Scriptures state that ‘Pitripaksh’ is of much importance for Hindus as the soul never dies

The 15-day period preceding the Navratra is called the Pitripaksh in the Hindu religion. This is the period during which we perform various rituals to propitiate our ancestors and the relatives who have passed away. It is a belief that rests on the basic premise that the soul never dies, which is without a beginning and an end. This is also one of the principal teachings of the scripture Bhagavad Gita.

When the human being dies, it’s the body that perishes but the soul leaves to another world that is called the pitrilok. However, if the soul is not satisfied, it remains wandering and is in perennial turmoil. The rituals performed during the Pitripaksh are to make the soul rest in peace and also to express the gratitude of the descendants to their ancestors.

The Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita tell us about the journey of the dead and the importance of the various rituals dedicated to them. The idea behind these rituals is to ensure the well-being of the departed ancestors and is a very lofty ideal of the Hindu religion that elevates ancestry to Godliness. Various acts and prayers performed during the Pitripaksh are for the peace of the dead relatives and their fond remembrance. It is through the various offerings made during the period that we seek their blessings for our well-being.

It is a firm belief in the Hindu religion that even after leaving the body the soul remains and is active and agile and feels for its kith and kin because it is emotionally attached. If the soul is neglected and not given due respect during the Pitripaksh it is hurt and feels offended.

The neglect to the departed souls may even invite their ire and wrath. That is why it is said that ‘Pitri kriya’ is of far greater significance and implication than ‘Dev kriya’. Our scriptures like the Garud Puran, Matsya Puran, Vishnu Puran and Vayu Puran give an account of the importance of Pitripaksh and Pitri kriya. These Purans tell us that by worshipping ancestors and performing ‘Tarpan’, we gratify our forefathers who get pleased and bless us. The worship that is called the ‘shradh karm’ is performed on the ‘tithi (date according to Hindu calendar)’ of the departure of the soul. This tithi is the lunar day which may be different from the calendar date.

The rituals performed during this period have great religious significance. The worship is performed with great sanctity and every effort is made to please the ancestors so that they can rest in peace for the rest of the year. The food that was the favourite of the departed person is prepared and offered after performing puja and feeding the Brahmins. Many feed the poor, too. A small portion of the food prepared is also offered to the cow, the crow and the dog. They are believed to help in connecting with the pitri lok, the abode of the ancestors.

The shraddh performed during this period is a holy act like a yagn to worship the ancestors as deities. They are different from worshipping God. Shraddh is mainly performed for three generations of pitris or ancestors. The procedures and practices of these rituals vary from culture to culture and region to region but their essence is the same. To express gratitude to our ancestors, remember them, seek their blessings, and pass a message to the next generation about the significance of ancestry. This is the greatness of Hindu religion. It worships the past generations while caring for the future generation.

(The author is a former professor of IIT, Dhanbad)