Pitar Paksha and Shraad
Dr Roshan Singh – Jyotishacharya Shastri Pundit
It is very important for our younger generation to understand the spiritual and scientific aspect of Indian tradition beliefs and develop an advanced culture and civilization associated with its values. At present, the new generation is also associated with traditional beliefs for the sustainable survival and development of future generations so that traditions as well as environment can be preserved.
Each of us are born with three debts of karma. We owe a debt to the Gods and Goddesses, which we discharge by making this world a better place because of our having been here. We owe a debt to our ancestors, which we discharge by respecting the elderly the way we will want to be respected when we are old, and by teaching the young people the way we want this world to become. The third debt is to the Gurus, which we discharge by living in accordance with the wisdom that they taught us.
Where we are today, what we are doing today, what are our achievements and aspirations, all in part are predicated upon the path that our ancestors have prepared for us. Each of us took birth with a certain destiny, and a propensity to fulfil that destiny. We took birth into a specific family that created an environment most conducive for us to become what it is that God intended.
Many of our families inspired us to become what we are by showing us what we might not want to become. By both positive and negative reinforcement, our families prepared our paths, just as we are preparing the paths of those who will come after us.
Therefore, we want to say, Thank You. We who like where we are and what we are doing, want to demonstrate our respect and appreciation by asking for blessings from the preceding generations.
PITAR PAKSHA IS NOT INAUSPICIOUS
The dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) of Ashvin (September – October) is a period specially designated for offering food and water oblations to the departed ancestors, and is known as Pitra Paksh. The offering of water commences in the morning of the 18 September at 04h38 and the last and final offering is done in the morning of 2 October. It is one of the important duties of every person according to the Hindu belief and is also a means of instilling reverence for elders in the minds of the younger generation. The rituals performed during this fortnight hold great religious merit and should therefore be observed for the full 15 days. They are rated as equal as the rituals performed at the holy city of Gaya in India if performed with love and reverence. During this period, the ancestors are worshipped and every effort is made to satisfy their wishes so that their souls rest in peace wherever they have taken on new bodies.
On each day of the fortnight, special offerings are made to the ancestors whose lunar date of death corresponds to that particular day. Food items are offered to Lord Vishnu and the remnants of that known as prashad are offered to the departed after performing a puja. Round balls of rice, called pinda, are also offered , along with the sacred kusha grass and flowers, amidst sprinkling of water and chanting of mantras from the Sama Veda. The aspirant does “Tarpan” which comprises of water, milk, jav, till, honey & flowers on a daily basis.
The Shraadh ceremony performed during Pitra Paksh is intended for the worship of Lord Vishnu to pave the way of the ancestors so that they could move ahead in their spiritual development and become liberated from the bondage of the material world. Shraadh is generally performed for three generations, namely the father, the grandfather and the great grandfather. If one is in devotional service on a daily basis seven generations of ancestors are believed to benefit from it. Even the souls of those that are living in the heavenly planets, those that have taken on human forms and those that are living in ghostly conditions become liberated by the performance of such duties. It is therefore the duty of the son to perform Shraadh with faith, devotion and reverence.
Bhagavan Sri Krsna said :
An increase of unwanted population certainly causes hellish life both for the family and for those who destroy the family tradition. The ancestors of such corrupt families fall down, because the performances for offering them food and water are entirely stopped.
Astrology and Pitra Paksha
All Hindu fasts, feasts and festivals have a deep spiritual and scientific basis and therefore are astrologically calculated. The final day of Pitra Paksha is the new moon day called Mahalay Amavasya. It is the day when oblations are offered to all the ancestors. According to the scriptures, there is a conjunction of the sun and the moon on this day and the sun enters the sign Virgo (Kanya). On this day, the departed souls leave their abode of Bhuva Lok and come down to the world of mortals to visit the houses of their descendants. On this day the performance of the following Pitra Havan is highly recommended while the devotee sits facing the southerly direction. Offerings of a mixture of ghee and dhaan or jav are made into the sacred fire while the following mantras are chanted. You may conduct this hawan on a daily basis during Pitar Paksha or on the day that you have selected to make your food offerings to the Pitar.
PITAR PAKSHA MESSAGE – Caring for Aged Parents
Pitar Paksha Message by Dr Roshan Singh – Jyotishacharya Shastri Pundit
Caring for Aged Parents
Take care of your parents now and always.
As parents age, it is inevitable that their bodies will gradually weaken and deteriorate in a variety of ways, making them increasingly susceptible to physical illnesses that can affect every organ in their system. As the realization grows that there is no escape, the aging individual must try to find some way to come to terms with the disturbing new reality. In their old age they look forward to being with their family, to play and laugh with their grandchildren – but these dreams are shattered when they are deprived of love and care when they need it most. Their last days are spent in some old age home while their children live and enjoy comfortable lives. They forget the love, care, affection and effort that was put in by their parents to educate, clothe and bring them to where they are today.
Filial piety is an important factor in caring for the aged in our traditional Indian society. As Indians it has long been the norm for us to accommodate and nurse the aged parents in our own homes as far as possible. Out of the 46 great cultures of the world the only culture that has survived and is still practices is that of the Indian culture. The Roman, Athenian, Greek cultures that ruled over time have come to nothingness. Indians therefore do not follow a manmade religion but a culture that has been established by God Himself – it is eternal, has no beginning and therefore cannot have an end. Part of this great culture is demonstrated by the love and care that family members have for one another. Many people still choose to follow the customs and traditions fully and incorporate this with their support for one another and choose to live communally. This is greatly advantageous to each member as they have a strong support system.
With the onslaught of western influence many people have imbibed a western way of life in their code of conduct, language, culture and traditions, dress and living habits. This has had a very negative influence upon their lives as they prefer to be westernised in their thinking and acting. One very important aspect of their lives is that they choose to lead independent lives from their parents.
Do children owe any legal liability to care for old and disabled parents? Unfortunately the answer is “No”. Parents simply have to depend on the goodwill of their children. Although we are proud about our values, and cultural heritage, unfortunately the number of elderly citizens with no savings are abandoned by their families is growing in our community. The problem for us to consider is whether our values, including filial devotion and reciprocal love for children are being eroded because of a breakdown in traditional family relations and a changed economic and demographic profile.
Cramped flats and squatter houses are not places which are conducive to the accommodation of aged parents. There have been numerous cases in which old people have been neglected by their children or relatives. This is a sad situation where good values and traditions are no longer practiced.
Welfare homes and their environment for the most part are also not places which are conducive to the accommodation of aged parents. Of all living alternatives, placement in an Old Age Home is without doubt the most sensitive issue often provoking guilt through self-accusations of ingratitude, lack of devotion or filial piety and abandonment. Can you imagine the life of a person who was free and happy all along to be now virtually “caged” within the confines of a “home”.
A nursing home, although somewhat expensive, offers the most satisfactory alternative. Each person must decide for himself and understand that there are no perfect choices. While long term institutionalization is a painful issue, it is essential to provide appropriate care for a debilitated parent.
Placement in a nursing facility does not mean ‘putting your aged parent away’, or at least it shouldn’t. Family involvement remains essential for proper care, from the first step of choosing the facility, to maintaining an ongoing relationship with the staff, to regularly visiting the parent and involving him or her in family matters. They need cheering up and to know that there are people who really care for them.
Certain irresponsible persons with ill or aged parents get them admitted into third class wards of hospitals, leaving false addresses and just disappear from the scene.
True story of my own experience
I know of a true case where a doctor admitted his mother in an old age home and promised to visit and see to her upkeep on a regular basis but never returned to see her again. The mother would go to the gate of the old age home and sit there every day no matter if it was hot or cold and wait for the arrival of her son. (doctor) but he never came. When called into the home she would say that her son promised to come for her and will be coming today. In this way she died at the home and had a pauper’s burial. By the way the “doctor” lives in plush 7 star home with his family and claim to be leading a good life and are happy. He is the Chairman of a leading religious institution and teaches others about love of God but could not love his own mother.
Most certainly he will be observing Pitar Paksha and making elaborate offerings of food to his departed parents. May I ask to what avail is this offering going to be as he did not serve them when they were alive. He has completely forgotten that his father worked at Natal Witness selling newspaper early in the morning and while his mother planted and sold dhanya and methi in a basket to earn the money to send him to varsity.
Second true story
I know of another son who got married and encouraged his parents to sell their home and give him the money to build another house where all of them could live together. He built a very big, modern and beautiful house. It became noticeable that the daughter in law did not like the idea to see them sitting in the well furnished lounge and especially on occasions when she had visitors or friends come over she would ask the elders to go to their room and “rest” obviously because they “did not match the furniture and curtaining.”
A caring attitude as well as concern for the aged parents must prevail if the older generation is not to be adversely affected by the rapid socio-economic changes of urbanization and industrialization. It has to be realized that the aged are more affected by these changes and the degradation of moral values in society. It should also encompass the responsible manner in which the elderly are treated, cared for, respected and honoured.
This aspect of caring for the aged parents requires collective responsibility. It will also instill respect for the elderly as there is no better institution to care for the aged parents other than the family itself.
All our scriptures have thought children to pay special attention to father and mother. There is an old adage which says ‘Take good care of your parents for you will never know how much you miss them when they are gone’.
