Religious and Scientific Significance of Shradh Paksha

Shradh Paksha, occurring in the month of Ashwin, is a festival of reverence for ancestors. There is a time each year when departed ancestors descend from heaven to Earth; this occurs during Mahalaya Shradh Paksha. It is believed that during this period, ancestors reside on Earth in a subtle form, receiving tarpan and pind-daan from their relatives and granting blessings of happiness and prosperity. Pind-daan and shradh rituals hold special importance during Mahalaya Paksha. The sixteen shradhs of Pitru Paksha possess not only religious but also scientific significance.

Pitru Paksha begins from the Purnima (full moon) of Bhadra month and continues until the Amavasya (new moon) of Ashwin month. During this period, there are sixteen shradhs, collectively known as Mahalaya Shradh. In this, shradh is performed according to the death anniversary of the departed ancestors. If a performer forgets the specific date of an ancestor’s shradh, the Nirnaya Sindhu provides the provision to perform it on the final day of shradh, the Amavasya of Ashwin month. From the Purnima of Bhadra to the Amavasya of Ashwin, people serve their ancestors by performing tarpan and shradh. The scriptures mention three debts on a human: debt to ancestors (Pitru), gods (Dev), and sages (Rishi), among which Pitru Rin is paramount. While pind-daan and tarpan are spiritually significant, there is also a scientific secret to Pitru Paksha. According to astrologers, the Earth remains close to the solar system during Pitru Paksha; therefore, all tarpan offered by the performers first reach the solar system. On the final day of the Ashwin month’s shradh, tarpan is offered to ancestors and a platter of various delicacies is served. This is also known as Pitru Visarjan.

Main Materials Used in Shradh

Kush grass, barley, sesame seeds, white flowers, rice, sandalwood, milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar, batashas, five types of dry fruits (panch meva), five types of sweets, betel leaf, betel nut, seasonal fruits, tulsi leaves, Gangajal, oil, cotton, incense, clothing, and various delicacies.

Awareness of Cow Service

Along with reverence for ancestors, Shradh Paksha fosters an awareness of serving cows. Scriptures believe that all deities reside in the cow; therefore, ‘gau gras’ (food for the cow) is offered after the shradh, which satisfies the ancestors. Additionally, food is served on a leaf for crows and kept outside the house. This festival instills a sense of duty toward all living beings.

Importance of Tulsi Leaves

Tulsi leaves hold special importance in shradh. It is believed that no matter how many delicacies are offered to please ancestors, they are truly satisfied only when the pind is worshipped with tulsi leaves. It is believed that upon being satisfied, they happily reside in Vishnu Loka, riding on Garuda.

Special attention is given to the purity of body and mind during Shradh Paksha. There is a tradition of the performer observing a fast (habik) before shradh, which is specifically beneficial for the stomach from a health perspective. It develops prana-vayu (vital breath) in the body and keeps the body and mind pure.

-Dr. JC Durgapal, Former Director of Health

Tarpan and pind-daan for ancestors hold special importance during Shradh Paksha. If a performer does not remember the specific date of their ancestors, there is a provision to perform the shradh on the final day, Amavasya. It is believed that ancestors remain on earth in a subtle form during this period. They are satisfied by the tarpan and shradh performed during this time and return to their abode on the day of Pitru Visarjan.

-Pt. Harish Chandra Joshi, Acharya