Annual Shradh

This period of 16 days from the full moon of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada to the new moon of Krishna Paksha of Ashwani month is called Pitra Paksha. The Shraddh, donations and good deeds done during these days are achieved by the ancestors due to which they are satisfied, and they become happy and bless the host who performs Shraddh, donations etc. During Pitra Paksha, if the son or the family members perform Shraddh of their ancestors regularly or go to 'Gaya Tirtha' and perform rituals for their salvation, then after their death, they reside in Brahmalok with their ancestors and remain satisfied, hence the intellectual should pay respect to his ancestors. One must perform Shraddh with vegetarian food, this makes his family prosperous and there is never shortage of wealth. After being satisfied, the ancestors bless them due to which the family remains fortunate.

Tarpan (offering water)

There is special importance of offering tarpan during the days of Shraddh. For tarpan, seven or nine Anjali (hand) water should be given to the Pitra with water mixed with sesame seeds. If you wish, you can offer water to your ancestors throughout the year. One thing must be kept in mind while offering tarpan, if you are offering tarpan to ancestors on the shore then you should not offer water with wet clothes. If you offer water at a dry place, it is better to have wet clothes and water near the shore. It is better to have dry clothes while offering, if you offer water to your ancestors near the shore wearing wet clothes, then that water does not reach your ancestors. Then they are forced to drink the water dripping from your wet clothes. The body should not be wiped immediately after taking bath, because the drops of water falling on the ground from the host's body satisfy the deities.

On which date should Shraddha be performed?

Shraddha lasts from the full moon day of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada till the new moon day of Krishna Paksha of Ashwani month. All dates fall in these 16 days. Perform Shraddha of your father (or men) on the same date on which his last rites were performed. And Shraddha of mother (or women) is performed on Navami Tithi. If the date of last rites is not known then all Shraddha is performed on Amavasya.

Which ancestors come to eat food during Shraddh? 

When a person dies, his son or grandson cremates him, after which he performs monthly Pind Daan etc. and does Sapindikaran to reunite him with his ancestors.

After Sapindikaran, father's Prapitamaha i.e. Great Grand Father goes into the category of Lepbhaag (food & water other than the main course) Bhog, now he no longer has the right to get Pitra Pind. Father, Grand Father and Great Grand Father, only these three have the right to get Pinda. Apart from this, the three generations above the father's father are entitled to enjoy Lepbhaag. In this way there were six generations. The three at the bottom have the right to the Pinda Bhaag and the three at the top have the right to offer the Lepa Bhaag. Now the son who will perform the Shraddh is the seventh, these six generations are related to the seventh who is the host, that is, these seven people have a close relationship. All the ancestors above this are called ancestors. According to the deeds, some ancestors remain in hell, and some keep enjoying their deeds by taking the body of animals and birds. The host should perform Shraddh and satisfy all his ancestors.

Satisfaction of ancestors through Shraddh

Among these, the ancestors are lying in different forms according to their karma, such as some animals, birds, some ghosts or human forms. The host should satisfy everyone by performing Shraddh in a proper manner. The food that is scattered on the ground provides satisfaction to the ancestors who are in the vampire womb. The water that spreads on the earth through bathing clothes provides satisfaction to the ancestors in the tree's form. The particles of water that fall on the earth from one's body while bathing provide satisfaction to the ancestors who have attained the divine state. The food that falls here and there when the bodies are lifted provides satisfaction to the ancestors in the form of animals and birds. If a child in the family, despite being eligible for Shraddh ritual, has been deprived of the rituals or has died by burning, then he accepts the scattered food and spread water. When Brahmins wash their hands, face and feet after having food, many ancestors are satisfied with that water. By performing Shraddh in this manner, one's ancestors and forefathers are satisfied.

One who performs Shraddh with the money obtained unjustly, the ancestors in the Chandal (monster) form are satisfied. Shraddh is a religious activity which satisfies our ancestors and ancestors, hence the one who performs Shraddh properly and his family never remains sad.

Arrival of ancestors in Pitra Paksha

During the days of Pitra Paksha, the ancestors come to the door of the house in the form of Air and are happy thinking that the people of our clan will offer food to us, perform our Shraddh, thinking this they stand at the door of the house and wait for the whole day. That is, when the whole day passes and the sun sets, they think that Pitra Paksha has just started and tomorrow they will definitely perform Shraddh for them, with this hope they come out of the house every morning on Pitra Paksha and As soon as the evening comes, they go away, if no one among their family members on the ancestral side performs their Shraddh, then they curse their family members and go to their world feeling sad and disappointed. Due to their curse, the family members also have to face sorrows and problems, hence during the days of Pitra Paksha, donations or Shraddh etc. should be done in the name of ancestors.

Selection of host for performing Shraddh 

Although the son has the right to perform Shraddh, if there is no son then the son of the daughter of the deceased can also perform his Shraddh. If the deceased has neither a son nor a daughter, then in such a situation the wife of the deceased can call the Acharya and perform his Shraddh, if the Acharya is not available, she can perform the Shraddh herself without reciting the mantras. If even one of the family members mentioned above is not there, and the officer to perform the Shraddh cannot be selected, then in such a situation the king of that place has the right to perform the Shraddh of that deceased.

Things to note while performing Shraddh

Corn, sattu (baked gram flour), black urad, lentils, garlic, onion, carrot, radish, bottle gourd, red gum, are not used in Shraddh food. The Shraddh ritual becomes impure just by people who insult their family, misbehave, indulge in violence, gamble, drink alcohol and are of low character looking at Shraddh. Therefore, never invite such people to Shraddh. Shraddh should be performed with purity and sanctity. Shraddh should not be publicized, one should not take milk from a person giving cow's milk by saying that today is Shraddh in my house and I need cow's milk for Shraddh rituals. This activity should be done peacefully inside the house or in a secluded place. If a woman is menstruating, then she should not attend Shraddh. Those families in which Sudak (impure days) is going on or in which a newborn child has been born, should not be invited to Shraddh. During Shraddh rituals one should not use milk from cows that have recently given birth to a child.

Food prepared in Shraddh

In Shraddh, kheer and puri of cow's milk are made and along with this, food of the choice of the Brahmins whom you feed should also be prepared. It is considered very good to use barley, paddy, wheat, sesame, moong, mustard, kodo and peas in the food of Shraddh. Apart from this, the favourite thing of the person for whom Shraddh is being performed can also be kept with the food of Shraddh. After the food is prepared, some particles of food are taken out for birds and animals. After this, a prayer is made to the ancestors that (name of the deceased) and my other ancestors, today I am performing your Shraddh with devotion, all of you come and eat this food and be satisfied and be pleased with me and bless me. Then the Brahmins are pleased by feeding them and giving them donations etc. Because when they are happy, the deities are happy and when the Gods are happy, the ancestors are happy and by performing this ritual, they are satisfied and they become happy and bless their clan for growth.

Daily and Occasional Shraddha Rituals 

Some Shraddhs are monthly, like Shraddh is also performed on every Amavasya (no moon day), if possible then it is very appropriate. In the same way, call a Brahmin and serve him food and give donations as per your capacity. This type of Shraddh can be performed in many situations like seeing the ancestors in dreams or repeatedly thinking about the dissatisfaction of the ancestors or being told about the dissatisfaction of the ancestors by a yogi person or others. In all these situations, Shraddh can be performed properly during Amavasya or during the period mentioned below so that the ancestors are satisfied and give blessings.

It is very appropriate to perform Shraddh on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksha of Paush, Magh, Phalgun and Chaitra month. There are some other times in which performing Shraddh is considered extremely auspicious, such as on the arrival of a particular Brahmin, when solar eclipse and lunar eclipse ayana starts, when the sun reaches the equinox line, then day and night become equal. In that yoga, the sun on the day of Sankranti and in conjunction with Vyatipat.

Persons eligible to be invited to Shraddh

The best Brahmins should be selected for Shraddh. If you are a Yogi then it is very good, odd number of Brahmins should be invited. Apart from these, regional people of similar caste and good character, family people like uncle, son-in-law, nephew or others. Such persons whose character is not good, tarnished and characterless should not be invited to Shraddh. The invitation to attend Shraddh should be given at least a day in advance so that whoever comes for Shraddh should come with a pure mind. One should not indulge in sexual activity one day before and one day after Shraddh. This rule applies to both the person eating Shraddh and the one performing Shraddh. Therefore, it is appropriate that only a restrained person with good character should participate in Shraddh.

Process of serving food in Shraddh

The feet of the Brahmins and guests who have come should be washed first. Before they take the seat, spread Kush and sesame seeds or mustard under the seat and spread the seat properly. Brahmins should be made to sit facing north. Because by doing this there is no hindrance in Shraddh.

The same procedure should be done in Shraddh of women also. After this, invoke the Gods by chanting mantras. After that, offer him Arghya with barley and water and offer scent, flowers, garland, water, incense, and lamps etc. to him. Then, while reciting mantras, invoke the ancestors, offer them water mixed with sesame seeds and perform fire rituals. Offer pure and simple food prepared without salt. Offer the first offering by saying 'Agnaye Kavyavahanay Swaha'. Then offer the second offering by saying 'Somay Pitramate Swaha'. Saying 'Yamaya Pretapataye Swaha', put the third offering in the fire. Mix the food left over from the oblation into the prepared food. Then he served food in the utensils of Brahmins and asked them to take food, 'All of you should eat'. All Brahmins should eat peacefully. After having food, give donations as per your devotion, donating silver in Shraddh is considered very good, donating silver increases the happiness of ancestors. Therefore, silver must be donated. Then definitely ask them whether all of you are satisfied. On this the Brahmin should say yes, we are satisfied. Then scatter food all over the earth for the birds. Then give water to the Brahmins one by one for bathing. After this, give the body containing sesame seeds to the ancestors and pour water over it and say 'Susvadha Astu'. This Shraddh ritual should be completed. The Brahmin should also be satisfied and say - 'Tathastu' meaning so be it.

Then after taking blessings from the Brahmins, they should be sent away. After this, food should be served to the family members and relatives who have come.