Mahalaya Paksha- A Ritual For Ancestors

Mahalaya Paksha

According to ancient Hindu texts, on Mahalaya Amavasya, there is a conjunction of the sun and the moon and that the sun enters the sign Virgo (Kanya). On this day, it is believed that ancestors leave their abode and come down to the world of mortals and occupy the houses of their descendants. Hindus offer oblation of water to the departed on every new-moon day. The prescribed rites are also performed every year on the death anniversary. This is the Sraddha ceremony. The special importance of these observances particularly during Mahalaya is that such ceremonies done during this fortnight have a very special effect. The offerings reach the departed souls immediately and directly, due to a boon from Lord Yama.

The dark fortnight of Aswayuja (September-October) is known as the Mahalaya Paksha or the fortnight especially sacred for offering oblations to the departed ancestors. The last day of this period, the new moon day, is considered as the most important day in the year for performing obsequies and rites.

Charity in the form of food is important during this observance. Life depends upon food. You cannot preach religion to empty stomachs. This human body is the most important vehicle for realising God. How precious must food be which keeps the body fit for Yoga! The gift of food is the greatest gift. Therefore, give food in plenty, not only during the Mahalaya fortnight but all through the year.

This period can be used for relieving the sins done against women, injustice and cheating, acts done crossing the taboo boundaries etc. Visualizing and offering prayers to ancestors during Mahalaya period will bring relief in all walks of life, especially health and wealth. This will bring lots of blessings for the lineage.

Your Ancestors will stay with you during the two week period known as Mahalaya Paksha. This important period is looked even by enlightened yogis and rishis to receive the blessings from their own ancestors. Ancestors have a great impact in our life and they govern our destiny.

Those deceased whose date of death is not known and whose annual Sraddha cannot be done, they also get these oblations of Pitri Paksha. Souls whose life was cut off by violent accidental or unnatural death and to whom, therefore, offerings cannot reach in the ordinary course, to them, too, the Ptripaksha offerings reach directly. Hindus now observe this Paksha with great faith and worship and charity in the form of food is considered important during this period.

Mahalaya Paksha and Ancestors

To Live a Successful and Peaceful Life, we should get blessings from our ancestors and generally there are 2 primary causes for problems:

1) Problems caused by Navagrahas (9 Planets)
2) Problems/Obstacles caused by our Ancestral Spirits

Usually, ancestors who have departed with unfulfilled desires are problematic and if we fix the above mentioned problems, we can lead a peaceful life. Performing Tarpanam is the most effective means for helping departed loved ones and ancestors and it can also change our destiny.

Why to Appease Departed Ancestors?

Our Ancestors live in ancestral world (Pitra loka) and they can help in solving problems related to money, career, health, relationship,etc., quite easily. Communicate and reconnect with them during this Mahalaya paksha.

Significance of Donating Food and Clothing

The easiest way to access God's grace is to feed a person who is starving for food and to donate clothes. Donating food is considered to be the greatest charity of all the charities. When you donate food and clothing to those in need, it elevates your soul. There is an interesting legend highlighting the importance of donating food.

Legend

The renowned hero of the Mahabharata, Karna, when he left the mortal coil, ascended to the higher worlds and the great charity he had done here was returned to him hundredfold. But, it was all gold and silver; there was no food, as he had not done any food-charity! He prayed to the god of death. So, he was sent back to earth for fourteen days, to make up for this deficiency.

For fourteen days, he fed Brahmins and the poor, and offered oblations of water. On his return to the higher regions, he had food in plenty. It is these fourteen days that are commemorated in the Mahalaya Paksha. Due to the grace of the god of death, it has been ordained that offerings made during this period benefit all the departed souls, whether they are connected to you or not.

Karuppasamy and New Moon

During the Mahalaya Amavasya, the Sun and the Moon will be along with Rahu. The planet Rahu will be extremely powerful and on this day, the power of Karuppasamy is fortified with Rahu’s energy. Participating in rituals to Lord Karuppasamy on this day will help you receive his blessings.

New Moon days are considered as an auspicious day to offer rituals to Karuppasamy. In India, especially in South Indian state Tamil Nadu, Lord Karuppasamy is ardently worshipped and He is a village god. Once can find him on the boundaries of the villages or on the outskirts of the villages. The Villagers worship Karuppasamy as their Guardian Angel.

Karuppasamy, the Archetype of Justice, is a very important Performer God. Karuppasamy promises to help all those who seek and deserve justice, money, good health and relationships. He does not need a long explanation, be concise when you ask your question and He will help you solve your problems and provide you with the justice you deserve.

Karuppasamy is a little known village deity who is very similar to Emperor Guan, the Taoist God of War, whose immense popularity rests particularly on his power over demons and evil spirits, and his ability to prevent war. But Karuppasamy is not just a simple village God, He is the combination of 4 Gods; Kala Bhairava, Veerabhadra, Narasimha and Rudra all rolled into one powerful force who puts a quick end to all that is evil. Be it curses, black magic, evil eye or even evil plotting, Karuppasamy can burst it all.

One can find the statue of Lord Karuppasamy riding on horse and is believed that He rides around the villages on horse to protect the people and his devotees. He is very strong in his appearance, wears a turban, has a big moustache and bright eyes. He is always equipped with spear and machete to protect His devotees.Usually the idols of Karuppasamy can be found at the entrance of every Hindu temple. He services as a security guard to the deities present inside the temples. Lord Karuppasamy also stands as a guard for the 18 steps of Sabarimala, the powerful vortex of Lord Ayyappa.

15 Moons and Their Benefits

Moon Phase or Tithi	Benefits of Specific Moon Phase Tarpanams
1st Moon	Gives Wealth
2nd Moon	Grants the Continuation of Lineage
3rd Moon	Gives Business Prosperity
4th Moon	Gives Ability to Master Enemies
5th Moon	Grants All over Prosperity
6th Moon	Grants a Solid Reputation
7th Moon	Secures Inner Strength and Spirituality
8th Moon	Blesses with Intelligence
9th Moon	Open Up to Receive Support from Women
10th Moon	Grants Success in Your Profession
11th Moon	Grants Children Prosperity and Intelligence
12th Moon	For Continuation of Lineage and Success from Education
13th Moon and 14th Moon	Blesses with many Vehicles, Peace and Longevity
Mahalaya Amavasya - New Moon	If you miss any of the above days, New Moon is highly recommended. This is also an essential day for doing Tarpanam for those who died due to weapons or accidents. During this day, the known and unknown souls that have departed during the last 30 years are treated equal to God.

Rules of Shraddha

When and where

The shraddha is performed on the specific lunar day during the Pitru Paksha, when the ancestor—usually a parent or paternal grandparent—died. There are exceptions to the lunar day rule; special days are allotted for people who died in a particular manner or had a certain status in life. Chautha Bharani and Bharani Panchami, the fourth and fifth lunar day respectively, are allocated for people deceased in the past year. Avidhava navami ("Unwidowed ninth"), the ninth lunar day, is for married women who died before their husband. Widowers invite Brahmin women as guests for their wife's shraddha. The twelfth lunar day is for children and ascetics who had renounced the worldly pleasures. The fourteenth day is known as Ghata chaturdashi or Ghayala chaturdashi, and is reserved for those people killed by arms, in war or suffered a violent death.

Mahalaya marks the formal beginning of the Durga Puja festival

Sarvapitri amavasya (all fathers' new moon day) is intended for all ancestors, irrespective of the lunar day they died. It is the most important day of the Pitru Paksha. Those who have forgotten to perform shraddha can do so on this day. A shraddha ritual performed on this day is considered as fruitful as one conducted in the holy city of Gaya, which is seen as a special place to perform the rite, and hosts a fair during the Pitru Paksha period. In Bengal, Mahalaya marks the beginning of Durga Puja festivities. Mahalaya is the day when the goddess Durga is believed to have descended to Earth. Bengali people traditionally wake up early in the morning on Mahalaya to recite hymns from the Devi Mahatmyam (Chandi) scripture. Offerings to the ancestors are made in homes and at puja mandaps (temporary shrines). Matamaha ("Mother's father") or Dauhitra ("Daughter's son") also marks the first day of the month of Ashvin and beginning of the bright fortnight. It is assigned for the grandson of the deceased maternal grandfather.

The ritual is also held on the death anniversary of the ancestor. The shraddha is performed only at noon, usually on the bank of a river or lake or at one's own house. Families may also make a pilgrimage to places like Varanasi and Gaya to perform Shraddha. An annual Pitri Paksha Mela at Gaya on the banks of River Falgu. Pilgrims from all corners of the country visit Gaya for offering Pinda to their Ancestors. According to Bihar Tourism Department estimates, some 5,00,000 to 75,00,000 pilgrims arrive in the Gaya city during the Pitri Paksha Mela every year.

Who and for whom

It is essential that Shraddha be performed by the son—usually the eldest—or male relative of the paternal branch of the family, limited to the preceding three generations. However, on Sarvapitri amavasya or matamaha, the daughter's son can offer Shraddha for the maternal side of his family if a male heir is absent in his mother's family. Some castes only perform the shraddha for one generation. Prior to performing the rite, the male should have experienced a sacred thread ceremony. Since the ceremony is considered inauspicious due to its association with death, the royal family of Kutch, the king or heirs of the throne are prohibited from conducting Shraddha.

Food

The food offerings made to the ancestors are usually cooked in silver or copper vessels and typically placed on a banana leaf or cups made of dried leaves. The food must include Kheer (a type of sweet rice and milk), lapsi (a sweet porridge made of wheat grains), rice, dal (lentils), the vegetable of spring bean (guar) and a yellow gourd (pumpkin).

Rites of Shraddha

Pinda Daan/ Pindam Tharpanam

The male who performs the shraddha should take a purifying bath beforehand and is expected to wear a dhoti. He wears a ring of kush grass. Then the ancestors are invoked to reside in the ring. The shraddha is usually performed bare-chested, as the position of the sacred thread worn by him needs to be changed multiple times during the ceremony. The shraddha involves pinda-daan, which is an offering to the ancestors of pindas (cooked rice and barley flour balls mixed with ghee and black sesame seeds), accompanying the release of water from the hand. It is followed by the worship of Vishnu in form of the darbha grass, a gold image or Shaligram stone and Yama. The food offering is then made, cooked especially for the ceremony on the roof. The offering is considered to be accepted if a crow arrives and devours the food; the bird is believed to be a messenger from Yama or the spirit of the ancestors. A cow and a dog are also fed, and Brahmin priests are also offered food. Once the ancestors (crow) and Brahmins have eaten, the family members can begin lunch.

Ps, To know what rituals can be done on for this period of 15 days at home feel free to read it at:

http://hindutraditionandculture.blogspot.com/2014/09/mahalaya-paksha-ritual-for-ancestors-pt.html