20 things that must not be done during the period of Pitru Paksha
Shradh
Paksha or Pitru Paksha begins on September 1 and ends on September 17, in 2020.
Shradh is a ritual that is performed for dead ancestors so that they find
peace. It is done by children or relatives of the dead people.
Our
ancestors have great importance in our lives. That is why we honor them on
Pitru Paksha, which is the special time of the year for Hindus who want to
remember their ancestors. They do this by performing some rituals and avoiding
certain things. Hindus believe that during Bhadrapada Maas, for 16 days
extending from Purnima to Amavasya, the souls of dead ancestors come to earth
as energies that impact our lives.
During
this time, donations of money, food, and clothes are offered to Brahmin priests
who are instrumental in performing the Shradh rituals. Dogs, cows, and crows
are also fed at this time. In Hinduism, Brahmins are held as the primary
servants of God. They form the link between us and God, which is why they are
part of Hindu religious ceremonies and rituals. There is a famous story about
the need to feed Brahmins. Karna in the Mahabharata epic would donate his wealth
to the poor, but he never offered any food to them. When Karna reached heaven
after his death, he was offered many splendid things but not food. When he
learned the reason, Karna asked Yama to send him back to earth for a period of
15 days so that he could donate food to the poor and the Brahmins. Yama agreed
and sent him to earth. When Karna returned a fortnight later, he was given
abundant food. This incident tells us that giving food to Brahmins and feeding
the poor is good for getting fulfillment after life.
By
keeping our ancestors happy, we can attain Mukti or salvation. Apart from
performing rituals, doing good deeds too pleases them.
Here
are 20 simple rules to follow and benefit from, during Pitru Paksha:
·
Avoid non-veg, rice, onion, garlic, and outside food. Consume only Satvik food,
that too home-made. Avoid cooking brinjal or eating it.
·
Avoid using masoor, chana, kali urad, black jeera, black mustard, black salt,
and stale or impure food.
·
The person doing Shradh rituals must not cut his nails.
·
He must not shave or cut his hair.
·
He should not wear filthy clothes.
·
He should not use leather goods like wallet, belt, or footwear when performing
the Shradh rituals.
·
The person performing Shradh rituals and chanting mantras, should not interrupt
it to talk to someone, as it brings negative energy.
·
Addiction destroys the merit of the good deeds and donations performed during
Shradh. Some people smoke, chew tobacco, or drink alcohol. Avoid such bad
practices if you want to reap the benefits of performing Shradh.
·
Avoid physical intimacy with your partner.
·
Avoid telling lies or using harsh words and don’t curse others.
·
Try not to wear slippers in the house during the Shradh fortnight.
·
Do not use black or red flowers, and also strongly scented or odorless flowers
for Shradh rituals and Poojas.
·
Do not take meals often on Shradh day, if you are performing the rituals.
·
Do not use iron vessels for rituals. Use silver, gold, copper, or bronze
vessels.
·
Don’t use iron furniture for sitting. Use silk, wood, wool, etc.
·
Avoid buying or wearing new clothes during this period.
·
Do not start a new business, enter a new home, or celebrate birthdays.
·
Don’t bring home things like new cars.
·
Do not perform Shradh during the evening, night, dawn, or dusk.
·
Avoid washing clothes on Shradh day.
During
Pitru Paksha, you can pray to God as well as your departed ancestors to
eliminate past karma and bestow blessings so that there will be happiness and
prosperity in your life.
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