Mahalaya Amavasya – Importance and Relevance

Amavasya, or new moon days, in Hinduism, have a great significance, which is related to ancestor worship. Hindus believe that performing certain rituals on these days for their dead ancestors can please them. They also believe that when ancestors are pleased, they bestow many blessings on their descendants, which can transform their lives. One of the special Amavasyas for performing such rituals (like Tarpanam and Shraddh) is Mahalaya Amavasya. This new moon day falls on the last day of Pitru Paksha or ‘ancestor fortnight,’ a 15-day period in Bhadrapada month (mid-September – mid-October), which is very auspicious for such observances.

During this period, Hindus worship their ancestors and offer them food. It starts with the full moon day (Poornima) immediately after Ganesh Chaturthi and ends with the new moon day. Mahalaya Amavasya is also called Sarvapitri Amavasya.

Rituals for ancestors include:

1. Tarpanam - offering food to the departed ancestors

2. Annadhaanam - feeding the poor.

Tarpanam is performed at sunrise on all 15 days of Pitru Paksha. One should also donate food, clothes, footwear, and cooking utensils to poor people on each day of Pitru Paksha, even if it’s only one packet of food. Only then do the rituals become complete.

Karunya Tarpanam

Karunya Tarpanam is also performed by many during Mahalaya Paksha, and especially on Mahalaya Amavasya day. In this ritual, people offer Tarpanam to plants, trees, animals, birds, insects, and all living things that were sacrificed on their behalf. This is done to express gratitude to them.

In Hinduism, it is a duty to feed animals, birds, insects, and other creatures, but this has special importance during Pitru Paksha. It is a must to feed cows and crows especially. It is also good to visit Pitru Mukti (ancestor salvation) places like Kasi, Rameswaram, Thiruvaiyaru, Mantralayam, Papanasam, Gaya, Prayag, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, SriSailam, etc.

 

The Annual 15 Moons of Mahalaya Paksha

The Pitru Paksha rituals are performed from the 1st Moon (immediately after Poornima) until Amavasya. A specific Tithi rules each day. Doing Tarpanam on a specific Tithi or lunar day brings certain benefits, which are given below.

Day 1. Prathamai Thithi - Brings wealth

Day 2. Dvithiyai Thithi - Grants continuation of the lineage

Day 3. Thrithiyai Thithi – Bestows prosperity in business

Day 4. Chathurthi Thithi – Bestows the ability to defeat enemies

Day 5. Panchami Thithi – Bestows prosperity

Day 6. Sashti Thithi – Bestows a good reputation

Day 7. Sapthami Thithi – Bestows inner strength and spirituality

Day 8. Ashtami Thithi – Bestows intelligence

Day 9. Navami Thithi – Brings the support of women

Day 10. Dasami Thithi - Success in profession

Day 11. Ekadasi Thithi - Prosperity and intelligence to children

Day 12. Dwadasi Thithi - Continuation of lineage and success in education

Day 13.Trayodasi Thithi - Buy vehicles

Day 14. Chathurdasi Thithi - Peace and longevity

Day 15. Amavasya Thithi

 

The 15th day is Sarvapitri Amavasya. Those who could not perform Tarpanam on any of the above days must do it on this Amavasya. It is also the day for performing Tarpanam for people who died due to weapons or accidents. On this day, people also honor the souls of known and unknown people who died during the past 30 years.

Pitru Paksha Rituals

According to Sage Agastya, both sons and daughters should honor their ancestors. During Pitru Paksha, ancestors visit us daily, hoping to receive offerings from us. When we offer water and sesame seeds, their hunger and thirst are quenched, and they bestow abundant blessings on us. The doors of heaven supposedly remain open for all Pitrus (ancestors) for all the 15 days of Pitru Paksha.

Pitrus can enter heaven if they have done good karma or if there is a request by their descendants. When we do Shraddh, we send a request to allow our ancestors to enter heaven. If our ancestors have already entered heaven due to their good karma, our prayers can take them to higher realms. This is why our ancestors supposedly visit us with hope and expectation during Pitru Paksha.

It is said that when we fail to honor them, the dejection and disappointment of our ancestors can turn into “curses,” which will manifest as problems in life and suffering. But when we welcome, honor, and send them off with the appropriate offerings, they bestow their blessings, which manifest as good fortune and prosperity.

Thus, by performing Mahalaya Tarpanam, we make our ancestors happy, and they, in turn, ensure our well-being. Mahalaya Amavasya 2022 is on September 25, a Sunday.