The following auspicious days fall in the month of KANYA known as Purattasi in Tamil and Bhadrapada in Sanskrit.
1. Parivartana Ekadashi 2. Shravana Dwadashi 3. Vishwaroopa Yatra 4. Mahalayam 5. Beginning of Navaratri .
It is the month the Sun enters in to Kanya Rasi.
(Yajur Veda 6.1.6). That is why parents beget children.
The above sentence is told by Suparna to her sons. Kadru made Suparna
her slave. To redeem her from the slavery is the duty of her sons. Even
though not able to protect themselves during difficulty, parents protect
their children. When the parents are not in a position to protect
themselves, is it not the duty of the children to protect their parents?
Jagati and Trishtup the two sons of Suparna went to Swarga to bring
Soma to redeem their mother from slavery. But they could not win in
their attempts and came back losing all their strength. Gayathri the
other son then went to heaven. He was successful in his attempt. He not
only brought Soma but also the things that his brothers lost in the
heaven. He redeemed his mother from slavery.
The same story is
told by Vyasa who had given to the world the eighteen Puranas. Kadru
the mother of snakes made Suparna, the mother of Garuda her slave. Kadru
told Garuda that the slavery of Suparna can be redeemed only if nectar
from Swarga was brought and given to her. Garuda took the blessings of
his parents and elders and went to Swarga, fought there, won the battle,
brought the nectar and saved his mother. This is the story as told by
Vyasa as per the Vedic principle.
Our parents leave the world
leaving behind the body which is made of five elements. They obtain a
watery body and become PITRUS and also become the citizens of the
kingdom Vaivasvata Aadi. There they will not be in a position to get the
things they need for their very existence. Only under such
circumstances they expect the assistance of their children. Yamadharma
out of compassion for the PITRU DEVATAS, sends them to earth with an
instruction to take food from their children. The period when Yamadharma
allows them to this world is called MAHALAYA PAKSHA. Either to cleanse
the place where PITRUS lived once or to consume the food offered by the
children, PITRUS are sent to this world. The PITRUS fond of getting the
six type of food eagerly come down. During the sixteen days the children
would perform MAHALAYA SHRADDHA ceremony. The PITRUS feel as if they
are part of a festival with their children. That is why this period is
called MAHA AALAYAM i.e. Meaning great temple. If the children do not
celebrate all the days, and if not even for a day, the PITRUS return to
their abode, disappointed, cursing their children. Their curse will be
as follows. “ Since you have not done the SHRADDHAM to us, you will not
beget children to do this to you and you will suffer in the world
without food to eat”.
Let us not become eligible for the curse of the PITRUS.
Maharishis say that even those who live through begging should give at
least give some amount of food to their departed parents. During `the
MAHALAYA PAKSHA Shraddha shall be performed if not on all the fifteen
days, at least on the following days: MAHABHARANI, VYATIPATA,
MADHYASHTAMI, TRAYODASHI. Performance of Shraddha on those days will
give greater results (Phalan). Even in the day to day life we say thanks
to those who help us. Parents who had given us life, protected us,
brought up to a good position, visit us during the MAHALAYA PAKSHA. Is
it not our duty to extend welcome to them and feed and keep them
comfortable? At least the day on which they passed away (TITHI) one
should perform Shraddha. As children enjoy the assets left behind by the
parents and it is their duty to repay them.
The DHARMA SHASTRAS order as follows:
Do Shraddham on all fifteen days of MAHALAYA PAKSHA
If you do not have facilities to do so, do atleast on PANCHAMI OR ASHTAMI up to AMAVASYA
Do Shraddham as ordained to be done
If it is not practicable to do so do as HIRANYA Shraddha
Even if this is not practicable do TARPANAM with sesame (TILA) with water
By doing with all sincerity the PITRUS feel happy, hence bless and
return. In the olden days people were doing on all the sixteen days
during MAHALAYA PAKSHA every year. There are specific results for the
performance on each TITHI says Rishi Apastamba. Failure to perform will
result in not begetting children because of the curse of the PITRU
DEVATAS.
Panchami according to Jabali is the duration from
Panchami to Ashtami. For those who had taken SANYASA in the family
DWADASHI is the apt TITHI and for those who died by weapons CHATURDASHI
is the apt day for performing the rites. Those who perform Shraddha for
the entire Paksha should do two TARPANAS on the Amavasya day. One should
not do two Shraddhms in a day. But on the day of AMAVASYA, TARPANA
shall be done for two sides of the family (ie) PITRUS from the father’s
side and PITRUS from the mother’s side. During the MAHALAYA PAKSHA
TARPANA ought to be done to KARUNIKA PITRUS too.
KARUNIKA PITRU DEVATAS
The following are called KARUKINA PITRU DEVATAS:
Younger brother of the father
Elder brother of the father
Elder brother
Younger brother
Sisters
Ones own sons
Aunt (Sisters of father)
Aunt’s son (Amman)
Wife of father’s elder brother
Wife of father’s younger brother
Daughters and sons of father’s brothers
Wife
Father in law
Mother in law
Daughter in law
Wife’s brothers
Guru
Master under whom one serves
Friends
For all the mentioned TARPANS are to be performed during the MAHALAYA
PAKSA. Should we not do ANNA MAHALAYA Shraddha at least once in our
lifetime?
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