We deeply miss our loved ones who are no longer with us. Performing rituals to honor their souls is a heartfelt way to keep their memories alive and send them love, wherever they are in the heavenly realms.
In Hindu culture, honoring ancestors is believed to be an important duty. Pitru Paksha Puja is a 16-day period to pray for departed souls, seek their blessings, and bring peace to the family. Doing this puja is believed to clear ancestral karmic debts and keep family harmony.
This guide explains the importance of Pitru Paksha Puja, simple pitru paksha rules, and steps on how to do Pitru Paksha Puja at home.
What is Pitru Paksha Puja?
Pitru Paksha, also called Mahalaya Paksha, is a 16-day period that takes place during the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada or Ashwin (August–September). It is believed that during this time, the souls of ancestors come to earth to bless their descendants.
Performing a pitra dosh nivaran puja during this period is considered highly beneficial, especially for families dealing with obstacles caused by ancestral karmic imbalances.
Importance of Pitru Paksha Puja
Ancestral Blessings: Pitru dosha pooja brings peace to the departed souls and attracts their blessings for family well-being.
Removal of Pitra Dosh: A pitra dosh nivaran puja helps clear ancestral karmic debts and removes obstacles in career, marriage, and finances.
Spiritual Growth: Honoring ancestors through this puja strengthens the spiritual bond between past and present generations.
Fulfilling Dharma: Offering shradh pooja during Pitru Paksha is considered a sacred duty and one of the Pancha Maha Yagna (five key duties) of every Hindu.
Pitru Paksha Rules to Follow
One should follow the following rules to perform pitru paksha shraddha correctly:
Do the puja in the morning, ideally before noon.
Avoid non-vegetarian food, alcohol, and tamasic items during this period.
Perform offerings and tarpan vidhi with devotion and a calm, pure mind.
After the shradh pooja, donate food, clothes, and essentials to Brahmins or the needy.
Always perform the rituals on the specific tithi (lunar day) of the ancestor’s death for maximum benefits.
What is Pitra Dosh and Why Perform Pitra Dosh Nivaran Puja?
Pitra Dosh happens when ancestors are not at peace due to unfulfilled wishes or incomplete last rites. This imbalance is believed to cause problems like delays, financial struggles, health issues, or family disharmony.
Doing pitra dosh nivaran puja during Pitru Paksha helps calm the ancestral souls and remove these negative effects. Many families also perform a dedicated pitru dosha pooja with the help of priests to ensure complete remedies and blessings.
Shradh Pooja: Main Ritual of Pitru Paksha
During Pitru Paksha, the most important ritual is the shradh pooja. Families prepare a simple, sattvic meal and offer it to their ancestors with prayers and mantras.
The offerings often include kheer, puri, rice, dal, and seasonal vegetables. After the ritual, the food is shared with Brahmins or the poor, invoking the blessings of the pitru for harmony and prosperity in the family.
How to Do Pitru Paksha Puja at Home?
Are you planning to do Pitru Paksha Shraddha at home? Follow the below-mentioned traditional process with sincerity:
1. Preparation
Clean the house and the puja space.
Take a bath early in the morning.
Arrange all offerings: black sesame seeds, kusa grass, rice, ghee, water, and satvik food items.
2. Sankalp (Intention)
Sit facing the south, the direction of the pitru.
Hold water in your hand and take a sankalp, stating your intention to perform the shradh pooja for your ancestors.
3. Tarpan Vidhi
Mix black sesame seeds in water and pour it slowly through the fingers of your right hand.
Chant mantras while performing the tarpan vidhi to send blessings and energy to the departed souls.
4. Pind Daan
Prepare small rice balls with black sesame seeds and ghee.
Offer them prayers for the peace of the pitru.
5. Food Offering
Cook simple satvik food such as kheer, puri, rice, and dal.
Offer it to the ancestors and later serve it to Brahmins or the needy. Feeding them is considered equal to feeding the pitru.
6. Donation and Charity
Donate clothes, food, or essentials after the puja.
Giving charity during Pitru Paksha Puja is believed to bring blessings and reach the ancestors directly.
How to Do Tarpan at Home?
Tarpan is considered the most important part of Pitru Paksha Puja. It helps send offerings and prayers to the ancestors. Here’s a simple way to perform it at home:
Sit facing the south, the direction of ancestors.
Mix black sesame seeds in clean water.
Slowly offer the water through the fingers of your right hand while chanting their names or mantras for the pitru.
Perform it on the ancestor’s death tithi or Amavasya for all departed souls.
How to Do Pitru Paksha Puja at Home?
If you cannot visit a temple or hire a priest, you can still learn how to do pitru paksha puja at home with devotion:
Set up a clean altar with a photo or symbol of your pitru (ancestors).
Light a diya and incense to create a sacred atmosphere.
Offer water and sesame seeds while performing tarpan vidhi followed by shradh pooja.
Cook satvik food and donate it to Brahmins, the poor, or animals as an offering to the ancestors.
Important Days in Pitru Paksha Shraddha
Mahalaya Amavasya: The most powerful day to honor all ancestors collectively.
Tithi Shraddha: Performed on the exact lunar date of the ancestor’s passing.
Sanyasi Shraddha: Dedicated to ascetic or saintly ancestors.
Maatamaha Shraddha: Performed specifically for maternal grandparents.
Observing Pitru Paksha Shraddha on these key days is believed to bring maximum blessings and ensure peace for the departed souls.
Benefits of Pitru Paksha Puja
Removes Ancestral Karmic Debts: Performing pitra dosh nivaran puja helps eliminate problems caused by unresolved ancestral energies.
Brings Family Harmony: A properly done pitru dosha pooja restores peace and prosperity in the household.
Spiritual Merit: Offering shradh pooja is believed to earn immense punya (spiritual merit).
Health and Prosperity: Blessings from ancestors are said to bring good health, wealth, and overall growth to the family.
Other Pitru Paksha Puja Rituals
Apart from the main shradh pooja, many families observe additional rituals to honor their ancestors:
Brahmin Bhojan: Feeding Brahmins as a symbolic offering to the pitru.
Charity: Donating food, clothes, and daily essentials to the needy.
Chanting Mantras: Reciting Pitru Sukta and other mantras to bring peace to ancestral souls.
Lighting a Lamp: Keeping a diya lit throughout Pitru Paksha Puja to guide ancestors to the offerings.
Conclusion
Following the proper pitru paksha rules, offering shradh pooja, and performing pitra dosh nivaran puja help bring peace to the departed souls and balance to your family life.
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FAQ's
1. What is the importance of Pitru Paksha Puja?
It is performed to honor ancestors, offer shradh pooja, and seek blessings for family peace and prosperity.
2. What is Pitra Dosh Nivaran Puja?
A special ritual to remove obstacles caused by unsettled ancestral souls and bring harmony through pitru dosha pooja.
3. How to do a Tarpan at home?
Mix black sesame seeds in water, sit facing south, and offer water while chanting your ancestors’ names as part of the tarpan vidhi.
4. Can I do Pitru Paksha Puja at home?
Yes, you can follow the guide on how to do pitru paksha puja at home using simple rituals and satvik food offerings.
5. What are the main Pitru Paksha rules?
Perform rituals in the morning, avoid tamasic food, maintain purity, and offer charity after the shradh pooja.