A Complete Guide to Performing Pitru Dosha Pooja at Your Home
On December 10, 2025
Our ancestors are the very reason for our existence and it is important to remember our roots and honor them appropriately. Their blessings guide us through tough times and honoring them through prayers, Poojas and Tarpanam satiates and helps them attain higher realms in their afterlife.
As per Vedic tradition, honoring our ancestors is an integral part of our karmic journey. Performing Poojas and Rituals to them is a duty and ignoring this duty can manifest as challenges and setbacks in our lives causing ancestral affliction referred to as Pitru Dosha.
Though it is ideal to perform Tarpanam with the guidance of a Vedic Priest on important ancestral days to help overcome the impact of this ancestral affliction, performing Pitru Dosha Pooja at home can help seek their blessings.
Here is a complete guide to help you understand about Pitru Dosha, its significance, and the easiest way to perform it at home.
What is Pitru Dosha?
Pitru Dosha is an ancestral affliction caused by non-performance of ancestral duties or curses and sins that run deep in the lineage, manifesting as problems in your life and the lives of your future generations. It is an indication that your ancestors need your support to help them move to higher realms and attain salvation.
It manifests as life problems impacting key life areas as:
Financial problems of all kinds
Delays in marriage, career or critical decision-making
Family disputes that affect peace and unity
Constant stress causing emotional heaviness
Health issues or lack of sleep
Living in constant fear, distress and discouragement
Obstacles to progress and grow
Though some of these life challenges can be a result of your past karma, ancestral curses and sins, their impact can be softened when we honor ancestors through ancestral poojas. According to Vedic texts, performing these ancestral poojas offers appreciation, healing and gratitude that can bring harmony to both the departed and the living.
Why Must You Perform Pitru Dosha Pooja?
Brings a sense of closure, healing and peace
Helps dissolve or reduce the impact of ancestral afflictions
Supports strengthening positive energies in the family leading to peace and unity
Opens the doors to new opportunities for growth and success
Reconnects you to your roots, deepening your understanding of your spiritual journey
How to Perform Pitru Dosha Pooja at Home
Pitru Pooja need not be elaborate. What matters most is the desire to honor your ancestors with sincerity, devotion and purity of intention. Here is a simple yet effective way to seek ancestral blessings.
Step 1: Choose a Calm Space
A quiet corner of your home that is clean and peaceful is ideal. Ensure that you are not disturbed while you meditate on your ancestors.
Light a lamp or candle
Place a picture of your immediate ancestors and your forefathers if you have, else you can write their names in a paper as a medium to offer prayers
Keep a bowl of clean water
Place fresh flowers
Step 2: Collect All Items for Performing the Ritual
You can use household items such as Fruits, Flowers, Milk, or any other simple food offering. These offerings are embodiments of respect, nourishment and peace. Your items can include;
Metal Pot (Kalasam) filled with purified water
Flowers, betel leaves, and betel nuts
Black sesame seeds, barley or rice, and milk or ghee
Clean white cloth to sit on and meditate
Step 3: Invoking Ancestors By Creating Harmonizing Energies
Take a few deep breaths
Maintain a clear and calm mind
Begin with Purification- Sprinkle water, cleanse your hands and meditate on your ancestors
Set clear intent - meditate by repeating this phrase- “I am honoring my ancestors with love, gratitude and respect. I seek their blessings to bring peace and remove any obstacles that hinder my life, family and my future generations.”
Step 4: Thank Your Ancestors
Authentic emotion is more important than following rituals. Thank them for their blessings in your life, talk to them with affirmations such as;
“May you find peace, wherever you are.”
“Thank you for your blessings.
Step 4: Closing the Ritual
Share and consume the food and water offered as a symbol of receiving their blessings.
What is the Best Time to Perform Pitru Dosha Pooja
If done with sincerity, any day can be an ideal day to perform this Pooja. However, performing it on special ancestral days such as New Moon days, Death Tithi Days (if you know it) or during Mahalaya Paksha, Ancestral Fortnight of Tarpanam, is considered beneficial.
Things to Do: Follow Through After the Pooja
Respect your ancestors daily, remember and thank them at least once a day
Maintain cleanliness and discipline at home to keep the positive energy flowing
Feed the needy, help elders, do charity work - it helps amplify ancestral blessings
Consult an astrologer to check whether your birth chart indicates Pitru Dosha and perform remedies as required
Perform or sponsor Tarpanam on critical ancestral days to help your ancestors move to higher realms
Mistakes to Avoid
Performing the ritual without focus or in a distracted state
Rushing the ritual or performing in haste
Having negative or stressful thoughts during the ritual
Using outdated or stale items
Forgetting to express gratitude
Neglecting the follow-through after the Pooja - serving others and upholding the values of your lineage
Performing Pitru Dosha Pooja rituals for your ancestors helps create a bridge between the past, present and future. It ushers in healing energies, opening channels of blessing, inviting prosperity blessings for you and your future generations.
- Ancestral Healing
- Pitru Dosha
- Pitru Dosha Pooja
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