Kishan Sanmukhdas Bhawani
India is famous as a country that believes in beliefs, customs, traditions and deep spirituality. One of the many reasons is that tourists from all over the world come to visit India, who try to take inspiration from these customs, traditions and spirituality. In this digital age of modern science, where humans have moved towards building a human colony on the moon, efforts are being made to hold the sun in their fist, robots are now replacing humans,the world of artificial intelligence is crossing limits, but India is a country whose civilization and culture have roots that are thousands of years old. The philosophy of life here is not limited to the present but also connects the past and the future. A deep example of this cultural and spiritual tradition is Pitru Paksha, which is celebrated every year from Bhadrapada Purnima to Ashwin Amavasya. In the year 2025, this holy period will be from 7 September to 21 September. This time is a symbol of the memory of ancestors in Indian society, gratitude towards them and rituals performed for the peace of their soul. The importance of this festival is not limited to religious rituals only, but it also inspires man to connect with his roots and maintain social harmony. Today the families of India are receiving the blessings of their ancestors by celebrating Shraddha with a true heart and devotion. According to the belief, during this period our ancestors come to earth in some form or the other and bless us by accepting Shraddha. In Indian culture, Pitru Paksha is not considered only a festival of rituals, but it is considered a living symbol of faith and devotion. The classical proclamation of “Shraddhaya Idam Shraddham” tells us that when a work is done with devotion, loyalty and gratitude, it is called Shraddha. That is why Pitru Paksha is not just a matter of conduct, but it is a celebration of emotions, relationships and family values. When a man remembers his ancestors, offers them tarpan, pinddaan and food, it also gives peace to his soul. Since this 15-day Shraddha starts from 7 September 2025, today with the help of information available in the media, through this article, we will discuss, Shraddhaya Idam Shraddham – What is done with devotion is Shraddha.
If we talk about understanding the basic purpose of Pitru Paksha, then it is that man should accept in his life that his existence is not only the result of his hard work. The blood of his parents and ancestors is flowing in his veins, his culture and sanskar are the heritage of his ancestors. Therefore, this festival is not only a means of remembering the dead but it is also an opportunity to discipline and balance the lives of the living. It reminds us that the roots of family, society and culture can never be forgotten. It is clearly stated in Indian scriptures that every human being has three types of debts, Dev Rin, Rishi Rin and Pitra Rin. Out of these, Pitra Rin is considered supreme because no one’s existence is possible without parents and ancestors. Dev Rin keeps us grateful to nature and gods, Rishi Rin reminds us of knowledge and tradition, while Pitra Rin reminds us of the life giver and our roots. Parents, grandparents and all those elders who gave us the basis of life are considered under Pitra Rin. Therefore, remembering the ancestors and offering them tarpan during Pitru Paksha is not only a religious duty but also a moral responsibility of life.
If we talk about the rituals performed during Pitru Paksha, then Tarpan, Pind Daan and Brahmin food are the main ones. According to the scriptures, it is necessary to remember the ancestors of the father’s side up to three generations and the mother’s side up to three generations. These are called ‘Pitar’. Through Tarpan, a person expresses the feeling by offering water that he is dedicated to the peace of the soul of his ancestors. Offering food in the form of Pind Daan is an expression of gratitude towards them. This is the reason that during this period, there is an atmosphere of reverence and devotion in every house and people especially feed Brahmins or the needy in the name of their ancestors.
If we talk about Pitra Dosh, an important aspect of Pitru Paksha, then according to astrology and religious belief, when the soul of the ancestors in the family does not get proper satisfaction or Shraddha, Tarpan etc. are not performed for them with devotion, then it is called Pitra Dosh. It affects the life of the family and is associated with incomplete tasks, unrest, failure, financial crisis or mental stress. Due to Pitra Dosh, progress in the house can stop and tension can arise in family relationships. Many remedies have been mentioned in the scriptures to remove this defect, such as, performing Tarpan duly in Pitru Paksha, doing Pinddaan, feeding cow, dog and crow and donating to Brahmins. Apart from this, rituals like Geeta Paath, Vishnu Sahasranama, Narayan Bali and Rudrabhishek are also considered helpful in calming Pitra Dosh.
Friends, if we talk about the importance of Pitru Paksha in the modern context, then in today’s hectic life, people often forget their ancestors and family values. But this festival reminds them that our lifestyle and our sanskar are not the result of any personal achievement, but it is a heritage transferred from generation to generation. For this reason, Pitru Paksha can be called the festival of gratitude of human civilization.This festival teaches us that keeping traditions alive even in the midst of modernity is as important as making progress.Pitru Paksha also has a deep psychological significance.When people remember their ancestors, it gives them spiritual satisfaction and emotional stability.This process helps in bringing mental peace and harmony within the family.By remembering ancestors, a person gets inspiration in the struggles of his life that just as his ancestors faced difficulties, in the same way they too can overcome the challenges.
Pitru Paksha is not just a celebration of the past but it is also a festival that reminds us of responsibility for the future.
Friends, if we talk about the signs of our ancestors being around us during the 15 days of Pitru Paksha, then (1) crows have special importance in Pitru Paksha, it is believed that during these days, ancestors come to earth in the form of crows and consume food and water.During Pitru Paksha, if a crow comes to your house and eats food, it means that your ancestors are present around you and they have mercy on you. (2) During the days of Shradh, if you suddenly see a black dog around your house, then it can be a sign of the presence of ancestors around you. During Pitru Paksha, a black dog is considered to be the messenger of ancestors, seeing a black dog during these days is considered an auspicious sign, it means that your ancestors are happy with you. (3) During Pitru Paksha, if you see a lot of red ants in the house,then it is also a sign of ancestors being around, it is believed that your ancestors come to meet you in the form of ants, in such a case you should feed flour to the ants, this gives peace to the soul of the ancestors.(4) During Pitru Paksha, if the Tulsi plant in the house suddenly starts drying, then it can be a sign that your ancestors are somewhere around you, the drying of Tulsi is also a sign that your ancestors are angry with you on some matter, in such a case One should take measures for the peace of ancestors.(5) According to Hindu beliefs, ancestors also reside on Peepal tree,if a Peepal tree suddenly grows in your house, it is a sign of ancestors being present around, in such a case, you should offer water to Peepal and take measures to get rid of Pitru Dosh.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
