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Notes: All timings are represented in 12-hour notation in local time of Lancaster, United States with DST adjustment (if applicable).
Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang day starts and ends with sunrise.
Amavasya Tithi Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Amavasya Tithi, Purnima Tithi and Chaturdashi Tithi. If someone 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 death anniversary of ancestors are not known or forgotten then those Shraddhas can be performed on this Tithi. That's why Amavasya Shraddha is also known as Sarvapitra Moksha Amavasya.
Also Mahalaya Shraddha for those who died on Purnima Tithi is also done on Amavasya Shraddha Tithi and not on Bhadrapada Purnima. Although Bhadrapada Purnima Shraddha falls one day before Pitru Paksha but it is not part of Pitru Paksha. Usually Pitru Paksha starts on the next day of Bhadrapada Purnima Shraddha. Amavasya Shraddha is also known as Amavas Shraddha. In West Bengal Mahalaya Amavasya marks the beginning of Navratri festivity. It is believed that Goddess Durga was descended on the Earth on this day.
Pitru Paksha Shraddhas are Parvan Shraddhas (पार्वण श्राद्ध) and auspicious time to perform them is either Kutup Muhurat and Rohina etc. Muhurat after that till Aparahna Kala gets over. Tarpan (तर्पण) is done at the end of the Shraddha.
Sarva Pitru Amavasya is the final Tithi of Pitru Paksha, and it is considered extremely significant for performing Shraddha rituals for all known and unknown ancestors. According to the Garuda Purana, if a person does not know the exact date of death of their ancestors or is unable to perform Shraddha on the specific Tithi, i.e., lunar date, then performing Shraddha on the Krishna Amavasya of the Ashwin month, known as Sarva Pitru Amavasya, is considered most favorable.
This Tithi is also referred to as Mahalaya Amavasya. Mahalaya means "the great day on which all ancestors are invoked and worshipped together." It is believed that during Pitru Paksha, Pitrugana visit Earth and depart on the day of Amavasya. Therefore, the rituals of Shraddha, Tarpan and Pinda Daan performed methodically on this day are believed to satisfy all ancestors, whether their identities are known or not. Those who did not receive proper final rites also attain peace when Shraddha is performed for them on this day. Additionally, for those who were unmarried or for those who left no descendants, a collective Shraddha can be performed on Sarva Pitru Amavasya.
Sarva Pitru Amavasya is considered particularly meritorious. Acts such as feeding Brahmins, donating clothes, offering sesame seeds, feeding cows with green fodder, donating water at wells or other water sources and lighting Diyas are all considered highly auspicious on this day. On this sacred occasion, prayers are offered for the peace of ancestral souls through the recitation of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Shri Vishnu Sahasranama or Rudra Path.
The Shraddha performed with devotion on this day is believed to free a person from Pitru Rina and brings about family welfare, progeny, marriage, wealth, prosperity and mental peace. This Tithi is observed throughout the Hindu community as a special opportunity to express reverence, respect and gratitude toward one's ancestors.
Through this Shraddha Tithi Calculator, you can find out the Hindu Tithi prevailing at the time of death of a person by inputting the date and time of his death. In Hinduism, the annual Shraddha is performed every year on the Hindu Tithi of death of a deceased family member.
The days of Shraddha in the current year are listed. According to the Hindu calendar, every year during the fifteen days of Pitru Paksha, Hindus perform Shraddha rituals for their ancestors. The last day of Pitru Paksha is very important and is called Sarvapitru Amavasya.
Gajachchhaya Yoga is formed when the Surya and Chandra transit on special Tithi and Nakshtara. Gajachchhaya Yoga does not occur every year, but it is always formed during the time of Pitru Paksha and is considered extremely auspicious for rituals like Shraddha etc.
Kutup Muhurta, Rohina Muhurta and Aparahna Kaal are listed to perform Purnima Shraddha as per the local time. On this day, rituals like Shraddha, Tarpan etc. are performed for the ancestors. It is also called Shraddhi Purnima and Proshthapadi Purnima Shraddha.
In Hinduism, 96 occasions are considered suitable for performing Shraddha including 12 Amavasya days, 12 Sankranti and 15 Pitru Paksha days i.e. Mahalaya days. Shraddha rituals are performed with the desire to satisfy the ancestors.
Various types of Shraddha including Nitya, Naimittika and Kamya Shraddha and their differences are described. Description of many types of Shraddha is found in Matsya Purana and Yama Smriti, which have been divided into five main categories.
This article offers essential information regarding Pitru Paksha, including its duration, timing, and related rituals. It also addresses important questions such as "Why is Shraddha performed?" and provides answers to such common queries.
