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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.
Pratipada Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Pratipada Tithi, including both Shukla and Krishna Paksha Pratipada.
Pratipada Shraddha Tithi is also considered suitable to perform Shraddha for maternal grandfather and grandmother (known as Nana-Nani). If there is no person to perform Shraddha at maternal home then doing Shraddha on this Tithi appeases souls of maternal grandparents. Even if death anniversary of maternal grandparents are not known then also Shraddha can be done on this Tithi. It is believed that performing this Shraddha brings happiness and prosperity at the home.
Pratipada Shraddha is also known as Padwa Shraddha.
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.
The first day of Pitru Paksha, known as Pratipada Shraddha, is considered highly significant. On this day, sacred rituals such as Tarpan, Pinda Daan and Shraddha Karma are performed in honor of deceased ancestors who passed away on the Pratipada Tithi. Family members come together to pray for the peace of their ancestors' souls and offer heartfelt tributes. The Markandeya Purana states -
आयुः प्रजां धनं विद्यां स्वर्गं मोक्षं सुखानि च।
प्रयच्छन्ति तथा राज्यं पितरः श्राध्दतर्पितः॥
आयुः पुत्रान् यशः स्वर्गं कीर्तिं पुष्टिं बलं श्रियम्।
पशून् सौख्यं धनं धान्यं प्राप्नुयात् पितृपूजनात्॥
Ayuh Prajam Dhanam Vidyam Svargam Moksham Sukhani Cha।
Prayachchhanti Tatha Rajyam Pitarah Shradhdatarpitah॥
Ayuh Putran Yashah Svargam Kirtim Pushtim Balam Shriyam।
Pashun Saukhyam Dhanam Dhanyam Prapnuyat Pitripujanat॥
This means that Pitar are extremely compassionate. They desire offerings of Pinda Daan and Tarpan from their descendants. When pleased through Shraddha rituals, they bestow immense blessings upon the performers such as longevity, progeny, wealth, knowledge, kingdom, happiness, fame, reputation, nourishment, strength, cattle, prosperity, heaven and ultimately, Moksha or liberation. Thus, performing Shraddha on Pratipada not only ensures peace for the departed souls but also brings spiritual and material well-being to the devotees.
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.
This is the most significant and last day of Pitru Paksha. This day is also known as Sarvapitri Amavasya or Mahalaya Amavasya. One can perform single Shraddha on Amavasya day if one is unable to perform Shraddha during the whole Pitru Paksha.
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.
