Mahalaya Paksha 2025 Significance & Rituals

This year, 2025, the Mahalaya Paksha, also known as Pitru Paksha, starts on September 7th. The Mahalaya Amavasya is the most important day of this period and falls on September 21, a Sunday. Mahalaya Amavasya is a no-moon/new moon day observed with reverence and rituals, a time to connect with your ancestors and for reflection. It is a sacred and significant day in the Hindu calendar. The special new moon day (Amavasya) falls in the Purtasi month of the Tamil calendar between September and October at the end of Pitru Paksha. The Mahalaya Amavasya is known by various names: Pitru Paksha Amavasya and Sarvapitri Amavasya, and is the best time to perform ancestral rituals like Tarpanam to pay respect and honour the departed ancestors.

Mythology Behind Mahalaya Amavasya

According to the epic Mahabharata, the great warrior Karna died during the Kurukshetra war. His soul went to the divine realm and met with the God of death, Yama. Yama, the god of justice, told Karna that he, too, like other souls, has to face the consequences of his Karma (earthly actions). However, Karna was not very concerned about it, but instead was worried about the sufferings of his ancestors, whose ancestral rituals had not been performed properly. Karna asked Yama if he could go back to Earth to perform these rituals. Impressed by Karna’s devotion to his ancestors, Yama granted his wish and allowed him to return to Earth briefly. Karna did the offerings and necessary rituals on his brief return to ensure the liberation of his ancestors' souls.

Mahalaya Amavasya Significance

Mahalaya Amavasya is an important day to seek the blessings of your ancestors by fulfilling their wishes with offerings of food and water. It is said that during the Paksha period, the souls of the ancestors come to the Earth. This day is believed to be very auspicious, as there is no need for a tithi to perform their Shraddha (ritual for the dead). Conducting this ritual on Mahalaya Amavasya day is believed to help get the guidance of the ancestors and ensure a healthy, prosperous and peaceful life.

The Tarpanam done on this day is an expression of gratitude for the wisdom and blessings that are passed down to people by their ancestors. It is also said that it can reduce unresolved karmic debts people carry and attain spiritual progress. Performing the Shraddha or Tarpanam on this day and asking for their blessings is thought to bring good health, prosperity and safeguard you from evil forces.

How To Perform Shraddha?

● Prepare for the Mahalaya Amavasya ritual a day before by thoroughly cleaning the house.

● The doer of the ritual and the others in the family must take a head bath and wear clean clothes.

● The family should prepare Pinda Daana, a mixture of cooked rice and black sesame seeds (Til) rolled into a ball with ghee.

● On that day, everyone in the family must fast, and the elder male member (typically the eldest son of the deceased) does the Tarpanam for the ancestors. After doing the ritual, offer the Pinda Daana prepared to a crow along with water and wait for the crow to eat it. Only after the crow has eaten the food should the family consume their meal.

● Many people also have the habit of visiting nearby temples to pray for the well-being of their ancestors and seek their blessings.

● Donating clothes, food, other essentials, or doing a charitable act is considered virtuous. People also offer food to animals as they believe that on this day, the ancestors' spirits may reside in these animals.

Significance Of Crows In Mahalaya Amavasya

Crows are considered sacred on the Mahalaya Amavasya day as they are believed to be carriers of the ancestors' souls. So it is customary for Hindus to offer cooked rice, ghee and dal to crows on this day at least every morning during the Paksha period. During Shraddha, people offer Pinda to crows in open areas, balconies or rooftops and invite them.

Temples To Do Tarpanam In Tamil Nadu

● Arulmigu Veeraraghava Perumal Temple in Thiruvallur

● Rameshwaram

● Koil Sundara Mahalakshmi Temple in Arasar

● Marundeeswarar Temple in Thiruvanmiyur

● Thila tarpanapuri

It is considered very auspicious to visit Gaya, Kasi, Rameshwaram, Theerthandapuram, and Innambur Thila Tarpanapuri to perform ancestral rituals in these places, as they are spiritually important.

Mahalaya Paksha is the time for Shraddha and Tarpanam and is the most significant time to pay homage to one's ancestors and invoke their blessings for health, peace, and prosperity. Perform the Mahalaya Paksha rituals and honour your ancestors!

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