Respecting the ancestors and worshiping them after they have left for the heavenly abode is something that has been a part of the Hindu tradition for the past many centuries.
The Pitru Paksh is a ceremony considered to be inauspicious by the Hindus where they give food offerings to their ancestors and worship them after they have left their body.
History of Pitru Paksh
As indicated by Hinduism, the spirits of three going before ages of one’s progenitor live in Pitriloka, a domain among paradise and earth. This domain is administered by Yama, the lord of death, who takes the spirit of a perishing man from earth to Pitriloka.
At the point when an individual of the cutting edge bites the dust, the original movements to paradise and joins with God, so Shraddha contributions are not given. Subsequently, just the three ages in Pitriloka are given Shraddha rituals, in which Yama plays a critical role.
According to the consecrated Hindu legends, toward the start of Pitri Paksha, the sun enters the zodiac indication of Virgo (Kanya).
Agreeing with this second, it is accepted that the spirits leave Pitriloka and live in their relatives’ homes for a month until the sun enters the following zodiac—Scorpio (Vrischika)— and there is a full moon. Hindus are relied upon to satisfy the progenitors in the main half, during the dull fortnight.
At the point when the amazing benefactor Karna passed on in the epic Mahabharata war, his spirit rose above to paradise, where he was offered gold and gems as food.
In any case, Karna required genuine food to eat and asked Indra, the master of paradise, the purpose behind serving gold as food. Indra disclosed to Karna that he had given gold for his entire life, yet had never given food to his predecessors in Shraddha.
Karna said that since he was ignorant of his precursors, he gave nothing in their memory. To offer some kind of reparation, Karna was allowed to re-visitation the earth for 15 days, with the goal that he could perform Shraddha and give food and water in their memory.
This period is presently known as Pitru Paksh. In certain legends, Yama replaces Indra.
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Significance of Pitru Paksh
Pitru Paksh is considered by Hindus to be foreboding, given the demise custom performed during the function, known as Shraddha or Tarpana. In southern and western India, it falls in the second paksha (fortnight) Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapada (September) and follows the fortnight following Ganesh Utsav.
It starts on the Pratipada (first day of the fortnight) finishing with the no moon day known as Sarvapitri Amavasya, Pitri Amavasya, Peddala Amavasya, Mahalaya Amavasya. Most years, the harvest time equinox falls inside this period, for example, the Sun changes from the north toward the southern half of the globe during this period.
In North India and Nepal, and societies following the purnimanta schedule or the sun-powered schedule, this period may compare to the disappearing fortnight of the luni-sun oriented month Ashvina, rather than Bhadrapada.
The presentation of Shraddha by a child during Pitri Paksha is viewed as mandatory by Hindus, to guarantee that the spirit of the precursor goes to paradise. In this specific situation, the sacred text Garuda Purana says, “there is no salvation for a man without a son”.
The sacred writings lecture that a householder ought to satisfy predecessors (Pitris), alongside the divine beings (devas), components (bhutas), and guests.
The sacred text Markandeya Purana says that if the progenitors are content with the shraddhas, they will offer wellbeing, abundance, information, and life span, and at last paradise and salvation (moksha) upon the performer.
The presentation of Sarvapitri Amavasya rituals can likewise remunerate a failed to remember or ignored yearly Shraddha function, which ought to preferably harmonize with the demise commemoration of the expired.
As per Sharma, the function is vital to the idea of ancestries. Shraddha includes oblations to three going before ages—by recounting their names—just as to the genealogy precursor (gotra).
An individual subsequently becomes more acquainted with the names of six ages (three going before age, his own and two succeeding ages—his children and grandsons) in his day to day existence, reaffirming ancestry ties.
Anthropologist Usha Menon of Drexel University presents a comparative thought—that Pitri Paksha stresses the way that the precursors and the current age and their next unborn age are associated by direct relations.
The current age reimburses their obligation to the progenitors in the Pitri Paksha. This obligation is considered of most extreme significance alongside an individual’s obligation to his masters and his folks.
Pitru Paksh Shraddha
The male who plays out the shraddha should wash up previously and is relied upon to wear a dhoti. He wears a ring of darbha grass. At that point, the progenitors are conjured to dwell in the ring.
The shraddha is normally performed exposed chested, as the situation of the sacrosanct string worn by him should be changed on various occasions during the function. The shraddha includes pinda dana, which is a contribution to the precursors of pindas (cooked rice and grain flour balls blended in with ghee and dark sesame seeds), going with the arrival of water from the hand.
It is trailed by the love of Vishnu (in the type of the darbha grass, a gold picture, or Shaligram stone) and Yama. The food offering is then made, cooked particularly for the function on the rooftop.
The contribution is viewed as acknowledged whether a crow shows up and eats up the food; the winged animal is accepted to be a courier from Yama or the soul of the ancestors.
A bovine and a canine are likewise taken care of, and Brahmin ministers are additionally offered food. When the progenitors (crow) and Brahmins have eaten, the relatives can start lunch.
Conclusion
The Pitru Paksh is a 16-day lunar period when the Hindu people worship their ancestors and make delicious food items for them and offer them the same while praying to God for having mercy on them and protect them from different adversities of life.
This period is considered to be inauspicious by the people because this period is associated with the death of the people.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
How is Ganesh Utsav related to the occasion of Pitru Paksh?
The Pitru Paksh is associated with the Ganesh Utsav as it comes every year and follows the fortnight after the Ganesh Utsav.
What are the observances which are followed during the Pitru Paksh?
The observances followed during the time of Pitru Paksh include food offerings to the ancestors and at the same time paying homage to them so that they can ensure the good fortune and health of their family members.