पित्र पूजा - पित्र पक्ष

The dark fortnight of Ashvina (September-October) is known as Pitr Paksha or Mahalaya Paksha. This is an occasion to perform rites for the departed ancestors to keep their souls indebted for years. Pitra Paksha is performed for the departed immediate relatives usually up to 3 preceding generations.Pitra Paksha is performed from the 1st day / tithi of the Ashwin month and goes up to the following Amavasya day. Each of these 15 days is dedicated to the Sraddha of those ancestors who had met eternity on that particular day/tithi.

Pitrapaksha is the occasion to repay debt to our departed ancestors by satisfying their souls by performing rites. For this purpose “Shraddha” is performed with a belief that the dead ones would alive amongst us. Yamaraja, the Lord of death allows the souls to come down to the earth and receive offers from their descendants.

SIGNIFICANCE OF PITR PAKSHA
Across the Hindu religion it is believed that after death, the soul incarnates into a new form and embodies as animal, bird, reptile, human or any other form depending on the Karmas (deeds) in one’s past life.Pitr-Puja is obligatory in Hindu tradition:In Hindu tradition the 13th day after the cremation is termed as “Sapindi”, or “Tervi”. It is after these 13 days of ceremonies that Pitr-Puja becomes must for every son. There are three debts that every human being is supposed to pay, which are:

1 ) Indebt ness towards the Supreme lord.
2 ) Indebt ness towards Rishis.
3) Indebt ness towards one’s forefathers/ ancestors.

As according to Bhagwad Gita"Just as one removes old clothes and puts on new ones, so does the Jivatma abandon an old body and obtain a new one"
Thus, it is only the house and body that the soul changes, but whatever we as children are indebted to our ancestors should be repaid, because the soul never dies. The pitr-Puja performed by the sons and grandchildren in memory of their ancestors, is preceded with the thought that: "O Pitrs in whichever form you may be, wherever you may be, we wish to remember and pray for your peace and welfare".The Puja reaches to one’s ancestors only if it is performed with due dedication and intensions.