Pitra Paksha: Meaning, Significance and Importance
Now, today’s topic is Pitra Paksha, or Pitru Paksha, or Shraddha. This is a fifteen-day-long period of remembrance and worshipping those who have left life on Earth to let their soul travel to the heavenly abode. These are our ancestors, also called, Pitra. In Hindu mythology, it is believed that every year, exactly after Lord Ganesha went back with his family to the Kailash Parvat, the ancestors of the Earth travel down to meet their successors and spend time with them. It is said that they visit back to earth to bless their own.
What happens in Pitra Paksha?
These ancestors, when they visit the Earth, they visit like guests. They wish to be treated like guests. They come down from their abodes to spend quality time with their loved ones and their families. Some people also say that the ancestors come down on Earth because they come down to collect resources to last for another year in heaven with satisfaction. Also, the demised souls come down on Earth to complete some incomplete tasks that they wished to but couldn’t finish due to limited time. Sometimes, these tasks make for the dissatisfaction of the demised souls and they are not at ease or at rest till they actually get it fulfilled.
Why is Pitra Paksha Important?
It is a common belief that the Pitra is everything that any living person stands for. It is these ancestors only who make us capable of having a life, so everyone has to behave well and properly with the Pitra. However, this holds true for not just Pitra Paksha time, but for all the times that could have been overlooked.
Story of Pitra Paksha
There is a very popular story of Pitra Paksha. When Karna, the great fighter and the senior brother of the Pandavas, went to heaven after his death, he was offered a lot of jewels, gold, silver, and coins. He was offered a lot of wealth in designer and most valued plates. He was offered luxury in place of food and water. Karna could not understand why he was not offered food and water. When he asked Yama, the Lord of Death, he was told that because Karna spent his entire wealth by distributing wealth, jewels, ornaments, and valuables to the needy, all those donations were saved for him in heaven. Since he helped a lot of people financially, he received a place in heaven. So, everyone gets what they have been given. Since Karna did not donate any food or water in his lifetime, he was not getting food or water in heaven also.
Karna finally realized his mistake. He prayed and requested Yama, and asked for his forgiveness. He asked Yama for a chance to make things right. He told Yama that he was unaware of the fact that a balance has to be maintained in helping and donations as well. He presented his case saying he had no godfather and all he did and learned was due to his own determination and his own efforts. This was why he could not have the knowledge to offer food to the needy. Yama agreed to the points and offered Karna a chance to go back to Earth for 15 days and rectify his mistakes. Karna was sent for 16 lunar cycles exactly after the full moon day of Lord Ganesha’s return to Kailash Parvat.
When is Pitra Paksha Observed?
This is why; the day exactly after the Ganesha Visarjan is marked as a period of Pitras, or the Pitra Paksha. For these fifteen days, people are advised to offer food to the Pitras, treat them well, and ensure they are completely at ease and satisfied. Also, if the Pitras are happy with the services offered and the Pooja done for their Salvation, they maintain their blessings forever on their own and they will never let the person suffer due to anything on Earth. This is a very rare blessing and there are very few people who are able to get the same from their beloved ancestors. This is also why it is advised to never anger the Pitras because when their happiness can make the entire life of the person happy, their sadness can also destroy the peace and happiness of the person who has angered them.
What are the Fifteen Days of Pitra Paksha?
Pitra Paksha is celebrated as a period of mourning as well as purity. Everyone is requested to perform the Shraddha Puja, worship done for the satisfaction and salvation of the Pitras to protect them from any pains and miseries of any kind. Since the Pitra Paksha lasts for fifteen days, there are different days dedicated to various aspects of death.
- The first, second, and third days of Pitra paksha are for inviting the ancestors to the place of worship and performing Tarpan.
- Chautha Bharani is the fourth day of Pitra Paksha. Bharani Panchami is the fifth day of Pitra Paksha. These two days are to worship the ancestors who have died in the recent past, in the previous year.
- The sixth, seventh and eighth day of Pitra Paksha is for Shraddha and Tarpan of the departed souls of the previous 6 generations, who were very near and dear to the person, or people closely related to the person.
- The ninth day of Pitra Paksha is the Avidhwa Navami. On this day, the women who had departed before their husbands, who died while they were Suhagan, are paid homage. The husbands of the departed wives feed the Brahmin wives to make the soul of their wives comforted.
- The tenth and eleventh day is for worshiping all the remaining Pitra, who were not worshiped in the previous days, and those who will not be worshiped in the upcoming timeline as well.
- The twelfth day is for the children and those who had no home and have died an untimely death without having anyone for them.
- The thirteenth day of Pitra Paksha, unlike any other thirteenth day, is very Shubh (auspicious). On this day, all the departed souls gather to bless the person who does Tarpan and their entire family.
- The fourteenth day is called the Ghata Chaturdashi, or Ghayala Chaturdashi, which is for the souls who died because of the war or any other violent death.
- The fifteenth day of Pitra Paksha is a last chance for all those souls who were not worshiped until this day or have been forgotten about by mistake.
- The last day of Pitra Paksha is the Mahalaya. It is for the Pitras to go back to heaven to stay there and live the happiness of their successors while with Yama.
- Sarvapitri Amavasya is the 16th day which marks the end of Pitra Paksha. This is the final day to worship all of the ancestors forever. It is the last chance for those who either forgot or were not in the capacity to worship their ancestors. This is the day before the new lunar period and is considered an opportunity to cover up for any losses or misses in the Pitra Paksha. It is believed that no Pitra should be left out because this makes them feel alone and angers them. The happiness of a Pitra can bring loads of joy but an angered Pitra can anger any other happy Pitra also. Hence, if you are capable, you should worship your ancestors and try to help those who are incapable of the Pitra Pooja. The benefits gained from this will always prevent you from any devilish acts conspiring against you.
Pitra Paksha is a fifteen-day time period when there are a few activities advised to maintain the safety and satisfaction of our ancestors as well as gain access to their blessings for prevention of any threats and evil omens that could create a life-threatening situation.
There are a lot more things to talk about Pitra Paksha like how to perform Shraddha Pooja, What to do in Pitra Paksha, and especially what not to do in Pitra Paksha. We will be talking about those in the next blog.
It does not mean that these activities should not be followed on normal days. It only means that in Pitra Paksha, it is always better to maintain the above-mentioned actions. Keeping up with these in normal day-to-day activities will only add positive feathers to the cap.
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We will soon be publishing another line of content talking about the do’s and don’ts of Pitra Paksha along with the best method of doing a Pitra Paksha Pooja. Till then, keep happy, keep safe, and Har Har Mahadev..!!
