P.J.
0
All about MAHALAYA 2015
MAHALAYA PAKSHA & PRATYABDHIKA SRAADDHA
This year Manmatha varusha, the Mahalaya Paksha starts from 28 September 2015.
A WORD ABOUT MAHALAYAM:
Mahalaya paksha, which is also known as 'pitru paksha' is very great and one should not think of skipping it on anycount. It is said in Sastras that this paskha has immense values and gives satisfaction to the pitrus.
During thepaksha the souls of the pitrus will descend to earth in the form of spirits and will be present around their currentbiological descendants to see their conditions. Hence nitya tarpana is highly recommended if possible.
I may alsoadd that during the Mahalaya paksha one can perform the sraaddha on any convenient day, not necessarily on theday of his father's thidhi.But, of course, Mahaalaya paksha has some leniences and alternatives. No dosham will occur if one opts for somepermitted alternatives here. No one need to worry on this count.
Paarvana Vidhanam, ie with Homam, is not mandatory here; and it is also observed in parts of our Tamilnadu like North Arcot some people perform onlytarpanam, not even hiranya, in this Paksha; it is their desacharam. Whatever may be the format one chooses, hecan observe the niyamas/deeksha prescribed throughout the Paksha.
On a personal note, I may suggest that for whomever it is convenient and affordable they can have BrahmanaBhojanam arranged as part of hiranya sraaddha. This can be carried out on any convenient day during this pitrupaksha.However, let us not forget that the pratyabdhika sraaddha is entirely different from this.
PRATYABDHIKA SRAADDHA:
Our ancestors are known to have performed Pratyabdhika Sraaddha with tremendous devotion and with even morecare and diligence than the attention given to special pujas and sankalpas. In the case of puja or some venduthal(specific commitment), my father Brahmasri Srinivasa Sastrigal used to say, if one has difficulty in fulfilling it onecan postpone it by tying a rupee coin in a yellow cloth and keep it till one gets the time and the means to do it.But in the case of Pratyabdhika Sraaddha there is no room for such lenience or deviation. Neither it can bepostponed or advanced at our will.
Sraaddha cannot be done differently from the laid down process.
FOR WHOSE SATISFACTION?
This Pratyabdhika Sraaddha is performed on the same day, known as thithi of the month (as per the Hinducalendar) every year from the second year onwards.
The word Sraaddha comes from Sraddha (ச்ரத்தை) meaningconcentration and care.
Through the performance of a Pratyabdhika Sraaddha, we reach satisfaction and happiness,through several rites which are part and parcel of the sraaddha, to a host of Godly persons.
The pitrus who always bless usViswedevas, a section of devas who accompany pitrusAgni Deva, who participates in the HomaDevas, who are immensely satisfied wherever bhojana (food) is offered to BrahminsPeople who are consigned to hell, and cannot have opportunity for satisfaction other than through pinda pradanaand vikiranna, which are offered during a SraaddhaPersons aspiring for pitruloka and unable to attain it
Other pitrus who are unknown to the KartaThis Pratyabdhika sraaddha, annual ceremony, is great and very powerful. We should develop the faith that pitrusare with us, they can be contacted and we can communicate with them. They are an anga (section) of Devas andcan bless us like Devas.
Pitrus are gentle persons who can only do good, and who in fact want to do as much goodas they can for people of their Gotra.
Satisfaction of the pitrus is said to confer many benefits on the Karta –healthy family, procreation, wealth, wisdom and eminence in life and after-life.Pitrus’ shaapa (curse)
We must always be conscious of our Dharmika karma, our religious duty. Increasingly we see instances of Sastrigalbeing denigrated, skipping Sraaddha on some lame excuse etc. Such behaviour amounts to ingratitude and isunpardonable. Cantankerous arguments on the irrelevance of karmas like Sraaddha in this day and age are to beavoided, and in any case people putting forth such ideas are not interested in the explanations.Such persons may want to remember that their behaviour can invoke pitru shaapa or the curse of pitrus.
TheSastras say that pitrus may not even utter a curse – they only have to heave a sigh of petulance or unhappiness,and that can have the impact of a curse.
Mahalayapaksha also known as Pitr paksha lasts for 15 days.
This year this paksha commences on September 28 to October 12, 2015.
Below are the Mahalaya Pitru Paksha and Shradh 2015 dates. Tarpan and Shradh are performed on all Amavasi or no moon days. But the most important period to perform Shradh is the Pitru Paksha period during the Krishna Paksha fortnight in Ashwin month (September – October). In some regions this period is the Bhadrapad Krishna Paksha.
Pitru Paksha Shraddh Dates in 2015
September 28, 2015 – Purnima Shradh
September 28, 2015 - Pratipada Shradh
September 29, 2015 – Dwitiya Shradh
September 30 – Tritiya Shradh
October 1 – Chaturthi Shradh
October 2 – Panchami Shradh
October 3 – Shasti Shradh
October 4 – Saptami Shradh
October 5, 2015 – Ashtami Shradh
October 6 – Navami Shradh
October 7 – Dasami Shradh
October 8 – Ekadashi Shradh
October 9 – Dwadashi Shradh
October 10, 2015 – Trayodashi Shradh
October 11, 2015 – Chaturdashi Shradh
October 12, 2015 – Mahalaya Amavasi – Most important day of Shradh - On this day Shradh can be performed without looking date, tithi, nakshatra etc - it is known as Sarva Pitru Shradh.
Shradh and Tarpan are also performed on all Amavasi day in a year. You can find the Amavasi dates in 2015 in this earlier article – Amavas 2015 dates.
Apart from this Shradh is also performed on the birth star or nakshatra of the dead person and also on the tithi or rasi or nakshatra the person died.
Another popular date for performing Shradh is the Basant Panchami day in Magh month. In 2015, Basant Panchami was on January 24.
Although Mahalaya Amavasya is considered to be the most important and auspicious day for performing Shraddharituals to dead ancestors, in Southern parts of the country the shraddham is also performed on days whenApabharani, Madhyashtami and Vyatipatam occur during the Mahalaya Paksham. This does not, necessarily , meanthat on other Thitis. Shraddham should not be performed.All the 15 days of the Paksham are equally good. Some people observe Shraddham on the same Thithi on whichone`s father or mother expired.
Incidentally, Sastras have prescribed performance of what is known asBrahmayagnam daily all the 365 days. This consists of Tarpanam for devas, rishis and pitrs. Separate Pitr Tarpanamis required to be performed on all Amavasya Thithis, all Masa sankaramanms (beginning day of the months), alleclipse daysIn fact, there are 96 days in a year when one is required to perform Shraddha but it might not be feasible toperform regular Shraddham as prescribed by Sastras including homam, vastradanam (gift of dhoti andangavastram), feeding of Brahmanas, Pindapradaanam etc. etc. (which is observed on the respective Thithi ofrespective Paksham and respective month in which one`s father and or mother died)on all these 96 occasions.On most of these occasions only Tilatarpanam (which takes about 15 minutes or so) is done in place of regularShraddham which lasts for almost 3 hours.
On the occasion of Pratyaabdika Shraadham elaborate Sraddham as perscriptural injunctions is required to be performed.There are contradictory views whether one is required to perform Pratyabdeeka Sraddham and Mahalay PakshaSraddham after one performs the Gaya Sraddham. We may not enter into discussion on this here .
Coming back to Mahalaya Paksha Sraddham, it does not involve doing of homam for Pitrs, Vastradanam and feedingof Brahmanas and Pindapradanam as in case of Pratyaabdika Sraddham. The entire ritual will be over in about halfan hour including performance of Tilatarpanam.
All the rituals done in honour of pitr devatas, be it annualShraddham or Pitr Tarpanam are considered as very auspicious rituals.It is believed that our Pitr devatas attain salvation and bless us with harmony and prosperity, if we perform pitrkarmas regularly as prescribed by Sastras. On the other hand, if Pitr karyam is not observed as prescribed inSastras one incurs the wrath of Pitrs and runs the risk of inviting the curse of Pitrs (Pitr Sapam).
The Mahabharatam says in this regard as follows: - "How can a householder earn money and be gifted with a babyboy if he does not perform Shraddha ceremony during the period when the Sun is in Kanya Rasi (virgo sign), as hewould have enraged the deceased ancestor's souls.Moreover, the abode of the the deceased ancestor`s souls (Pitr loka) remains vacant till the Sun moves fromVirgo(Kanya) to Libra (Tula)sign) whereby the Pitrs come closer to the descendents for blessing them and ifShraddha is not performed, they give curse to their descendents and return.In the light of the above, performing Shraddham during Mahalaya Paksham is a Must.
Sraddham done during PitrPaksha on the day on which Mahabharani Nakshatra occurs is also considered as propitious to the Pitr devatas. Thisis also called Bharani Mahalaya.
Generally, Bharani Nakshatra falls either on Chathurthi or on Panchami during Mahalaya Paksham.
It is notmandatory that Mahalayapaksha Sraddham should be done ONLY on Bharani Nakshatra day. If this weremandatory, all Brahmanas will find that it is difficult to perform on that day, since adequate number of *VedaBrAhmana-s *for officiating in *srAddha *are not available.
As already stated, when Pitr Paksha Sraddham is performed, it does not call for Vastra danam, Homam, Bhojanamor feeding of the Brahmanas and Pindapradanam etc.
Serving of food to Brahmanas is also not mandatory as in thecase of a Pratyaabdika Sraddham (Annual Sraddha ceremony).Food served during annual ceremony will be as per family tradition. For Mahalaya Sraddham, the practice in vogueis to offer uncooked Rice, dal, raw banana and any other traditional vegetable of Indian origin, besides appropriateDakshina for Mahalayapaksha Sraddham.This is called Hiranya Sraddham, i.e., Sraddham where Dakshina only is offered and not meals.
If one wants to offer meals to Brahmanas he can do so, provided the Brahmanas have the time and are willing toeat. It goes without saying that the food served should be satvik in nature. Items like garlick, onion etc, shouldnever be used in food served to Brahmins.
TO BE CONTINUED
http://www.hindu-blog.com/2009/12/shradh-dates-2010-mahalaya-pitru-paksha.html
http://www.drikpanchang.com/vrats/shraddhadates.html
https://thapas.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/all-about-mahalaya-paksham-2013.pdf
MAHALAYA PAKSHA & PRATYABDHIKA SRAADDHA
This year Manmatha varusha, the Mahalaya Paksha starts from 28 September 2015.
A WORD ABOUT MAHALAYAM:
Mahalaya paksha, which is also known as 'pitru paksha' is very great and one should not think of skipping it on anycount. It is said in Sastras that this paskha has immense values and gives satisfaction to the pitrus.
During thepaksha the souls of the pitrus will descend to earth in the form of spirits and will be present around their currentbiological descendants to see their conditions. Hence nitya tarpana is highly recommended if possible.
I may alsoadd that during the Mahalaya paksha one can perform the sraaddha on any convenient day, not necessarily on theday of his father's thidhi.But, of course, Mahaalaya paksha has some leniences and alternatives. No dosham will occur if one opts for somepermitted alternatives here. No one need to worry on this count.
Paarvana Vidhanam, ie with Homam, is not mandatory here; and it is also observed in parts of our Tamilnadu like North Arcot some people perform onlytarpanam, not even hiranya, in this Paksha; it is their desacharam. Whatever may be the format one chooses, hecan observe the niyamas/deeksha prescribed throughout the Paksha.
On a personal note, I may suggest that for whomever it is convenient and affordable they can have BrahmanaBhojanam arranged as part of hiranya sraaddha. This can be carried out on any convenient day during this pitrupaksha.However, let us not forget that the pratyabdhika sraaddha is entirely different from this.
PRATYABDHIKA SRAADDHA:
Our ancestors are known to have performed Pratyabdhika Sraaddha with tremendous devotion and with even morecare and diligence than the attention given to special pujas and sankalpas. In the case of puja or some venduthal(specific commitment), my father Brahmasri Srinivasa Sastrigal used to say, if one has difficulty in fulfilling it onecan postpone it by tying a rupee coin in a yellow cloth and keep it till one gets the time and the means to do it.But in the case of Pratyabdhika Sraaddha there is no room for such lenience or deviation. Neither it can bepostponed or advanced at our will.
Sraaddha cannot be done differently from the laid down process.
FOR WHOSE SATISFACTION?
This Pratyabdhika Sraaddha is performed on the same day, known as thithi of the month (as per the Hinducalendar) every year from the second year onwards.
The word Sraaddha comes from Sraddha (ச்ரத்தை) meaningconcentration and care.
Through the performance of a Pratyabdhika Sraaddha, we reach satisfaction and happiness,through several rites which are part and parcel of the sraaddha, to a host of Godly persons.
The pitrus who always bless usViswedevas, a section of devas who accompany pitrusAgni Deva, who participates in the HomaDevas, who are immensely satisfied wherever bhojana (food) is offered to BrahminsPeople who are consigned to hell, and cannot have opportunity for satisfaction other than through pinda pradanaand vikiranna, which are offered during a SraaddhaPersons aspiring for pitruloka and unable to attain it
Other pitrus who are unknown to the KartaThis Pratyabdhika sraaddha, annual ceremony, is great and very powerful. We should develop the faith that pitrusare with us, they can be contacted and we can communicate with them. They are an anga (section) of Devas andcan bless us like Devas.
Pitrus are gentle persons who can only do good, and who in fact want to do as much goodas they can for people of their Gotra.
Satisfaction of the pitrus is said to confer many benefits on the Karta –healthy family, procreation, wealth, wisdom and eminence in life and after-life.Pitrus’ shaapa (curse)
We must always be conscious of our Dharmika karma, our religious duty. Increasingly we see instances of Sastrigalbeing denigrated, skipping Sraaddha on some lame excuse etc. Such behaviour amounts to ingratitude and isunpardonable. Cantankerous arguments on the irrelevance of karmas like Sraaddha in this day and age are to beavoided, and in any case people putting forth such ideas are not interested in the explanations.Such persons may want to remember that their behaviour can invoke pitru shaapa or the curse of pitrus.
TheSastras say that pitrus may not even utter a curse – they only have to heave a sigh of petulance or unhappiness,and that can have the impact of a curse.
Mahalayapaksha also known as Pitr paksha lasts for 15 days.
This year this paksha commences on September 28 to October 12, 2015.
Below are the Mahalaya Pitru Paksha and Shradh 2015 dates. Tarpan and Shradh are performed on all Amavasi or no moon days. But the most important period to perform Shradh is the Pitru Paksha period during the Krishna Paksha fortnight in Ashwin month (September – October). In some regions this period is the Bhadrapad Krishna Paksha.
Pitru Paksha Shraddh Dates in 2015
September 28, 2015 – Purnima Shradh
September 28, 2015 - Pratipada Shradh
September 29, 2015 – Dwitiya Shradh
September 30 – Tritiya Shradh
October 1 – Chaturthi Shradh
October 2 – Panchami Shradh
October 3 – Shasti Shradh
October 4 – Saptami Shradh
October 5, 2015 – Ashtami Shradh
October 6 – Navami Shradh
October 7 – Dasami Shradh
October 8 – Ekadashi Shradh
October 9 – Dwadashi Shradh
October 10, 2015 – Trayodashi Shradh
October 11, 2015 – Chaturdashi Shradh
October 12, 2015 – Mahalaya Amavasi – Most important day of Shradh - On this day Shradh can be performed without looking date, tithi, nakshatra etc - it is known as Sarva Pitru Shradh.
Shradh and Tarpan are also performed on all Amavasi day in a year. You can find the Amavasi dates in 2015 in this earlier article – Amavas 2015 dates.
Apart from this Shradh is also performed on the birth star or nakshatra of the dead person and also on the tithi or rasi or nakshatra the person died.
Another popular date for performing Shradh is the Basant Panchami day in Magh month. In 2015, Basant Panchami was on January 24.
Although Mahalaya Amavasya is considered to be the most important and auspicious day for performing Shraddharituals to dead ancestors, in Southern parts of the country the shraddham is also performed on days whenApabharani, Madhyashtami and Vyatipatam occur during the Mahalaya Paksham. This does not, necessarily , meanthat on other Thitis. Shraddham should not be performed.All the 15 days of the Paksham are equally good. Some people observe Shraddham on the same Thithi on whichone`s father or mother expired.
Incidentally, Sastras have prescribed performance of what is known asBrahmayagnam daily all the 365 days. This consists of Tarpanam for devas, rishis and pitrs. Separate Pitr Tarpanamis required to be performed on all Amavasya Thithis, all Masa sankaramanms (beginning day of the months), alleclipse daysIn fact, there are 96 days in a year when one is required to perform Shraddha but it might not be feasible toperform regular Shraddham as prescribed by Sastras including homam, vastradanam (gift of dhoti andangavastram), feeding of Brahmanas, Pindapradaanam etc. etc. (which is observed on the respective Thithi ofrespective Paksham and respective month in which one`s father and or mother died)on all these 96 occasions.On most of these occasions only Tilatarpanam (which takes about 15 minutes or so) is done in place of regularShraddham which lasts for almost 3 hours.
On the occasion of Pratyaabdika Shraadham elaborate Sraddham as perscriptural injunctions is required to be performed.There are contradictory views whether one is required to perform Pratyabdeeka Sraddham and Mahalay PakshaSraddham after one performs the Gaya Sraddham. We may not enter into discussion on this here .
Coming back to Mahalaya Paksha Sraddham, it does not involve doing of homam for Pitrs, Vastradanam and feedingof Brahmanas and Pindapradanam as in case of Pratyaabdika Sraddham. The entire ritual will be over in about halfan hour including performance of Tilatarpanam.
All the rituals done in honour of pitr devatas, be it annualShraddham or Pitr Tarpanam are considered as very auspicious rituals.It is believed that our Pitr devatas attain salvation and bless us with harmony and prosperity, if we perform pitrkarmas regularly as prescribed by Sastras. On the other hand, if Pitr karyam is not observed as prescribed inSastras one incurs the wrath of Pitrs and runs the risk of inviting the curse of Pitrs (Pitr Sapam).
The Mahabharatam says in this regard as follows: - "How can a householder earn money and be gifted with a babyboy if he does not perform Shraddha ceremony during the period when the Sun is in Kanya Rasi (virgo sign), as hewould have enraged the deceased ancestor's souls.Moreover, the abode of the the deceased ancestor`s souls (Pitr loka) remains vacant till the Sun moves fromVirgo(Kanya) to Libra (Tula)sign) whereby the Pitrs come closer to the descendents for blessing them and ifShraddha is not performed, they give curse to their descendents and return.In the light of the above, performing Shraddham during Mahalaya Paksham is a Must.
Sraddham done during PitrPaksha on the day on which Mahabharani Nakshatra occurs is also considered as propitious to the Pitr devatas. Thisis also called Bharani Mahalaya.
Generally, Bharani Nakshatra falls either on Chathurthi or on Panchami during Mahalaya Paksham.
It is notmandatory that Mahalayapaksha Sraddham should be done ONLY on Bharani Nakshatra day. If this weremandatory, all Brahmanas will find that it is difficult to perform on that day, since adequate number of *VedaBrAhmana-s *for officiating in *srAddha *are not available.
As already stated, when Pitr Paksha Sraddham is performed, it does not call for Vastra danam, Homam, Bhojanamor feeding of the Brahmanas and Pindapradanam etc.
Serving of food to Brahmanas is also not mandatory as in thecase of a Pratyaabdika Sraddham (Annual Sraddha ceremony).Food served during annual ceremony will be as per family tradition. For Mahalaya Sraddham, the practice in vogueis to offer uncooked Rice, dal, raw banana and any other traditional vegetable of Indian origin, besides appropriateDakshina for Mahalayapaksha Sraddham.This is called Hiranya Sraddham, i.e., Sraddham where Dakshina only is offered and not meals.
If one wants to offer meals to Brahmanas he can do so, provided the Brahmanas have the time and are willing toeat. It goes without saying that the food served should be satvik in nature. Items like garlick, onion etc, shouldnever be used in food served to Brahmins.
TO BE CONTINUED
http://www.hindu-blog.com/2009/12/shradh-dates-2010-mahalaya-pitru-paksha.html
http://www.drikpanchang.com/vrats/shraddhadates.html
https://thapas.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/all-about-mahalaya-paksham-2013.pdf
Last edited:
