Mahalaya Paksha & Mahalaya Amavasya – Full details!
A male devotee who requested anonymity asked like this:
“Hare Krishna Prabuji. Please don’t reveal my name. What is mahalaya amavasya and what is the significance of it?
REPLY:
‘Mahalaya Amavasya ‘or ‘Pitra Amavasya’ is the ‘New Moon day’ of Pitri Paksha or Mahalaya Paksha, the fortnight which is especially sacred for offering oblations to the departed ancestors.
Performing ‘Tarpanams or Tarpan’ during the auspicious Mahalaya Paksha will bless your ancestors and will free them from their sins.
(What is the Journey after death for animals birds and species? READ HERE!)
Each day in the Mahalaya Paksha is ruled by a particular Tithi or Moon Phase and the benefits of offering Tarpanam on each day are different.
Performing Tarpanam (Tarpans)
Mahalaya Amavasya is the last day of the Mahalaya Paksha and the most important day in the year for performing obsequies and rites.
On this day people donate food, clothes etc.
Every year, Mahalaya Paksha falls for 14 days in September-October. This two week’s period is the most important one to appreciate your departed ancestors!
The impact ancestors have on your life is profound. In fact, sastras ask you to go through your ancestors (to get what you want). Ancient cultures know that the ancestors have a powerful governing influence over our destiny.
(The result of not performing death rituals by the sons of deceased! READ HERE!)
One can follow any one of the four ways during Mahalaya Paksha:
1. Group Tarpan for ALL 15 thithis of Mahalaya (or)
2. 1st and Last thithis Mahalaya Tarpan (or)
3. 15th day (last day, New Moon) of Mahalaya Tarpan (or)
4. Donating Food & Clothing to the brahmanas or other people in need on the New Moon Day.
Through Mahalaya tharpan, you can clear 2 types of Ancestral Karma:
1) Karma that blocks your Ancestors from blessing you
2) Karma that keeps your Ancestors trapped in this world
Mahalaya Tarpan provides an extra assurance that departed loved ones and ancestors can be appeased and that their souls are released from this world.
Dissolve Your Ancestral Karma:
The easiest way to access God’s grace is to feed a famished human being starving for food and to donate clothes. Donating food is considered to be the greatest charity of all the charities and it is believed that whoever donates food will attain an ‘elevated status’. There is an interesting legend highlighting the importance of donating food from the great epic Mahabharata.
The Legend Behind:
The renowned hero of the Mahabharata, Karna (Karan), was a great philanthropist and he never said no to anyone who approached him for help. He had donated huge wealth and had done all kinds of charity, except for donating food.
(The Rules for visiting the Cremation Grounds after death of someone! READ HERE!)
Karna left the earthly curl after his death and reached heaven. The great charity which he had done on the earth plane was returned to him hundredfold here, but it was all material wealth and no food at all.
He then realized that although he had done all kinds of charities, he did not donate food. He prayed to the God of Death, who sent him back to earth for 14 days, to make up for this deficiency.
Karna fed the Brahmins and poor and offered oblations of water during the 14 days, which are observed in the Mahalaya Paksha. On his return to Heaven, he had plenty of food and it has been anticipated that offerings made during the period of Mahalaya Paksha benefits all the departed souls, whether they are connected to you or not.
Mahalaya Paksha: The Ancestors’ Time:
Great enlightened beings, who have turned their body into light, visit the earth daily in their light form. Our departed ancestors also come and stay on this earth plane for 15 days in a year in our body, mind and soul and can change all these 3 positively.
In fact, sastras ask you to go through your ancestors for blessings. These auspicious 15 days of Mahalaya Paksha and the last day Mahalaya Amavasya, is the most important two week period to appreciate your departed ancestors.
(Is ancestors visiting earth after death from Pitru Loka possible? READ HERE!)