can transform into an evil spirit (a type of negative energy)
and cause distress to its relatives for not performing the ritual of Shraddha.
At times, souls of deceased persons manifest in their relatives and they start talking. An example
of this is mentioned below:
Once a spirit manifested in a person and then the person started leaping. H.H. Khshirsagar
Maharaj from Ahmednagar started a conversation with him and asked, Who are you? He
answered, I am the father of this person. Maharaj further asked him, What is purpose of your
arrival? The fathers soul manifested in the person answered, He does not feed me. He does not
perform Shraddha. I am starving. (?)
I. At the time of death if a person feels, Shraddha is meaningless and nobody should perform
Shraddha for me after my death and later because of Shraddha having not been performed, after
his death, he experiences that, I am trapped, even then he cannot convey this feeling to anyone.
He could become unhappy because of his wish remaining unfulfilled. Taking this point into
consideration, it is absolutely necessary to perform Shraddha for every deceased person.
J. By performing ritual of Shraddha for a deceased person, the give-and-take account that exists
with that person gets fulfilled, e.g. if we owe something to a person and he dies before we could
repay him, then by the virtue of performing Shraddha the loan can be repaid.
K. In the current age, people do not perform rituals like Shraddha or spiritual practice the way it
used to be done earlier. Therefore most of the people experience distress due to unsatisfied
ancestors souls. Only spiritually evolved (saints) can tell us if we are suffering due to distress
caused by ancestors souls or if we might face such distress in the future. If it is not possible to
take guidance from a spiritually evolved person, then the following problems can be assumed to
be caused by ancestors souls regular clashes between the family members, unable to cope up
any family member, unemployment, unable to save any money, serious illness, unable to get
married in spite of all favorable conditions, unable to cope up with the partner after marriage,
unable to conceive, abortion, giving birth to a physically or mentally handicapped baby and
developing addictions. By performing Shraddha one gets relieved from the distress caused by
the deceased ancestors since the deceased ancestors get satisfied and if they are trapped in a
particular region, they get momentum to progress to a higher sub-planes and in turn the
descendents are able to obtain their blessings.
(Spiritual experiences related to Unsatisfied ancestors souls causing distress to their family
members and the effect getting nullified after performing Shraddha and Obtaining assistance
and blessings from deceased ancestors souls are given in point 19, along with the Importance
of chanting the Name of Lord Datta, in a manner which is equivalent to performing the ritual of
Shraddha, in reference to providing momentum to the ancestors souls and to protect oneself
from the distress caused by the unsatisfied ancestors souls)

3. Benefits of performing Shraddha

A. The ritual of Shraddha is sacrificial fire performed for deceased ancestors and it is a sacred,
beneficial bestows blessings for conceiving a baby boy. The benefits derived after performing
the ritual of Shraddha are mentioned in Smrutichandrika and other holy texts in the form of a
verse as follows:
:

B. If the ritual of Shraddha is performed on the day of an eclipse, the host derives benefit similar
to the one obtained after donating a piece of land to someone. (5)
C. Refer to the items B, G and K within point 6. Importance and need of performing Shraddha
and point 9 A 3. Shraddha done for a purpose
Meaning: One can conceive a baby boy and acquire a long life, success, heaven, fame, strength,
wealth, animals, happiness, food, etc. by worshipping (performing Shraddha for) deceased
ancestors.
Filed under: Hindu Rituals of Shraddha | Leave a comment

What is the importance of the ritual of Shraddha?

Posted on September 16, 2010 by ariseohindu

Contents 1. Importance
2. Enabling one to break bonds with others and liberate oneself
3. Young Generation and Shraddha (Preface of book)
4. Scope of this articles series

1. Importance
The ritual of Shraddha not only repays debts towards deceased ancestors, but also makes it easy
to repay debts towards God and Sages. Sages are considered to be hot tempered in comparison to
God and due to this nature they could curse one and thus entrap the embodied soul. However as
debts towards ancestors need to be repaid by actions, it becomes simple and easy to repay these

debts through the ritual of Shraddha. Therefore, in order to be able to repay other debts in a good
manner, it is necessary that everyone relies upon debts towards ancestors that acts as link
between God and Sages, satisfy them by performing these rituals and try to embark upon the
progress towards attaining final liberation. By performing the ritual of Shraddha, with the help of
the ancestors souls one can slowly progress towards reaching God and Sages and by the virtue
of combined support from Vasu, Rudra and Aditya (Vasu means aspirations, Rudra means
dissolution and Aditya means radiance or action), one can provide momentum to the deceased
father, grandfather and great grandfather and in turn acquire blessings from God.

2. Enabling one to break bonds with others and liberate

oneself
The term Shraddha is completely linked with Maya (The Great Illusion) and Brahman (the
Creator) through the bond of debts that need to be repaid. When the threads of the give and take
relationship that binds us, dissolve, then at that time the embodied soul gets liberated and only
then it can acquire momentum to progress towards attaining Final liberation. Therefore through
the ritual of Shraddha one can get rid of the bonding with others and get liberated in this birth
itself under observer stance of the followers of Lord Vishnu.

4. Young Generation and Shraddha

The word Shraddha conjures up an incorrect impression in the minds of the younger generation
who belong to the modern scientific age. They see it as a case of unnecessary importance being
given to a non-scientific and largely meaningless ritualistic procedure. Absence of Dharma
education (which means Righteousness from a spiritual perspective) along with a lack of any
inclination towards learning about spirituality, a high level of influence of foreign cultures and a
continuous barrage of criticism with a strong underlying hatred for Hindu traditions and customs
by unrighteous organizations, has caused this effect.
People, who lack faith in ritualistic worship or Shraddha and consider social service superior,
have very nave views. They feel that instead of performing Shraddha for deceased ancestors,
they would rather donate food to the poor or provide help to schools. Of course, many of these
people do not act upon their own views by actually put them into practice. In addition they are
also unaware that doing this is as ludicrous as saying, Instead of performing surgery to treat a
particular disease, we will donate food to the poor or provide help to the schools.
The spiritually potent mantras that are chanted during the ritual of Shraddha have the subtle
power of providing momentum to the subtle bodies of deceased ancestors therefore they can
progress to a higher sub-plane of existence after the ritual is performed. In view of this one can
easily see the folly in maintaining the uninformed views mentioned above. Therefore the aim of
this book is to eliminate the blindfold of ignorance that such people have and to change their
thinking so they may develop a positive and spiritual view towards the sacred ritual of Shraddha
which is prescribed by the Hindu religion.

Indian culture teaches us that we have to perform certain duties towards our parents and close
relatives after their death, just as we serve them when they are alive as a part of obeying our
Dharma. The ritual of Shraddha provides us with an excellent mechanism to fulfill our duties
and in turn repay our debts towards ancestors. Our parents have taken the utmost care of us
during our childhood. The ritual of Shraddha is necessary so that their journey after their death is
full of comfort and devoid of any distress and that they acquire momentum, which allows them
to progress to a higher sub-plane. If Shraddha is not performed, the desires of the deceased
ancestors remain unfulfilled. The negative energies make easy victims of such desire riddled
ancestors souls and then make them their slaves. In all likelihood, they then use them to cause
distress to their own family members. By performing Shraddha, one gets relieved from the
distress caused by the ancestors souls thereby enabling oneself to lead a comfortable life on
earth.
If one performs Shraddha on a particular day, date (as per the Hindu calendar) as per the position
of the stars (nakshatra), then apart from ones duty towards ancestors getting fulfilled, some
specific benefit can also be derived. The importance and benefits of performing Shraddha have
been elaborated through such various aspects in this book.

5. Scope of The Article Series

This aticles series also includes valuable information on various types of Shraddha like Nandi,
Mahalay, Bharani and Tripindi, who should perform this ritual, the time and place for
performing Shraddha, what should one do if appropriate priests are not available to perform the
ritual, necessary food articles to be cooked for the ritual, dos and donts for person performing
Shraddha and the one consuming the food of Shraddha, process for performing Shraddha,
method for offering food to ancestors and God, ways and means to remove obstacles faced while
performing Shraddha etc. This book also clarifies general doubts like how does the food offered
to the priests actually reach the ancestors, what is the science behind the crow touching the pinda
etc.