Pitra Paksh

PITRI PAKSH : 

We all follow Pitri Paksh rituals these days. It is a period of 15 days that falls in the month of Ashwin Krishna paksh - dark fortnight of September  or October. Pitri Paksh  (ancestors' fortnight) or Pitri Shraadh (fortnight of devotion and commitment to ancestors) is a great act. 

SHRAADH :  

Shraadh means Shradhaa, devotion. So, after someone leaves for God abode, the rituals performed by his son / family is known as Shraadh. Shraadh puja consists of 3 main acts : 

1. Pinda vidhi for the ancestors, performed by Brahmans, pandits. 

2. Tarpan - offering water to departed souls. 

3. Daan - donation of food, cloth etc to poor and needy people. 

PINDAA : 

Pinda is an important aspect of Pitri Paksh Puja. Pinda is referred to the body of the ancestors. That's why when we keep Pinda on leaf, we invoke them to take place in it by aavaahan. Many people also call pinda as rice balls. 

PINDA PREPARATION : 

Pinda is a mixture of white & black teel, rice powder, ground rice, water, ganga jal, rose water, itra, sugar, milk, dahi, ghee, honey, flower. Then after it becomes paste, small balls are made. 

PINDAA QUANTITY : 

Pinda balls offered to ancestors vary from family to family. However, the first pinda is for Lord Vishnu. Then come for all the Pitar of that family. Every departed soul is entitled a pinda.  However, the yajmaan in the family may not know all the names of the departed souls. So a pinda is offered to those ancestors who are unknown. They come in sankalpa as Sakool Bhule Bhatke. If ever there are ancestors who died premature death ( suicide, killed, accident ), they also come in Sakool Bhatke pinda. Then the very last  pinda is for Yamraaj, God of death. So, pinda balls are offered to  God in start and end. In between come Pitar pinda. 

TARPAN PREPARATION : 

IN a circular / round stainless bowl, or recipient, fill water mixed with tap water, rose water, ganga jal, black & white teel, dhaan, jaw, milk, dahi, sugar, ghee, honey, 1 betel nut, flower, tulsi leaves. The sankalp of Tarpan water is essential before it is offered to departed souls. Circular / round bowl is used because the world is round. So we offer tarpan to North, South,  East, West directions in the bowl and in centre. This means that wherever the departed soul is in earth or any world, still he accedes the tarpan water. 

HAND POSTURES WHILE OFFERING TARPAN WATER : 

Tarpan is given to 

1. Gods / Goddesses. 

Here, the tarpan water flows over the four fingers of the right hand other than the thumb. 

2. Rishis, Swamis, Enlightened Souls. 

For these saints, Tarpan water flows on the area of the left side of right palm between the wrist and little finger. 

3. Pitris ( Departed souls of family ) :  

Tarpan water flows from the right side of the right palm and thumb of right hand. 

REASON FOR TARPAN : 

"EKAIKASYA TILAIR MISHRAAM STRIM STRINN DADHYAA JALAANJALIM. 

YAAVAJJIVA KRITAAM PAAPAM, TAT KSHANAADEV NASHYATI" . . , 

means, give 3 times tarpan water mixed teel to every Pitra. By doing so, bad karma from birth to  that date is destroyed. 

TARPAN PROCEDURES : 

1. Face south. 

2. If you wear janew, then it must be worn on right shoulder and come under left arm. 

3. Keep a white towel on right shoulder. 

4. Kneel down only on left knee on khush grass. 

5. Offer Tarpan water.  

AUM DURGE RAKSHINYAI NAMAHA. 

Mahantji Rajah Heerah Ji 

Shanti Niketan Street 

Roches Noires 

MAURITIUS