Post by Kanchi Periva on Aug 17, 2012 16:48:14 GMT 5.5
We are posting here a multi-part series of messages on "Mahalaya Paksha" which are forwarded to us through email by Shri G Balasubramanian.
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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 ancestor'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. Sraddham done 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 not mandatory that Mahalayapaksha Sraddham should be done ONLY on Bharani Nakshatra day . If this were mandatory, all Brahmanas will find that it is difficult to perform on that day, since adequate number of *veda BrAhmana-s *for officiating in *srAddha *are not available.
As already stated, 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 also not mandatory as in the case of a Pratyaabdika Sraddham (Annual Sraddha ceremony).
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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 ancestor'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. Sraddham done 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 not mandatory that Mahalayapaksha Sraddham should be done ONLY on Bharani Nakshatra day . If this were mandatory, all Brahmanas will find that it is difficult to perform on that day, since adequate number of *veda BrAhmana-s *for officiating in *srAddha *are not available.
As already stated, 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 also not mandatory as in the case of a Pratyaabdika Sraddham (Annual Sraddha ceremony).