Pitru Paksha: Dates, Puja vidhi, Rituals, Rules of Shraddha

Pitru paksha is a 16 days period of Shraddha (sraddh) from Bhadrapada purnima to Sarva pitru amavasya. It is also known as Shraddha Paksha. In these period; Hindus pay homage to their ancestor, especially through food offerings. Pitru Paksha is considered by Hindus to be inauspicious, given the death rite performed during the ceremony, known as Shraddha or Tarpan.

Pitru Paksha Dates

Pitru Paksha start date:  Friday, 13 September 2019 - Purnima Shraddha (Bhadrapada Shukla Purnima); starts from the fortnight immediately after the Ganesh Chaturthi.

Pitru Paksha End date: Saturday, 28 September 2019 - Sarvapitru Amavasya or Mahalaya Amavasya; beginning of Shardiya Navratri; which signifies the famous Durga Puja dedicated to nine forms of Maa Durga(NavDurga).

Days Information and their importance

Purnima Shraddha

Friday, 13 September 2019

Shraddha for those who died on Purnima tithi is done on Amavasya Shraddha tithi and not on Bhadrapada Purnima. Usually Pitru Paksha starts on the next day of Purnima Shraddha.

Pitru paksha rules: Dos and Don'ts of Pitru Paksha

Pratipada Shraddha

Saturday, 14 September 2019

Pratipada Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Pratipada tithi, including both Shukla and Krishna Paksha Pratipada. It is also known as Padwa Shraddha.

Pratipada Shraddha tithi is also considered suitable to perform Shraddha for maternal grandfather and grandmother (known as Nana-Nani). If there is no person to perform Shraddha at maternal home then doing Shraddha on this tithi appeases souls of maternal grandparents. Even if death anniversary of maternal grandparents are not known then also Shraddha can be done on this tithi. It is believed that performing this Shraddha brings happiness and prosperity at the home.

Dwitiya Shraddha

Sunday, 15 September 2019

Dwitiya Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Dwitiya tithi, including both Shukla and Krishna Paksha Dwitiya. It is also known as Dooj Shraddha.

Tritiya Shraddha

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Tritiya Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Tritiya tithi. It is also known as Teej Shraddha.

Chaturthi Shraddha

Wednesday, 18 September 2019

Chaturthi Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Chaturthi tithi. It is also known as Chauth Shraddha.

Panchami Shraddha

Thursday, 19 September 2019

Panchami Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Panchami tithi, including both Shukla and Krishna Paksha Panchami. It is also known as Kunwara Panchami. Doing Shraddha on this tithi is significant for those deceased family members who died unmarried.

Sashthi Shraddha

Friday, 20 September 2019

Shashthi Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Shashthi tithi. Shashthi Shraddha is also known as Chhath Shraddha.

Saptami Shraddha

Saturday, 21 September 2019

Saptami Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Saptami tithi.

Ashtami Shraddha

Sunday, 22 September 2019

Ashtami Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Ashtami tithi

Navami Shraddha

Monday, 23 September 2019

Navami Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Navami tithi. Navami Shraddha tithi is also known as Matra Navami. This tithi is the most suitable day to perform mother's Shraddha. It is believed that doing Shraddha on this tithi appeases all deceased female members in the family. Navami Shraddha is also known as Naumi Shraddha and Avidhava Shraddha.

Dashami Shraddha

Tuesday, 24 September 2019

Dashami Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Dashami tithi.

Ekadashi Shraddha

Wednesday, 25 September 2019

Ekadashi Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Ekadashi tithi. Ekadashi Shraddha is also known as Gyaras Shraddha.

Dwadashi Shraddha

Wednesday, 25 September 2019

Dwadashi Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Dwadashi tithi. This tithi is also suitable to perform Shraddha for those who had taken renunciation (Sannyasa) before death. Dwadashi Shraddha is also known as Baras Shraddha.

Trayodashi Shraddha

Thursday, 26 September 2019

Trayodashi Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Trayodashi tithi. This tithi is also suitable to perform Shraddha for dead children. It is also known as Teras Shraddha.

Chaturdashi Shraddha

Friday, 27 September 2019

Chaturdashi Shraddha tithi is only suitable for those deceased family members who were killed by some weapon, died in an accident, committed suicide or murdered. Otherwise Chaturdashi Shraddha is not done on this tithi and is performed on Amavasya Shraddha tithi. Chaturdashi Shraddha is also known as Ghat Chaturdashi Shraddha or Ghayala Chaturdashi Shraddha.

Sarvapitru Amavasya

Saturday, 28 September 2019

Amavasya tithi Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Amavasya tithi, Purnima tithi and Chaturdashi tithi. If someone is not able to perform Shraddha on all tithis then single Shraddha on this day is enough to appease all deceased souls in the family. If death anniversary of ancestors are not known or forgotten then those Shraddha can be performed on this tithi. That's why Amavasya Shraddha is also known as Sarvapitra Moksha Amavasya.

Mahalaya Amavasya marks the beginning of Navratri festival. It is believed that Goddess Durga was descended on the Earth on this day.

Rituals of Pirtu Paksha

The Ritual of Shraddha involves the male member, usually the eldest son of a family. After taking a bath he is required to wear a ring made of kush grass. The kush grass is symbolic of benevolence and is used to invoke the ancestors. The word "Kushal Buddhi" is believed to be derived from kush. Pind Daan, the ritual of offering of rice, sesame seeds and balls made from barley flour is performed.

The blessings of Lord Vishnu are then invoked using another holy grass known as darbha grass. Darbha grass is known for its unhindered growth and similarly helps to remove obstacles in one's life. Food that is specially prepared for the event is offered in memory of one's ancestors. A crow, which is considered the messenger of Yama eating the food, is considered an auspicious sign. Next, Brahmin priests are offered food after which the family members have their meal.

You should know: Dos and Don'ts of Pitru paksha

Pitru Paksha Puja Vidhi

- First of all, we should wake up early in the morning and take a bath and immediately after that, Pitru and Dev place should be dipped with cow dung and sanctified with Ganga water.
- Shraddh should be done only between 12 o'clock in the sunrise and it should also be kept in mind that the work of tarpan etc. should be done in the meantime.
- The women of the house also prepare food for the Brahmin only after bathing, and only the best Brahmin should be invited and wash their feet. Now the worship of ancestors should be done by the Brahmin.
- Offer cow's milk, curd, ghee and kheer in fire for ancestors. Before leaving the Brahmin food, take out the food items for the cow, dog, crow, deity and ant on the leaf.
- Resolve with Pitruarth by facing towards the south and taking Kush, sesame and water and provide food to one or three Brahmins. Offer the food to the Brahmin only after performing tarpan etc. and after the meal donate Dakshina and other items and get blessings by the Brahmin.

Why Pitru Paksha is so important?

It is believed that if the manes become angry then a person has to face many problems in life. Due to unrest of fathers, they also face problems from money loss and child side. In cases of child-inferiority, astrologers definitely see Pitru Dosha. Such people must perform Shraddha during Pitru Paksha.

What is given in Shraadh?

In Shraddha, sesame, rice, barley etc. are given more importance. Also, there is a mention in the Puranas that Shraddha has the right only to qualified Brahmins. Sesame and Kusha have the highest importance in Shraddha. In Shraddha, food should be offered to the fathers in the form of Pindi; known as Pind Daan. Shraddha also has the right to women including son, brother, grandson and great grandson.

Importance of Crows in Shraddha

The crow is considered to be the form of fathers. It is believed that our ancestors take the form of crow and come to our house in the afternoon on the appointed date to receive Shraddha. If they do not get Shraddha, they become angry. For this reason, the first part of Shraddha is given to the crows.

Pitru Paksha Legends

When the legendary donor Karna died in the epic Mahabharata war, his soul transcended to heaven, where he was offered gold and jewels as food. However, Karna needed real food to eat and asked Indra, the lord of heaven, the reason for serving gold as food. Indra told Karna that he had donated gold all his life, but had never donated food to his ancestors in Shraddha. Karna said that since he was unaware of his ancestors, he never donated anything in their memory. To make amends, Karna was permitted to return to earth for a 15–day period, so that he could perform Shraddha and donate food and water in their memory. This period is now known as Pitru Paksha.

Significance of Pitru Paksha

The performance of Shraddha by a son during Pitru Paksha is regarded as compulsory by Hindus, to ensure that the soul of the ancestor goes to heaven. In this context, the scripture Garuda Purana says, "there is no salvation for a man without a son". The scriptures preach that a householder should propitiate ancestors, along with the gods, ghosts and guests. The scripture Markandeya Purana says that if the ancestors are content with the shraddha, they will bestow health, wealth, knowledge and longevity, and ultimately heaven and salvation (moksha) upon the performer.

Follow these rules in Pitru Paksha – Dos and Don’ts

1. According to the scriptures, do not do any auspicious work in pitru paksha days.
2. Do not buy any vehicle or new items during this time.
3. Also, do not consume non-vegetarian food at all.
4. The person performing Shraddha rituals should not cut his nails. He should not have a shave or haircut.
5. Don’t chew tobacco, smoke cigarette or consume alcohol. Don’t indulge in such bad practices. It hampers fruitful result of performing Shraddha karma.
6. If possible, don’t wear slippers in the house for all 16 days.
7. It is believed that Pitru comes in your home in any form in the fortnight of Pitru Paksha. Therefore, in this fortnight, no creature should be disrespected. Rather, any creature coming to your door should be given food and be hospitable.
8. The person performing the Shraddha in the Pitru Paksha should strictly observe Brahmacharya.
9. In Pitru Paksha, it is considered forbidden to eat some things, like- gram, lentils, cumin, black salt, gourd and cucumber, mustard greens etc. should not be eaten.
10. Don’t use iron vessels for rituals. Instead use gold, silver, copper or bronze vessels to please your ancestors.
11. If Shraddha Karma is done at a particular place then it gives special fruits. In these places Gaya, Prayag, Badrinath; the ancestors get salvation.
12. Those who cannot perform Shraddha Karma on these holy pilgrimages for any reason can donate tarpan and bodies to any holy place in their home courtyard.
13. But for the tarpan and pind daan, use your plot only. The ancestors do not get the donation given at the door of another or at the door of another person. Black sesame has special significance for the donation of ancestral body.
14. Therefore, black mole should be used for Shraddha Karma. For this, do not forget to use white sesame.
15. Shradh Karma shouldn’t be performed during evening, night, dawn or dusk.
16. In Pitru Paksh, cows, brahmins, dogs, ants, cats and ravens should eat as much as possible. And all of these should not be recognized as loss.