PITHRU POOJA

The following auspicious days fall in the month of KANYA known as Purattasi in Tamil and Bhadrapada in Sanskrit. 1. Parivartana Ekadashi 2. Shravana Dwadashi 3. Vishwaroopa Yatra 4. Mahalayam 5. Beginning of Navaratri. In this month the Sun enters into Kanya Rasi.

अस्मै हि पितरौ पुत्रान् बिभर्तः (Yajur Veda 6.1.6). That is why parents beget children.

The above sentence is told by Suparna to her sons. Kadru made Suparna her slave. To redeem her from slavery is the duty of her sons. Even though not able to protect themselves during difficulty, parents protect their children. When the parents are not in a position to protect themselves, is it not the duty of the children to protect their parents?

Jagati and Trishtup the two sons of Suparna went to Swarga to bring Soma to redeem their mother from slavery. But they could not win in their attempts and came back losing all their strength. Gayathri the other son then went to heaven. He was successful in his attempt. He not only brought Soma but also the things that his brothers lost in heaven. He redeemed his mother from slavery. The same story is told by Vyasa who had given to the world the eighteen Puranas. Kadru the mother of snakes made Suparna, the mother of Garuda her slave. Kadru told Garuda that the slavery of Suparna can be redeemed only if nectar from Swarga was brought and given to her. Garuda took the blessings of his parents and elders and went to Swarga, fought there, won the battle, brought the nectar and saved his mother. This is the story as told by Vyasa as per the Vedic principle.

Our parents leave the world leaving behind the body which is made of five elements. They obtain a watery body and become PITRUS and also become the citizens of the kingdom Vaivasvata Aadi. There they will not be in a position to get the things they need for their very existence. Only under such circumstances they expect the assistance of their children. Yamadharma out of compassion for the PITRU DEVATAS, sends them to earth with an instruction to take food from their children. The period when Yamadharma allows them to this world is called MAHALAYA PAKSHA. Either to cleanse the place where PITRUS lived once or to consume the food offered by the children, PITRUS are sent to this world. The PITRUS fond of getting the six type of food eagerly come down. During the sixteen days the children would perform MAHALAYA SHRADDHA ceremony. The PITRUS feel as if they are part of a festival with their children. That is why this period is called MAHA AALAYAM i.e. Meaning great temple. If the children do not celebrate all the days, and if not even for a day, the PITRUS return to their abode, disappointed, cursing their children. Their curse will be as follows. “ Since you have not done the SHRADDHAM to us, you will not beget children to do this to you and you will suffer in the world without food to eat”. Let us not become eligible for the curse of the PITRUS.

प्रेतपक्षं प्रतीक्षन्ते गुरुवच्च समन्विताः।

कन्यागते सवितरि पितरो यन्ति वै सुतान्।।

ततो वृश्चिकसम्प्राप्तौ नीरसा पितरो गताः।

पुनः स्वभवने यान्ति शापं दत्वा सुदारुणम्॥ (माधवीयम्)

Maharishis say that even those who live through begging should give at least give some amount of food to their departed parents. During `the MAHALAYA PAKSHA Shraddha shall be performed if not on all the fifteen days, at least on the following days: MAHABHARANI, VYATIPATA, MADHYASHTAMI, TRAYODASHI. The performance of Shraddha on those days will give greater results (Phalan). Even in the day to day life, we say thanks to those who help us. Parents who had given us life protected us, brought up to a good position, visit us during the MAHALAYA PAKSHA. Is it not our duty to extend a welcome to them and feed and keep them comfortable? At least the day on which they passed away (TITHI) one should perform Shraddha. As children enjoy the assets left behind by the parents and it is their duty to repay them.

The DHARMA SHASTRAS order as follows:

Do Shraddham on all fifteen days of MAHALAYA PAKSHA

If you do not have facilities to do so, do at least on PANCHAMI OR ASHTAMI up to AMAVASYA

Do Shraddham as ordained to be done

If it is not practicable to do so do as HIRANYA Shraddha

Even if this is not practicable do TARPANAM with sesame (TILA) with water

By doing with all sincerity the PITRUS feels happy, hence bless and return. In the olden days people were doing on all the sixteen days during MAHALAYA PAKSHA every year. There are specific results for the performance on each TITHI says Rishi Apastamba. Failure to perform will result in not begetting children because of the curse of the PITRU DEVATAS.

पुत्रान् आयुः तथा आरोग्यं ऐश्वर्यमतुलं तथा।

प्राप्नोति पञ्चमे दत्वा श्राद्धं कामान् तथा परान्॥

Panchami according to Jabali is the duration from Panchami to Ashtami. For those who had taken SANYASA in the family, DWADASHI is the apt TITHI and for those who died by weapons, CHATURDASHI is the apt day for performing the rites. Those who perform Shraddha for the entire Paksha should do two TARPANAS on the Amavasya day. One should not do two Shraddhms in a day. But on the day of AMAVASYA, TARPANA shall be done for two sides of the family (ie) PITRUS from the father’s side and PITRUS from the mother’s side. During the MAHALAYA PAKSHA TARPANA ought to be done to KARUNIKA PITRUS too.

KARUNIKA PITRU DEVATAS

The following are called KARUKINA PITRU DEVATAS:

The younger brother of the father

Elder brother of the father

Elder brother

Younger brother

Sisters

Ones own sons

Aunt (Sisters of father)

Aunt’s son (Amman)

Wife of father’s elder brother

Wife of father’s younger brother

Daughters and sons of father’s brothers

Wife

Father in law

Mother in law

Daughter in law

Wife’s brothers

Guru

Master under whom one serves

Friends

For all the mentioned TARPANS are to be performed during the MAHALAYA PAKSA. Should we not do ANNA MAHALAYA Shraddha at least once in our lifetime?