Navaratri or as popularly known as Dasara is around the corner. Dasara or as Bengalis wouldcall it Durga Pooja is one of the most important festivals for Hindu’s. The day before Navaratri is Mahalaya Amavaysa, which is considered to be auspicious. As per the Hindu calendar, the last fortnight of “Bhadrapada masam” is designated for Karmic cleansing and for performing rituals and prayers for the ancestors. Popularly known as “Pitru Paksh” or Mahalaya Paksh, is to pray for peace, happiness and salvation of all the ancestors. Out of all these fifteen day period, Sarv-Pitru amavasya holds utmost importance.
“Sarv Pitru Amavasya” also popularly known as “Mahalaya Amavasya” is the most important day during this period of Pitru Paksh. This is called as Mahalaya Amavasya , as “Maha” means great and “laya” means destruction. According to the legend, it is said that during the churning of the “Divine nectar” a lot of Rishis and Devas were killed by the demons on the Amavasya of Ashwin month. Since these Rishis (Saints) or Devas (Heavenly beings) are also considered to be our ancestors, the final day of this Pitru-paksh has also been specifically dedicated to them.
It is also believed that the Souls of our ancestors are closest to Mother Earth during these days. According to a boon by Lord Yama to Kunti Putra Karna, anyone who prays for the peace of one’s ancestors, perform shraddh and tarpan in their name, donate food, do charity in their name, their ancestors shall be expiated of their karmas and shall eventually attain peace and salvation due to these acts of goodness done by their progeny.
Significance
Mahalaya Amavasya is the day to get the blessing from the ancestors. According to Hindu mythology in this day Lord Vishnu permitted the departed souls to visit earth.
Our ancestors leave behind their good and bad karmas. We enjoy happiness, success, peace and prosperity because of their good karmas and face obstacles, hindrances and illness in life due to some of their bad karmas that keeps reflecting in our life. When we perform rituals for their peace, they bless us in return as we have helped them in releasing their negative karmic ties.
In sacred texts like Garud Purana or Agni Purana, a detailed version of soul’s journey is explained along with the remedial measures that the descendants can perform. By performing certain rituals and rites, they can cleanse the negative karmas of the Soul so that its further journey is less burdened and more peaceful. These remedies, when performed by the offspring, can also help the soul in attaining salvation.
Normally, the shraddh or other rituals are performed in the name of a particular ancestor on the Tithi when he or she left the physical body. But at times one is not aware of the lunar dates on which the ancestors left their mortal body, in such cases “Sarv Pitru Amavasya” comes as a rescue. As the name suggests, Sarv means all, pitru means ancestors and Amavasya is the dark night – which means a day which is designated for all ancestors irrespective of the day they have died on.
As mentioned earlier, it is also known as Mahalaya Amavasya , and is assigned as a day when prayers and rites can be performed for all the ancestors – male, female, children, childless ancestors or ancestors who have died sudden unnatural deaths.
Those who missed the thithi and tarapanam of ancestors can give on this Mahalaya Amavasya day. It also helps to attain moksha for the departed soul and removes obstacles, sorrows, marriage delay problems in your life. A place giving tarpanam have to take bath in the river /pond if not possible can take bath in houses and give tarpanam at the temple with the assistance of the priest.
What you can do on this day
On this day, devotees remember their ancestors and pay homage to them and offer foods, clothes and sweets to the Brahmins. People wake up early in the morning, spend the day reciting prayers and hymns from the Devi Mahatyam scripture. Food and clothes are offered at puja mandaps. The foods offerings made for the ancestors are usually cooked in silver or copper vessels and typically offered on a banana leaf or cups made of dried leaves. The food generally includes kheer, lapsi, rice, dal, spring bean (guar) vegetable and a yellow gourd (pumpkin).
Tarpan at Home: Tarpan is the easiest of all the practices and should be performed throughout the period of Pitru Paksha. If one is not able to perform Tarpan daily, than one should at least do the same on the day of “Sarv Pitru Amavasya”.
Tarpan (Libation of water) along with rice grains and black sesame seeds is the purest form of reverence to one’s ancestors. After taking bath one should face southwards and pour water in the name of one’s ancestors
Pind Daan: Make an offering of rice balls mixed with black sesame to the crows and animals.
Pitra Bhoj: Have a small shraadh ceremony on that day by feeding a Brahmin. In this food, you can include whatever dish that was the favourite of your departed ancestors.
Read Holy Scriptures: Reading of scriptures such as Garuda Purana, Agni Purana and stories of Nachiketa and Ganga Avataram are beneficial on this day. You can also conduct recitals of Bhagavata Puran and Bhagvad Gita.
Mahalaya Amavasya This year: Sarvpitra Moksha Amavasya” in 2017 falls on the 19th of September. The best time to perform the rites on Sarvpitra Moksha Amavasya is from 11:50 am to 1:19 PM, Rohina Muhurat from 1:19 PM to 2:07 PM and Aaparahna Kal is between 2:07 PM to 4:33 PM.
