Period of Shradh (17th September 2024 – 02nd October 2024)
Based on the shastra’s saying, “Shradya pitran udishya vidhina kriyate yatkarm tat shradham,” which means, “whatever acts or rituals you perform with devotion for your deceased loved ones is known as Shradh.” The donations made during Shradh should be done with devotion, as devotion is the essence of Shradh rituals. Without it, offerings and prayers become mere formalities.
According to the great priest Parashar, “Shradh is the process of offering prayers using specific materials like Black Sesame (Kala Teel), Kush (long dry grass), and mantras at an appropriate time and place with the use of specific utensils (patra).”
Shradh for your ancestors should be performed on their death anniversary or during the months of Pitru Paksha, which falls in the Hindu month of Ashwin (September), right before Navratri. If you perform Shradh on the exact day of your ancestor’s death, it is known as Ekodisht Shradh.
Ekodisht Shradh is the ritual performed for the salvation of a particular individual’s soul on their death anniversary. The ritual involves offering Pind (a round ball made from wheat, rice flour, sesame seeds, milk, and honey) on the specified day and feeding a Brahman (Hindu priest). Another type of Shradh is Pawarn Shradh, performed during the Krishna Paksha phase in Ashwin month, corresponding to the exact date of the ancestor’s passing.
As per the rituals, food is offered to nine Brahmans, but offering it to even one Brahman with utmost devotion fulfills the ritual obligations.
Shradh Ritual Process for Ancestors:
1. Wear plain white clothing and remember your ancestors.
2. Sit facing east.
3. Begin the prayer by holding Trikush, Black Sesame, and water in your hand while chanting the following mantra:
Sankalp Mantra
“Om Vishnu Vishnu Vishnu namah partmatmane purshotamaye om tatsat adhaytasya vishnorogya jagatsrishti karmani prabartmanasye brahmanohin dwitiye paradhre sri swetwarah kalpe vaivast manwantare ashtawishanti tame kaliyuge kali pratham charne jambudeepey bharatkhande bharat varshey aryavartrantgartayk deshey (name the state and city) jilantgartey (name the town or village) Namin chetrey (closest Hindu pilgrimage place) Namin tirthsthal samipey bodhawatare vikram samwat2066, subhkrit naam samwatsarey surya dakshinayaney, sharad ritu aswin masey Krishnapakshey (state the date) thitho (mention the day) washrey singh/kanya rashi sthith suryey makar rashi sthithey devgurow sheshesu grihashu yatha-yatha rashi sthan sthiteysu satsu aaewam grahgungan visheshan vishishtayaan subh pun thitho (state your Gotra) gotrotpanosah (state your full name) ah ashmat pitrepitamah pratitamhanam sapatnikanam tataambatritaymityadi shastrabidhitwashisht sambandhi bandhwanam yey chasmatoh abhiwankchantih tesha cha chutpipasha nibriti purwakam chaytripti sampadnarth Brahman bhojnatmakam sankalpik shradham tatha panchbali karmam cha karishyeh.”
After the prayer, the water you hold should be poured onto the ground.
Before offering food to the Brahman, ask the Pandit to perform Panchbali, which consists of Gobali (for cows), Shwanbali (for dogs), Kakbali (for crows), Devadibali (for deities), and Pipilika Bali (for ants).
Prepare five types of food in five separate utensils or leaves, and then proceed to perform the rituals for each bali by lifting the respective utensil or leaf.
1. Gobali (For Cows)
Use the following mantra while offering Gobali:
Pratigriantu may grasham gawshtreylokaymatrah,
Edey gobhayao na mamah.
2. Shwanbali (For Dogs)
Perform this bali by chanting the following mantra:
Tabhyamanam prayakchami shayatametawhinsakow,
Edey sharbhyam na mamah.
3. Kakbali (For Crows)
Offer this bali by reciting:
Bayesah pratigrihantoh bhumoh pindah,
4. Devbali (For Deities)
Use the following mantra while offering Devbali:
Pretah pishachastwa samasta yeh chananbhichchanti maya pradtam,
Idmanah devadibhayo na mamah
5. Pipilika Bali (For Ants)
Use this mantra while offering Pipilika Bali:
Tesha he triptayarthmindham mayananm tebhayo weshrishtham sikinoh bhawantu,
Idmanah Pipilikahdebhayo na mamah
Once Panchbali is completed, the food can either be offered to the fire or given to animals like cows, dogs, crows, or ants.
Next, offer food to the Brahman. The meal should include grains, ghee, sugar, and salt.
After serving the Brahman, offer Tambul (betel leaves and nuts) and other materials. Consider the Brahman as a representation of your ancestor, and circle him four times as part of the ritual. Once all these rituals are complete, you may consume your meal.
The success of Shradh depends on the devotion with which it is performed. According to the shastras, if someone cannot afford to perform full Shradh rituals, feeding a cow in the name of the ancestor is also equivalent to performing Shradh. If even this is not possible, simply raise your hands and inform the ancestor gods that you lack material means but offer your devotion as an offering.
Main Donations ‘Mahadaan’ during Pitru Paksha
Shani Remedies to Remove Pitru Dosha Planetary Defects and Diseases from Life
