Fw: SOME THOUGHTS ON MAHALAYA PAKSHA SRADDHAM---2 Posted by: "G Balasubramanian" [email protected] gbsub Sun Sep 13, 2009 8:02 am (PDT)
----- Forwarded Message ---- From: G Balasubramanian <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 9:22:00 PM Subject: SOME THOUGHTS ON MAHALAYA PAKSHA SRADDHAM---2 Friends, I write this in continuation of what was said in my earlier posting which was numbered as posting no.1 on this topic. As far as Mahalaya Paksham for the year 2009 is concerned, one might have noticed that there are only 14 days and not 15 days in the Paksham. This is because both Dwadasi thithi and Trayodasi Thithi are falling on the same day viz., on 16th of September. We have been discussing about the importance of Pitr Paksha in the previous posting. All the rituals done in honour of pitr devatas, be it Shraddham or Pitr Tarpanam are considered as very auspicious rituals. It is believed that our Pitr devatas attain salvation and bless us with harmony and prosperity, if we perform pitr karmas regularly as prescribed by Sastras. On the other hand, if Pitr karyam is not observed as prescribed in Sastras one incurs the wrath of Pitrs and runs the risk of inviting the curse of Pitrs (Pitr Sapam).The Mahabharatam says in this regard as follows:- "How can a householder earn money and be gifted with a baby boy if he does not perform Shraddha ceremony during the period when the Sun is in Kanya Rasi (virgo sign), as he would have enraged the deceased ancesor`s souls. Moreover,the abode of the the deceased ancestor`s souls(Pitr loka) remains vacant till the Sun moves from Virgo(Kanya) to Libra (Tula)sign) whereby the Pitrs come closer to the descendents for blessing them and if Shraddha is not performed, they give curse to their descendents and return. In the light of the above, performing Shraddham during Mahalaya Paksham is a Must. No more justification is called for. In regard to the query of the member( by name Sridevi), Mahabharani occurs on Septr. 9,2009. As I stated in post no.1,performing Sraddham during Pitr Paksha on the day on which Mahabharani Nakshatra occurs is also considered as propitious to the Pitr devatas. This is also called Bharani Mahalaya. Generally, Bharani Nakshatra falls either on Chathurthi or on Panchami during Mahalaya Paksham. It is wrong to say that Mahalayapaksha Sraddham should be done ONLY on Bharani Nakshatra day . There is no such provision in the Sastras to the effect, as stated by sister Sridevi. The member may please remove the wrong impression from her mind. Coming to her query on food, When Pitr Paksha Sraddham is performed, it does not call for Vastra danam, Homam, Bhojanam or feeding of the Brahmanas and Pindapradanam etc. Serving of food to Brahmanas is not mandatory as in the case of a Pratyaabdika Sraddham ( Annual Sraddha ceremony). Food served during annual ceremony will be as per family tradition. For Mahalaya Sraddham, the practice in vogue is to offer Rice, dal, raw banana and any other vegetable which is of Indian origin, besides appropriate Dakshina for Mahalayapaksha Sraddham. This is called Hiranya Sraddham, i.e., Sraddham where Dakshina only is offered and not meals. If one wants to offer meals to Brahmanas he can do so, provided the Brahmanas are willing to eat. It goes without saying that the food should be satvik in nature. Items like garlick, onion etc, should never be used in food served to Brahmins. In USA,of course, the Purohits are paid employees of temples. The temple website gives a list of articles to be brought by a Grihasta to the temple for performing Hiranya Sraddham. That list includes milk, curd,ghee, tamarind, 3 types of vegetables, 3 types of fruits etc. etc.These are offered to the priest as a part of the Sraddha ritual.
