Pitru Paksha

नेपालीमा

चन्द्रमान-अनुसार आश्विन कृष्ण पक्षलाई पितृपक्ष वा सामान्य बोलीचालीको भाषामा सोह्र श्राद्ध भनिन्छ। एक पक्षमा १५ तिथि हुने भए पनि भाद्र शुक्लपूर्णिमादेखि आश्विन औँसी(जमरे औंसी)सम्मका १६ तिथिमा श्राद्ध गरिने भएकाले यस समयमा गरिने श्राद्धलाई सोह्र श्राद्ध भनिएको हो। कसैकसैले सोह्र दिनको गणना गर्दा आश्व्वीन कृष्णपक्ष प्रतिपदादेखि आश्विन शुक्ल प्रतिपदा मातामह श्राद्धसम्मका सोह्र दिनलाई लिने गर्दछन्। यसलाई पार्वण श्राद्ध पनि भनिन्छ। आश्विन कृष्णपक्षमा गर्नुपर्ने श्राद्धको महिमा विभिन्न पौराणिक ग्रन्थमा समेत बताइएको छ । आश्विन महिनाको कृष्ण पक्ष पितृहरूलाई तृप्त तुल्याउने समय हो, त्यसैले यसलाई पितृपक्ष भन्दछन्। एक पक्षमा १५ दिन हुन्छ तर यतिबेला गरिने श्राद्धलाई किन सोह्र श्राद्ध भनिएको भन्ने जिज्ञासा उठन सक्छ। खासगरी आश्विन कृष्ण प्रतिपदा तिथिदेखि औंसीसम्म १५ दिन र भाद्र शुक्ल पूणिर्माको एक तिथि जोडेर जम्मा सोह्र दिनको समयलाई सोह्रश्राद्ध भनिएको हो। कतै असोज शुक्ल प्रतिपदा तिथिमा गरिने मातामह श्राद्धको दिनलाई समेत गणना गरिएको पनि भेटिन्छ।पन्ध्र दिनको यस पक्षमा मानिस आफ्ना पितृहरूलाई प्रतिदिन जल तर्पण गर्दछन् र तिनको मृत्युतिथि समातेर श्राद्ध गर्दछन्। केही मानिस, जसलाई आफ्ना परिजनहरूको मृत्युतिथि थाहा हुँदैन, तिनको समस्यालाई ध्यानमा राखी पितृपक्षका त्यस्ता केही विशेष तिथिहरू निर्धारित गरिएको छ जुन दिन श्राद्ध गर्नाले हाम्रा समस्त पितृजनहरूको आत्मालाई शान्ति प्राप्त हुन्छ। यी प्रमुख तिथिहरू यस प्रकार छन्-

Legend

In Hinduism, the souls of three preceding generations of one's ancestors reside in Pitriloka, a realm between heaven and earth. This realm is governed by Yama, the god of death, who takes the soul of a dying man from earth to Pitriloka. Only those three generations are given Shraddha rites, in which Yama plays a significant role. In Pitri Paksha, prayers are offered to bring upon moksha, both for the ancestors and for those performing the rituals. According to Swami Sivananda, Pitri Paksha increases the enjoyment of souls remaining in heaven before undergoing samsara or rebirth, or mitigates the suffering of those in other worlds; in the case those souls took another birth immediately after their deaths, Shraddha adds to their happiness in their new birth. According to the sacred Hindu epics, at the beginning of Pitri Paksha, the sun enters the zodiac sign of Virgo (Kanya). Coinciding with this moment, it is believed that the spirits leave Pitriloka and reside in their descendants' homes for a month until the sun enters the next zodiac— Libra(Tulā)—and there is a full moon. Hindus are expected to propitiate the ancestors in the first half, during the dark fortnight. When the legendary donor Karna died in the epic Mahabharata war and his soul transcended to heaven, he became plagued with extreme hunger, but any food he touched became gold instantly. Karna and Surya went to Indra and asked him about the cause of this situation. Indra told Karna that he had donated gold his entire life, but had never donated food to his ancestors in shraddha.

Significance

The performance of Shraddha by a son during Pitri Paksha is considered compulsory by Hindus, to ensure that the soul of the ancestor goes to heaven. In this context, the scripture Garuda Purana says, "there is no salvation for a man without a son". The scriptures preach that a householder should propitiate ancestors (Pitris), along with the gods (devas), elements (bhutas) and guests. The scripture Markandeya Purana says that if the ancestors are content with the shraddhas, they will bestow health, wealth, knowledge and longevity, and ultimately heaven and salvation (moksha) upon the performer. The performance of Sarvapitri amavasya rites can also compensate a forgotten or neglected annual Shraddha ceremony, which should ideally coincide with the death anniversary of the deceased. According to Sharma, the ceremony is central to the concept of lineages. Shraddha involves oblations to three preceding generations—by reciting their names—as well as to the lineage ancestor (gotra). A person thus gets to know the names of six generations (three preceding generation, his own and two succeeding generations—his sons and grandsons) in his life, reaffirming lineage ties. Anthropologist Usha Menon of Drexel University presents a similar idea—that Pitri Paksha emphasises the fact that the ancestors and the current generation and their next unborn generation are connected by blood ties. The current generation repays their debt to the ancestors in the Pitri Paksha. This debt is considered of utmost importance along with a person's debt to his gurus and his parents.

Bengali significance

In Bengal, Mahalaya (Bengali: মহালয়া) (Mahalaya Amavasya) usually marks the beginning of Durga Puja festivities. Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the Bengalis, is celebrated annually during the Hindu calendar month Ashvin (September and October). The celebration begins with Mahalaya. 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 Mahatmya (Chandi) scripture. Every Bengali household wakes up at dawn to listen to a collection of songs and mantras known as the Durga Saptashati, that recounts goddess Durga’s birth and eventual triumph over the demon king Mahishasura. Offerings to the ancestors are made in homes and at puja mandaps (temporary shrines).

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), spring bean (guar) and a yellow gourd (pumpkin).

Other practices

Some families also conduct ritual recitals of scriptures such the Bhagavata Purana and the Bhagavad Gita. Others may be charitable and present gifts to the priests or pay them to recite prayers for the ancestors' well-being.

Related festivals

• Ananta Chaturdashi
• Ashtimki
• Atwari
• Bhai Dooj
• Bhairava Ashtami
• Bisket Jatra
• Buddha's Birthday
• Chaurchan