Shradh And Its Significance

'उदीरतामवर उत्‌ परास उन्‍मध्‍यमा: पितर सोम्‍यास: ।

असुं य ईयुरवृका ऋतज्ञा: ते नोऽवन्‍तु पितरो हवेषु ।।' - - ऋग्‍वेद, मंडल १०, सूक्‍त १५, ऋचा १

"Let ancestors residing on Earth attain an evolved region and ancestors living on a higher plane of existence 'in heaven' never degrade. Let the ones who are at a medium plane of existence, attain a higher plane. Let the ancestors who symbolise the Truth protect us."

Rishi Kindam describes 3 types of debts in Mahabharata that need to be cleared before leaving this world. These include:

Dev Rin - Debt towards Lord Vishnu that can be cleared by doing Daan (donation)

Rishi Rin - Debt of Lord Shiva that is cleared by achieving knowledge and sharing

Pitru Rin - Debt of Lord Brahma that is cleared by children doing PindDaan / Shradh, Shradh for their ancestors

A person who is not clearing his three debs is considered as shying away from his duties towards Lord Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma.

Debt means desires of our ancestors which were not fulfilled during their lifetime. The responsibility to fulfil them automatically comes to the eldest son in the family and need to be fulfilled. If not, it reflects as a guilt disorder in the family and clinically may present with loss of wealth, loss of direction and courage and health. The resultant problems faced in mythology were called Pitru Dosh.

To remove that guilt and the resultant mental illness the ritual of performing Shradh originated. Shradh has many components.

1. Tarpan: or offering of water to the ancestors while reciting Mantras.

2. Arpan (preparing food on the day of Shradh what the ancestors used to like)

3. Brahmin bhoj (offering of Satvik food to Brahmins)

4. PindDaan (offering of black sesame, Kusha Grass, Jwar and boil or baked rice) observed by some.

Pitru Paksha or Shradh is a period of 15 days dedicated to the departed forefathers.

Shradh rituals are performed in dark half of lunar month of Ashwin every year.  To tranquilize the dead souls, the rituals of Shradh or Tarpan should be performed in a meticulous manner. No measures shall be neglected to pacify our dead forefathers.

As per the Holy Scripture ‘Shrimad Bhagavad Gita’, the body is destructible but the soul remains immortal. The soul never takes birth neither it dies. The soul is immortal and ever existent. Hence neither air, water nor fire can destroy it.

पूर्व जन्म कृतं पापं व्याधिरूपेण बाधते।

तच्छान्तिरौषंधैदानै: जपश्राध्दादि कर्मभि:।।

The time of Shradh liberates the soul from the cycle of life and death resulting in salvation. Hence, performing Shradh during the time of Pitru Paksha is considered extremely important for the departed souls to rest in peace.

Dates for Pitru Paksha 2015 in according to the Hindu calendar:

Shradh	Date	Day	What the each day of Shradh signifies.
Purnima Shradh	September 28, 2015	Monday	On this day, Shradh is performed for those who left this world on the Full Moon day (Purnima).
Ptratipada Shradh	September 28, 2015	Monday	This is performed for the members of the family who died on Pratipada Tithi.
Dwitiya Shradh	September 29, 2015	Tuesday	Also known as Dooj Shradh, this is performed for the members who died on Dwitiya Tithi.
Tritiya Shradh	September 30, 2015	Wednesday	This is performed for the people who have died on Tritiya Tithi. It is also known as Teej Shradh.
Chaturthi Shradh	October 01, 2015	Thursday	This is followed for the persons who have died the previous year or on the Chaturthi Tithi.
Panchami Shradh/Bharani Shradh	October 02, 2015	Friday	This Shradh is performed when the Bharani Nakshtra prevails during Pitru Paksha. Bharani constellation either prevails on Chaturthi or Panchami every year. Shradh performed on this day is equivalent to the Gaya Shradh. Panchami Shradh is special in its own way because on this day, Shradh of the people who died unmarried is performed.
Sashthi Shradh	October 03, 2015	Saturday	This is known as Chhath Shradh performed for members who died on Shashti Tithi.
Saptami Shradh	October 04, 2015	Sunday	This is performed for the family members who died on Saptami Tithi.
Ashtami Shradh	October 05, 2015	Monday	This is done for the members who have died on Ashtami Tithi.
Navami Shradh	October 06	Tuesday	It is known as Avidhava Shradh. This is performed by the men whose wives have died. Also, this is known as Matra Navami, as the Shradh of mother is also performed on this day.
Dashami Shradh	October 07, 2015	Wednesday	Dashami Shradh or Dashami Shradh is done for people who have died on Dashami Tithi.
Ekadashi Shradh	October 08, 2015	Thursday	This is also known as Gyaras Shradh, performed for people who have died on Ekadasi Tithi.
Dwadashi Shradh	October 09, 2015	Friday	This is performed for people who have taken up Sanyas or renunciation before death or who died on Dwadashi Tithi. It is also known as Baras Shradh.
Trayodashi Shradh / Magha	October 10, 2015	Saturday	This is performed for dead children or the people who died on Trayodashi Tithi. It is also known as Kakbali, Balabholani Teras or Teras Shradh. Magha Shradh is performed when Magha Nakshtra (constellation) prevails during Aparahana Kaal.
Chaturdashi Shradh/ Ghata Chaturdashi Shradh	October 11, 2015	Sunday	This Shradh is followed for the persons who have died unnaturally (accident, murder or suicide). It is also known as Chaudas Shradh.
Sarv Pitru Amavasya Shradh	October 12, 2015	Monday	This Tithi is performed for all ancestors, irrespective of the way they died. If somebody is not able to perform Shradh on the requisite Tithi, may perform on Sarvapitri Moksha Amavasya Shradh. It is also known as Amavasya Shradh.