What is Pitrupaksha? Significance & Importance
As children, we all used to think about why our mom and dad are inviting a photo of Dada to have lunch. We used to wonder, can a photo really eat?
But as we grew up, we understood the tradition of lighting a diya, making their favorite food for our late elders, and remembering them on Pitrupaksha. It is a sacred day in the Hindu calendar.
Meaning and Origin of Pitrupaksha in Hindu Tradition
Pitrupaksha, commonly called "the fortnight of the ancestors," is a holy period in the Hindu calendar when devotees spend a period of time remembering departed souls. The term 'Pitrupaksha' has a deep meaning. Pitrus means forefathers or ancestors, and Paksha is the period of the lunar cycle. Pitrupaksha describes the period when families reconnect with their family tree, as well as pay their due respect to the ancestors who gave them a happy life.
According to the Garuda Purana and the Mahabharata, this is when the souls of forefathers descend to earth, waiting for their children to offer food and prayers. Recalling not only provides peace to these souls, but it also allows these souls to bless the family.
As our grandma used to say, without the roots, the tree cannot spread. Similarly, Pitrupaksha helps us remember we are just the branch and we need the roots of blessing and love.
The Mythological Story Behind Pitrupaksha
Pitrupaksha has a deep mythological context, like every Hindu ritual. It is one of the well-known stories that comes from the Mahabharata. The fighter Karna received heaven when he passed away. Although he had lived a life of charity on Earth, he found that no food was offered to him in heaven. Karna wondered why this was, and after some inquiry, he found out that although he donated gold and wealth, he failed to offer food to his ancestors. Out of sympathy, Lord Indra, the king of the heavens, allowed Karna to return to earth for a span of 15 days to perform the Shraddha ceremony to offer food to his ancestors.
These 15 days on earth became the origin of Pitrupaksha. Furthermore, this reference comes with the meaning that material wealth and giving things away cannot replace the heartfelt act of feeding and remembering our ancestors.
You might have heard other elders in your family tell this story, especially during this time of year when they prepare food for Pitrupaksha offerings.
Importance of Honoring Ancestors During Pitrupaksha
It's not just about honoring; it's about expressing gratitude. According to Pitrupaksha significance in Hinduism, ancestors don't just go away after death; they are always connected to the well-being of their children. We honour them by establishing a spiritual bridge and connection to our ancestors, allowing children to remember their ancestors regularly through Shradh puja rituals.
The Pitru Paksha importance is to remember our ancestors for many reasons that include:
- To seek the blessings of good health, prosperity, and harmony in the family.
- Remembering to express thankfulness to those who are the reason we exist.
- To help departed souls free from earth and attain a state of liberation.
My dad always believes, "Jo apne poorvajon ko yaad nahi karte hain, unka ghar kabhi sukh-sampatti se nahi bharta".
Rituals and Customs Followed in Pitrupaksha Shraddha
The ancestor worship rituals are the main ceremony of Pitrupaksha. Families perform this ceremony with complete devotion and commitment and often offer puja and food on auspicious days based on the tithi (lunar day) of the ancestor's demise. The list of Pitrupaksha rituals is as follows:
- Tarpan: Water, along with a mixture of sesame seeds and barley, for the ancestors.
- Pinda Daan: balls made of rice flour, ghee, and black sesame are offered for the soul to rest in peace.
- Shradh puja rituals are recited with mantras and offering food to Brahmins.
- Feeding the needy: cows and crows are fed along with the needy, as these offerings of food are thought to be related to ancestral blessings.
During the Pitrupaksha rituals, Altar Pooja Decoration Items are often set up in the home to create an atmosphere of devotion with a respectful, sacred space. The presence of flowers, diyas, and incense heightens the sense of sacredness.
Experiencing families gathering at this time is habitual and traditional, both for practices and experiencing family relationships, whether for rituals or the family gathering around stories of their past loved ones.
The Shraddha ceremony is the core ritual of Pitrupaksha. Families observe it with devotion, often choosing auspicious dates based on the tithi (lunar day) of the ancestor’s death. The Pitrupaksha rituals include:
- Tarpan: Offering water mixed with sesame seeds and barley to ancestors.
- Pinda Daan: Offering rice balls made of flour, ghee, and black sesame to provide peace to the souls.
- Shradh puja rituals: Performing prayers with mantras and offering food to Brahmins.
- Feeding the needy: Serving food to cows, crows, and the poor, as they are considered carriers of ancestral blessings.
During these rituals, homes are often adorned with pooja decoration items, creating a sacred and respectful atmosphere. The presence of flowers, diyas, and incense enhances the sanctity of the space.
You might have also experienced how families gather together during this time, not just for rituals but for bonding and remembering their loved ones.
Auspicious and Inauspicious Days in Pitrupaksha
Pitrupaksha lasts 16 lunar days, with each day associated with an ancestral tithi. It is best to perform Shraddha on the ancestral tithi, which generally is the day to honour your ancestors. Out of the 16 days, the Mahalaya Amavasya (the last day of Pitrupaksha) is deemed the most beneficial because it is a global day to honour all ancestors.
- Auspicious Days of Piturupaksha: Mahalaya Amavasya, individual tithis of ancestors.
- Inauspicious events in Pitrupaksha: A personal auspicious event, such as a wedding, moving into a new home, or other large events, is usually avoided during the Pitrupaksha period.
Most elders will state that you should not begin anything new during this period, since your mind should be focused on your remembrance and prayers.
Foods Offered to Ancestors During Shraddha
The importance of food in Pitrupaksha offerings is not just about food. It is believed that if you feed the soul with devotion of love, it provides the soul with mukti(liberation). These are some traditional dishes you can offer during Pitrupaksha:
- Kheer (rice pudding) - a symbol of sweetness and purity.
- Lapsi (a sweet pudding made with wheat and ghee) - shares a sweet devotion to pitrus (ancestors).
- Vegetables like pumpkin or arbi (a taro root)- vegetarian sattvic foods considered sacred.
- Rice, dal, and chapatis - staple foods offered to ancestors.
Do you remember Shraddha's meal that our grandmothers cooked? Especially Grandpa’s favorite dishes. It carries a different taste of generational traditions. It also reflects devotion and love for the deceased.
Regional Variations of Pitrupaksha Rituals in India
The cultural diversity of India is evident in how Pitrupaksha is observed:
- In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, People perform the famous Gaya Shraddha or Pind Daan, which is considered very sacred.
- In Gujarat, Families offer food to cows, crows, and the needy, hoping that it reaches their ancestors.
- In Bengal, the period ends with Mahalaya, which marks the start of the Durga Puja celebrations.
- In the south of India, Rituals typically involve offerings of rice, banana, and coconut.
Every region is different, but the common thread is the Pitrupaksha ancestor worship ritual, which honors the past and blesses the future.
Spiritual Benefits of Performing Pitrupaksha Rituals
The Pitrupaksha spiritual meaning goes deeper than tradition. It contains:
- Peace of mind knowing you've done your duty to your ancestors.
- Karma balances, believing your Pitrupaksha traditions removes ancestral debts (Pitru Rin).
- Blessings for family growth, health, and unity.
- A spiritual connection where we learn to strengthen our relationship with both worlds.
Hindu scriptures always tell us that remembering our ancestors helps boost not only their spirits but also our spirits.
Common Beliefs and Misconceptions About Pitrupaksha
In the practice of honoring traditions, there is much confusion. People believe:
- Pitrupaksha is only about death and mourning. That is not entirely true. Rather, it’s about thanking the ancestors and seeking blessings for future life.
- Only men can perform Pitrupaksha offerings. That's also not true. In a number of traditions, women also participate meaningfully.
- If you miss something, it's an awful sin. The ancestors' blessings are sincere efforts, and not based on strict devotion to formal practices.
You might have heard such beliefs in your home, but what if you are a family of 2 females and a late male member? In such a case, the key elements of Pitrupaksha are love and memory, and not the gender performing rituals.
Modern Relevance of Pitrupaksha in Today’s Life
During our hectic lives today, ritual seems ancient to many of us. Yet the Pitrupaksha significance in Hinduism can still be understood:
- It invites us to take a break and to connect with our roots.
- Provides gratitude and respect, where material things can take priority.
- It promotes family togetherness when all are present for the rituals.
- Allows us to engage in simplicity and humility where offerings are concerned.
Just as we would light a diya with our hands, Pitrupaksha lights the inner diya of remembrance and connection.
Conclusion
If you are reading this, you already know by now that Pitrupaksha is more than just 15 days in the Hindu calendar; it is a connection to our past, our present, our seen, unseen, our living, and departed. The stories, customs, and rituals of Pitrupaksha serve to instill in us a belief that by honouring our roots, we honour ourselves too.
As our parents teach us, "Jitni majboot jaden hoti hain, utna hi ghana vriksh hota hai." In remembering our ancestors, we are feeding our spiritual roots.
This Pitrupaksha, why not light a diya, offer some simple offerings, and fill our puja area with some pooja decoration items from Wemy’s collection?
May our prayers transmit peace to our ancestors and bring blessings into our homes.
Look out for more blogs exploring the spiritual traditions of India. We'll see you soon in the next blog explaining the significance of Vishwakarma Puja.
