WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PERFORM THE PITRI PAKSH RITUAL?
Check your Vedic calendar for the dates when Pitri Paksh begins and end each year. It is important that a male child in the family perform the ritual to rescue the souls of his ancestors and help them find moksha.  Ancestors thus liberated from their sufferings will then bless the entire family.

HOW LONG DOES THE RITUAL TAKE TO PERFORM?
After the first few times, you will be able to do all the mantras in about 5 to 8 minutes.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
THIS RITUAL IS TO BE PERFORMED ONLY BY A MALE IN THE FAMILY.
FEMALES ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PROPRIATE THE PITRIS.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RITUAL OF PITRI PAKSH
Stick a piece of Kush grass in the earth of your yard on the South side of your house. You may stick it at the root of a tree or in an outdoor plant pot. Place one tablespoon of black sesame seed (til) in a lota of water and stir. Stand facing south (the direction of Yamaraj - God of Death) and slowly let the water fall on the Kush Grass  while repeating the following mantra to the Devtas, Rishis, Siddhas and Pitrs:

FIRST TO THE DEVTAS:
OM BRAHMA STRPYANTAM
OM VISNU STRPYANTAM
OM RUDRA STRPYANTAM
OM PRAJAPATI STRPYANTAM
OM DEVA STRPYANTAM
OM RSAYA STRPYANTAM
OM ACARYA STRPYANTAM
OM GANDHARVA STRPYANTAM
OM DEVYA STRPYANTAM
OM APSARASA STRPYANTAM
OM DEVA NAGA STRPYANTAM
OM NAGA STRPYANTAM
OM TAKSA STRPYANTAM
OM PARVATA STRPYANTAM
OM SAGARA STRPYANTAM
OM SARITA STRPYANTAM
OM MANUSYA STRPYANTAM
OM RAKSAMASI STRPYANTAM
OM PISACA STRPYANTAM
OM SUPARNA STRPYANTAM
OM BHUTANI STRPYANTAM
OM PASAVA STRPYANTAM
OM SAMVATSARAH SAVAYAVA STRPYANTAM
OM VANASPATAYA STRPYANTAM
OM AUSADHAYA STRPYANTAM
OM BHUTA GRAMAS CATUR VIDHA STRPYANTAM

SECOND TO THE RISHIS:
OM MARICI  STRPYANTAM
OM ATRI  STRPYANTAM
OM ANGIRA  STRPYANTAM
OM PULASTYA  STRPYANTAM
OM PULAHA  STRPYANTAM
OM KRATU  STRPYANTAM
OM VASISTHA  STRYANTAM
OM PRACETA  STRPYANTAM
OM BHRGUR  STRPYANTAM
OM NARADA  STRPYANTAM

THIRDLY TO THE 7 SIDDHAS or SAPTA RISHIS
OM SANAKA  STRPYANTAM
OM SANANDANA  STRPYANTAM
OM SANATANA  STRPYANTAM
OM KAPILA  STRPYANTAM
OM ASURI  STRPYANTAM
OM VODHU  STRPYANTAM
OM PANCASIKHA  STRPYANTAM

FINALLY TO ALL YOUR ANCESTORS (PITRIS)
Make a list of all your deceased ancestors from both your maternal and paternal side of your family.
NOTE: ONLY INCLUDE THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO ARE DEAD.

For Example:
Father & Mother
Maternal Father and Mother
Paternal Father and Mother
Great Grand father and Mother – Father side of the family
Great Grand father and mother – Mother side side of the family
Great Great Grand father and mother - Father side of the family
Great Great Grand father and mother - Mother side fo the family

Say the following mantra one time for EACH deceased ancestor:
OM (insert the name of the deceased ancestor) STRYPYANTAM

FINAL PRAYER:
Take a purple flower in your hand and concentrate on Lord Shiva, while saying the following mantra:

om kavya-vadanala-strpyantam idam satilam jalam
tasmai svadha namah
om soma-strpyantam, idam satilam jalam
tasmai svadha namah
om yama-strpyantam idam satilam jalam
tasmai svadha namah
om aryama strpyantam, idam satilam jalam
tasmai svadha namah
om agni-svattah pitara-strpyantam, idam satilam jalam
tebhyah svadha namah
om somapah pitara-strpyantam idam satilam jalam
tebhyah svadha namah
om barhi-sadah pitara-strpyantam, idam satilam jalam
tebhyah svadha namah

Then place the flower next to the Kush Grass. Bow your head in reverence and then leave the location. You can repeat your ritual each day of Pitr Paksh at the same location using the same Kush grass which would be left there throughout.

WHAT A PERSON CAN EAT WHEN PERFORMING PITRI PAKSH:
Spinach, cauliflower, rice, dhal, potato, eggplant, soyabean, tofu, roti and bread

WHAT SHOULD NOT BE EATEN:
Heeng (asafoetida), garlic (lassan), carrot, pumpkin, onion,amla, drumstick (sygan), kachnar, squash
(konhaddah), Black zeera, bamboo shoot, water potatoe (singara), jamun fruit, sudanshran, saag (bajee),
black salt, veerya, salt, sheetpak saag ( a specail type of bajee) and eddoes

Sraddha, if performed according to the dharma- sastras, leads to everlasting peace of the departed soul because they are now liberated from karmic bonds and from the cycle of birth and death. This is widely recognized. This is why strict attention is given to the ritual by the ancient seers. Some give a detailed description of the funeral rites and of subsequent rituals at the crematorium or at the home. In the Narad Purana, for example, one finds a description of the sraddha rites as well as qualifications of the brahmana invitee to the rituals. Realizing the pre-eminence of the last rites amoung the samskaras, the law-givers also lay down some mandatory disqualifications of an invitee as well as rules with regard to the sraddha-tithis.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A PITR PUJA?
It is widely held that intellect, nourishment, power of memory, brain, kingdom and health can be attained only through the grace of the noble-souled pitris. The Vayu Purana is of the view that Pitamahas grant crores of gems,pearls, lapis lazuli, garments and thousands of horses and elephants. Pitamahas always bestow on men chariots fitted with swans and peacocks, studded with pearls and lapis lazuli and decorated with tinkling bells and provided with perpetual flowers and fruits.  Brhaspati, realizing what the sraddha rites are meant for the manes, lays stress on the solemnity with which they should be performed. The vessels meant for the pitris should be made of gold, silver or coper.  A silver or silver-coated vessel is said to be acceptable to the pitris. What Brhaspati says relates to pitr-sraddhas and not to obsequial rites performed at the death of a kinsman.  If the former (pitr-sraddha) is the goal, showing or gifting away of silver is a suitable gift for the pitrs and it is conducive to the attainment of infinite and everlasting heaven. Good sons enable the pitrs to cross hell by means of this religious gift. The reason why the silver vessel is highly spoken of is that svadha was formerly milked by the pitrs seeking to get svadha. If the destruction of demons is desired-and desired it shall be-then the nearby presence, sight or gifting away of the hide of a black antelope should be recommended. It increases brahmanical splendour and enables the pitrs to cross hell.

Copyright © 2001 RamCharran