Shradh 2023: Meaning, Importance, & Muhurat for Puja

Shradh is a Sanskrit word that refers to anything which is done with utmost sincerity and faith. Shradh or Pitru Paksha is a 15 day’s lunar period which starts from Bhadrapada Purnima and ends with Ashwin Amavasya, when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors, especially through food offerings. Shradh marks an important time for performing the ritual of Tarpan. Performing Tarpan in Shradh is a way of remembering, thanksgiving, and honoring the ancestors for whatever they had given to the present generations. It is a way of telling them that they are still an important part of the family and they still reside in the memories. The period of Shradh is also known as Pitru Paksha or Pitru Pakshya, Apara Paksha, etc. whereas, the word Pitras means “Ancestors” and Paksha means “A particular time”.

Pitru Dosha

Pitru Dosha occurs if one does not perform the rituals of Tarpan in Shradh. Every year, a significant period of 16 days (Pitru Paksha or Shraadh) is dedicated to the ancestors or forefathers. Pitru Paksha day is considered perfect for performing Tarpan rituals. It is believed that the rituals performed during Shradh produce the best results for pleasing their ancestors. Shradh befalls right before the Sharada Navaratri in autumn. Like every year, Shraddha will come again in 2023 with a great significance for our ancestors and for us.

Shradh Pitru Paksha 2023 will begin on 29th September 2023 and will end on 14th October 2023.

Pitru Paksha Shraddha

Pitru Paksha Shradh is the time marked to devote or to offer respect to the deceased souls of loved ones and ancestors of the family member. It is believed that the ancestors residing in the Pitruloka (the world of the departed souls) are permitted to visit the earth (Bhulok), especially during the Pitru Paksha. Poojas are performed and food is offered to different Brahmin priests in order to get the blessing from our ancestors.

Pitru Paksha or Shraadh is considered an inauspicious period for starting off any new venture and shopping of new clothes or any household item. Pitru Paksha is considered to be the perfect time to perform Tarpan rituals. According to the Hindu holy texts, rituals performed during the Shradh will appease the departed souls.

Shradh Dates

Significance of Pitru Paksha

In Hindu mythology, it is believed that our ancestors are still watching us, they are protecting us from all the negativity of life and blessing us. Buton the other hand, they want us to remember them, pay respect and honor them because they had already given us a lot and still giving a lot. Rituals of Tarpan in Shradh is a way to pay our gratitude toward the ancestors for all that they have given or giving to us. It is believed that if the rituals are performed with full faith, love, and respect, our ancestors get happy and protect us from all the evil powers of the world. No matter what we dedicate, an expensive or less expensive gift, but what is important is our love and respect. Our honor and respect will make them happy instead of the price of the gift.

Pitru Amavasya

This is the last day of Pitru Paksha. If a native is not able to perform Shradh on dedicated tithis during the Pitru Paksha, he/she can do it on Sarva Pitru Amavasya. If the native is not able to perform Shraddha on all Tithis then single Shraddha (for all) on this day is enough to appease all deceased souls in the family. If the death anniversary of ancestors is not known or forgotten then those Shraddhas can be performed on this Tithi. That's why Amavasya Shradh is also known as Sarvapitra Moksha Amavasya.

Pind Dan

Pind Daan is a mandatory puja for all Hindus and Hinduism followers. It is considered that no work can be successfully performed without the blessing of the ancestors and doing of Pind Daan as it brings the blessings of the forefathers. The performing of Pind Daan as per the specific rituals at Gaya, Haridwar, Badrinath, Kurukshetra, Allahabad are considered as highly auspicious.

Mantra

This mantra should be chanted while performing the puja, to eradicate the malefic effects of Pitra Dosha in one’s Kundli.

‘Yasyasmirtya Cha Namoktaya Tapoyagya Kriyadishu, Newnam Sampurntam Yati Sadhyo Vande Tamchayutam’
(यस्यस्मृत्या च नमोक्तयातपोयस्य क्रियादिषु, नवनाम सम्पूर्णम् यति साध्यो वन्दे तमच्युतम्).

Pitru Dosh remedies for Rahu- Ketu

In Indian Astrology, offerings for Rahu and Ketu are given to ease the Pitru Dosh - if the curses of forefathers found in the natal chart in the form of close afflictions of Rahu and Ketu / or aspects on functional benefits / or continuance of malefic planets Dasha periods. Services to parents, elderly needy people, or sweeper is recommended. Whenever Pitru Dosh is found in the native's birth chart, besides regular remedies, one should offer food to crows, street dogs, and sweepers during 'Shradh’ (the lunar paksha dedicated to the forefathers).

RECOMMENDED PUJA

Why one should perform Pitra Dosh During Shradhs?

• Pitra Dosh Puja results in the removal of obstacles from life.
• It favors gainful ventures in the area of real estate or property.
• Pitra Dosh Puja attracts meaningful growth opportunities in one's professional life and promotes an upside in career.
• This puja also maintains harmonious relations in the native’s family.
• It quiets the turmoil in the mind and bestows calmness & mental peace.
• A person having Pitra Dosha must go for a Pitra Dosha Puja, which is a holy ritual of pacifying the ill effects cast upon his/her life.

Book a Pitra Dosh Puja to provide peace & contentment to your ancestors and get their auspicious blessings which are a must for living a prosperous, successful and blissful life.

Expert astrologers at Future Point could provide you with remedies and Pooja methodologies for Pitra Dosha, after analyzing your horoscope