Omkar Dattatray
Pitru Paksha or the fortnight of the dead has its own significance in Hinduism or Sanatan Dhrama and it is an annual occasion when Hindus offer food and other things to their ancestors. In Sanatan Dharma, a person has three debts called Dev Rin, Rishi Rin and Petra Rin and an individual has to pay these debts to free him-self from these debts. In Pitru Paksh, Hindus remember their dead ancestors and pay off their debts to dead ones by making offerings and by performing tarpana.
Hindus anxiously wait for the arrival of Pitra Paksha so that they get the opportunity to liquidate their debts to their dead relatives. However Pitru Paksha is considered by Hindus to be inauspicious ,given the death rite performed during the ceremony, known as Shraddha or Tarpana .In southern and western India ,it falls in second Paksha (fortnight).Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapada (September) and follows the fortnight immediately after Ganesha Utsav.It begins on the Pratipada (first day of the fortnight ).
Pitru Paksha-fortnight of the parental ancestors is a 16 -lunar day period in Hindu calendar when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors -Pitrs ,especially through food offerings. The period is also known as Pitri paksha,Pitr Paksha,pitri Pokkho,sorah Shraddha ,Kanaget,Jitiya Mahalaya in Bengal,Apara Paksha,and akhadpak ,Pitru pandharaveda or pitru paksh in Marathi.Pitru Paksha is considered by Hindus to be inauspicious ,given the death rite performed during the ceremony called as Shraddha or Tarpana .This period ends with the no moon day known as Sarvapitri Amavasya ,pitri Amavasya ,PEDDALA Amavasaya,Mahalaya Amavasaya.
The end of pitru paksha is named as Mahalaya.Pitur paksha is considered by Hindus to be inauspicious ,given the death rite performed during the ceremony ,known as Shraddha or Tarpana .The end of Pitur paksha and the beginning of Matri Paksha is named as Mahalaya .Most years,the autumnal equinox falls within this period that is the sun transitions from the northern to the southern hemisphere during this period.In north India and Nepal ,and cultures following the purnimanta calendar or solar calendar ,this period may correspond to the waning fortnight of the luni-solar month ashvina ,instead of Bhardrapada.
The performance of Shraddha by a son during Pirtu Paksha is considered compulsory by Hindus ,to ensure that the soul of the ancestor goes to heaven .In this context ,the scripture Guruda Purana says,”there is no salvation for a man without a son.”The scriptures preach that a householder should propitiate ancestors(Pitris) ,along with the gods (devas) ,elements (bhutas) and guests.The scripture Markandeya Purana says that if the ancestors are content with the shraddhas,they will bestow health,wealth,knowledge and longevity and ultimately heaven and salvation -moksha upon the performer.The performance of Sarvapitri amavasya rites can compensate a forgotten or neglected annual Shraddha ceremony ,which should ideally coincide with the death anniversary of the deceased.The ceremony is central to the concept of lineages.
Shraddha involves oblations to three preceding generations by reciting their names as well as to the lineage ancestor-gotra. A person thus gets to know the names of six generations( three preceding generations,his own and two succeeding generations -his sons and grandsons in his life,reaffirming lineage ties.Anthropologist Usha Menon of Drexel university presents a similar idea-that Pitru Paksha emphasizes the fact that the ancestors and current generations and the next unborn generation are connected by blood ties.The current generations repay their debt to the ancestors in Pitru Paksha. This debt is considered of utmost importance along with a person’s debt to his gurus and his parents. This debt has to paid back to the dead ancestors,gurus,gods and gusts and Sharddas performed to give peace to their souls and in return get the blessings from the those who had left the mortal frames and are in the Pitru Lok. Pitru Paksha also known as Shradh, is a lot more than just not eating non veg ,no shopping ,no celebrations ,and all about the negative things attached! Pitru Paksha (Shardh) is a 16-day period of paying homage to your ancestors who have departed from the materialistic world ,as per Hindu calendar. The period is marked by offering prayers,food and daan to the needy and the priests in the temple. All the rituals are performed in respect and remembrance of the ancestors who left for heavenly abode and to wish them well wherever they are.
Hearing that Indra replied to Karna that he only donated gold and jewels to people during his life and never offered food and water in the name of ancestors. To this Karna told Indra that he did not know about his ancestors because he was blessed by Surya deva ,the Lord of light and day to his mother and he had no clue of his ancestors .After this Karna was sent to earth for a period of 15 days so that he could perform Shradha of his dead ones and donate food and water,Since then ,this period of 15 days is regarded as pitru Paksha.As documented in Gharud Purana Shard holds major significance in the first year of death of a person.As per the ancient scriptures ,it is believed that soul starts traveling to Yamapuri on the 14th day of death and reaches there in 17 days.They again travel for 11 months to reach the court of Yamraj.it is said that till the time the soul reaches the court ,it has no access to food ,water and clothes .
The daan ,tarpan and offerings that we perform during Pitru Paksha reaches these souls and satisfy their hunger and thirst .The Shrada puja is performed by a male member ,mostly the eldest male member of the family ,or oldest son .The Shrada requires the participation of a karta -the doer and a pandit -the priest .The puja begins when a pandit comes home and to perform a havan ,after the haven rice is offered to the departed souls ,which uis followed by offering food to the pandit .The puja concludes with Daksihna and Daan to the pandit and the needy people .A part of the food that is prepared is offered to cows ,dogs ,and crows .In case the date or thiti of the deceased is not known to anyone then the Shradh ceremony is performed on Amavasya .Thus 16 -day ritual of pitru paksha also known as Shraadha paksha is an important part of Hindu life .
It is the time for Hindus to break away from everyday life and pay homage to ancestors .Sacred rituals and offerings take place throughout the two weeks of pitur paksha. These traditions each have deep -rooted meanings for the people of the Hindu faith. In Hinduism ,death is part of the greater cycle of life and rebirth ,known as samsara or flowing around .As part of this greater life cycle ,death practices and rituals are key within the religion of Hinduism. Hindus traditionally follow traditional death rituals and rites that stem from ancient religious principles, Pitru Paksha is just one of those traditional death rituals ,but it is the one that takes up more than two weeks of time each year her life ,each individual must find a way to repay those debts .
One debt is known as the ancestral loan or pitru Runa. Pitru paksha is the time every year when everyone has the opportunity to make a payment towards their ancestral loan debt .Thus dan ,food ,water and other offerings should be made by Hindus to the dead ancestors during the 15 day period called Pitru paksha .Let our ancestors be satisfied and bestow peace ,prosperity and health and wealth to those making food and water offerings to them during the pitru paksha.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist)
