ashwin
The best day to offer Pind-daan to the forefathers -Chaturdashi Shraddh
This Shraddh season must be performed with the help of expert Pandits and Acharyas of Gaya who are adept in offering oblations to the forefathers and ancestors.
Gaya is the only place in India where the offerings made to the forefathers directly reach them without being dissipated hither and thither. The chaturdashi tithi is the tithi selected for the best offerings to be made.
Any person about whom we have forgotten and their names are not known to us, one must approach for the Chaturdashi Shraddh and offerings must be made.
Chaturdashi Shraddha Tithi is only suitable for those deceased family members who were killed by some weapon, died in an accident, committed suicide or murdered. Otherwise Chaturdashi Shraddha is not done on this Tithi and is performed on Amavasya Tithi. Chaturdashi Shraddha is also known as Ghat Chaturdashi Shraddha or Ghayala Chaturdashi Shraddha.
Chaturdashi Shraddha is also known as Chaudas Shraddha.
Pitru Paksha Shraddhas are Parvan Shraddhas(पार्वण श्राद्ध) and auspicious time to perform them is either Kutup Muhurat and Rohina etc. Muhurat after that till Aparahna Kala gets over. Tarpan (तर्पण) is done at the end of the Shraddha.
The muhurtam for the Shraddh is as follows:
Science behind chaturmaas
As soon as the rainy season arrives by the commencement of the month of Shravan (July-August), we all find the genuine sages and hermits who are on the way to achieve perfection in their relationship with the supreme personality of godhead or have already achieved perfection in same, to pause their wanderings and see them staying in huge numbers in temples and ashrams, giving opportunity to the general masses to serve the lord and get them blessed by their blessings.
Chatumaas, the word comes from two separate words, Chatur and Maas. It means a collection of four months, Sharavan (July-August), Bhadrapada (August-September), Ashwin (September-October) and Kartik (October-November). These four months are specifically chosen since it involves the complete rainy season and the autumn season. These seasons, the sages stay at a particular place and perform austerities of body, speech and mind.
As per Ayurveda, these four months are described as the months of highest weakness in the body since the sun changes it’s course. It becomes more prominent in the southern hemisphere and the withdrawal causes generalised weakness. And since the weather is moist and humid, the body is depleted of many nutrients via bodily secretions.
In these months, the shastras enjoin that people must restrain from somethings from their diet and well as daily routine.
Scientific Paradigm
The rainy season, carries along with itself a plethora of pathogens and insects who move out from their residence inside the ground in order to find shelter somewhere else as their homes are flooded with water.
Also, due to cool weather, humid climate and availability of water makes the pathogens grow in an accelerated manner. These pathogens become the cause of diseases and hence, to avoid the contact with pathogens, one must observe cleanliness and must restrict movement.
Certain food items must not be consumed. One must not consume
- Green leafy vegetables in Shravan
- Yogurt in Bhadrapada
- Milk in Ashwin
- Non-veg, Urad and Masoor Dal in Kartik
The reason for the same is:
In Shravan, due to fresh arrival of monsoon, all the small organisms living inside the ground come out and try to find shelter. Green leafy vegetables being the best in nutrition as well as space give them the best opportunity. Hence, they enter the leafy vegetables
In Bhadrapada, the season becomes too much cold and wet. Hence, taking yogurt will cause respiratory diseases.
In Ashwin, the mammals whose milk we drink have been enough poisoned by eating the leafy vegetables. For two months, they have been doing so and hence, their milk becomes indigestible and we have the weakest strength at that time due to high humidity and clear sky.
In Kartik, the body starts to recover and welcome the winter season. Since the season is about to change and dryness is to come, consuming foods which are dry and take long time to digest is not considered wise.
Significance of Shradh Period
- Every year there is a 15 day period ‘Pitru paksha’, when our ancestors are revered in different ways. It is said that during this period our ancestor’s souls come and visit us.
- This period falls in the lunar month of ‘Ashwin’ beginning with the full moon day in Bhadrapada or next day of full moon day, in North India whereas in the lunar month of ‘Bhadrapada’ beginning with the full moon day or day after full moon day, in South India.
- Though the months differ yet it is performed on similar days by them.
Why should we pray for our ancestors during shradh?
Psychologically and scientifically, shradh is a form of attachment or guilt within us that restricts us to lead a normal day to day life. It disturbs and haunts us day and night in our thoughts as we have a feeling of regret within us for the dead person. Thus shradh ceremony or any such offerings are the ways to fulfill
the unfulfilled desires of our ancestors. It is an act to remind us about the execution of their pending jobs. By remembering our forefathers and seeking their blessings at the beginning of any auspicious work helps us to relieve ourselves from self-confessions.
Seek prayers and blessings from your ancestors: http://shubhpuja.com/pitrasantushti-id-736174.html
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