Ancestors · Pitris (ancestors); Yama and Vishnu in the rites
Pitru Paksha (Shraddha)
The fortnight in which Hindus remember their ancestors with water, food and prayer.
Also known as: Shraddha, Mahalaya Paksha, Sarvapitri Amavasya
Date and muhurat
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When is it observed?
The sixteen lunar days from the Bhadrapada full moon (Purnima) to the new moon (Amavasya) of Ashwin by the purnimanta count, ending with Sarvapitri Amavasya, also called Mahalaya Amavasya. The shraddha of a person is done on the tithi on which he or she passed away, in the kutapa (midday) period.
About Pitru Paksha (Shraddha)
Pitru Paksha is a fortnight set aside for remembering the departed members of the family, usually going back three generations on both the father's and the mother's side. In this period descendants perform shraddha, a rite of respect and gratitude, offering food and water to the ancestors.
The central acts are tarpan, a libation of water mixed with sesame, barley and kusha grass, and pind daan, the offering of rice balls. Brahmins are fed, and food is also given to crows, cows and dogs, which are traditionally regarded as messengers of the ancestors.
Significance
Hindu belief holds that every person owes three debts, to the gods, the sages and the ancestors, and shraddha is the way of repaying the last. It is traditionally believed that the offerings reach the ancestors and bring them contentment, and that their blessings in turn support the family.
Apart from belief, the fortnight is a time for family remembrance and gratitude. It brings a quiet pause in the year, when people recall the lives of those who came before, speak of them to the young, and give to the needy in their name.
How a shraddha is performed
- 1Identify the tithi on which the relative passed away and the pitru paksha date for it; if it is unknown, Sarvapitri Amavasya serves for all.
- 2Bathe early, wear clean clothes and, around midday or early afternoon (the kutapa muhurta), sit facing south with a kusha-grass ring on the finger.
- 3Take the sankalp naming the ancestor, the gotra and the tithi, and invoke the pitris.
- 4Perform tarpan: pour water mixed with black sesame, barley and flowers from the cupped hands, saying the names of the ancestors.
- 5Make pind (balls of cooked rice, barley flour, sesame and ghee) and offer them with prayers; this is the pind daan.
- 6Cook a simple sattvic meal that the departed liked, offer a portion, and feed Brahmins or elders with respect.
- 7Set aside a portion for crows (kaag bali), cows and dogs, and give clothes, grain or donations to the needy.
- 8Where possible, perform shraddha at holy sites such as Gaya, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Haridwar or Pushkar.
The story
A popular tradition, retold in connection with the Mahabharata rather than found in its main text, speaks of Karna, who on dying reached heaven but could only get gold and jewels as food, because in life he had given gold freely but never food. In this telling Indra allowed him to return to earth for sixteen days to offer food and water, and these days became Pitru Paksha.
Another tradition links Gaya to Gayasura, a demon-devotee whose body became so sacred that Vishnu placed his foot upon it. Offerings made at Gaya at the Vishnupad temple and along the Phalgu river are believed to be especially auspicious for liberating ancestors.
What to do
- ✓Perform shraddha on the right tithi with faith and a calm mind.
- ✓Offer tarpan with water, black sesame and kusha grass.
- ✓Feed Brahmins, elders and the needy, and food to crows, cows and dogs.
- ✓Cook simple sattvic food and offer it first to the ancestors.
- ✓Remember the ancestors by name and speak of them to the family.
What to avoid
- ✕Avoid onion, garlic, meat, alcohol and other tamasic food in these days.
- ✕Do not begin new ventures, weddings or buy major items, as this period is traditionally kept for remembrance.
- ✕Avoid cutting hair or nails on shraddha day in some traditions.
- ✕Do not use iron utensils to serve the offering, as some traditions advise.
- ✕Do not turn away a hungry guest or animal at the door.
Around the country
- Bihar (Gaya) and Uttar Pradesh: Gaya, Varanasi and Prayagraj draw pilgrims for pind daan throughout the fortnight.
- West Bengal: Mahalaya, the last day, is marked at dawn with tarpan on riverbanks and ghats, and the start of the Durga Puja season.
- Maharashtra and Karnataka: the fortnight is called Pitru Paksha or Mahalaya Paksha, and shraddha is observed at home with a special meal.
- Tamil Nadu and Kerala: in Tamil Nadu, Mahalaya Amavasya is observed with tarpan at rivers and the sea; in Kerala the main ancestral bali rite (Karkidaka Vavu Bali) falls in the month of Karkidakam, around July and August, so customs there differ.
Frequently asked questions
What if I do not know the death tithi of my relative?
Shraddha can be performed on Sarvapitri Amavasya, the last day of the fortnight, which serves for all ancestors, known or unknown.
Who can perform the shraddha?
Traditionally the eldest son or other male descendants, but today daughters, wives and other family members also perform it when no male descendant is present, with the guidance of a priest.
Why are crows fed during Pitru Paksha?
Crows are traditionally regarded as messengers of the ancestors, so a portion of the offering is kept for them before the family eats.