- The Pitru Paksha is a period meant for paying respects to our ancestors.
- It is a sixteen-day long period which culminates on Mahalaya Amavasya
- People perform Shradh and Tarpanam rituals during Pitru Paksha
These rituals are performed to please the departed souls and to help them attain Moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth).
The Tarpanam and Shradh must be performed by offering food and water facing South
Ideally, one must perform the Tarpanam on all the sixteen days, but the Mahalaya Amavasya is the most important which is the last day for us in the USA it is October 5th.
How to perform Shradh and Tarpanam rituals at home.
Shradh and Tarpanam are usually conducted in the presence of a priest, but this year, due to the pandemic, you must perform it at home and avoid gatherings.
Samagri for performing the Tarpanam and Shradh
Asanam (seat)
Pancha Patra (copper, brass or silver)
Black sesame seeds
Akshat
Kusha grass
Pavitram (Kusha grass ring)
For Pind Daan
Pind Daan is essential. It consists of rice and sesame seeds.
Water, cooked rice and black sesame seeds
Begin the rituals by doing
Then do Angavandanam (worship the deities by touching the various parts of the body like ears, nose, eyes, neck, shoulders etc).
Awahan: Do the Ganapati Dhyanam (invoke Lord Ganesha to seek his blessings)
invite your ancestors with the following mantra:
“Om Aagachchantu Me Pitar Emam Grihanantu Jalaanjalim.”
Tarpan (offer Water)
Now offer Teel Mixed Water or Ganga Jal : 3 times for each one
To Grand Father
Replace AsmatPita with Asmatpitamah
Replace Vasuroopastripyatamidam with Rudraroopastripyatamidam
Mention Grand Father’s Name
Tarpan to Mother (Mother's Name) Tasmey Swadha Namah, Tasmey Swadha Namah, Tasmey Swadha Namah.”
For Father (Father's name) Same above mantra
It is true that mantra is a great medium for prayer and offerings. We do not need to know any fancy vedic mantras, all we need is love, gratitude and the desire to wish the best for our ancestors.
But our Love and pure heart is the most essential.
Offering of water to deities should be done using the fingertips, while offering of water to Sages should be done from the base of the little finger and the third finger and that to ancestors should be done through the mid of the thumb and the first finger of the hand.
Pray to the previous three generations of your family. Apologize for the mistakes that you may have committed in the past and seek their blessings.
Brahma Yagya - Pay obeisance to the great sages (rishi munis and the learned men of the past).
