Sage of Kanchi –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Paramacharya !

Paramacharya strongly recommend the regular performance of homage to ancestors and the basic principles to follow before performing the rite.   Humans are born with four types of debts, such as Devarina, Pithrurina, Rishirina and Manushyarina.  Though it is our primary duty to pay off all the debts we are born with, scriptures speaks highly about Pithrurina/homage to ancestors,  debts to ancestors cannot be disregarded because it can bring severe consequences in the family of the debtor, and performance of the rites needs utmost dedication and reverence to obtain the fruit of Karma.  If a family is not enthusiastic in performing the rite to ancestors is equivalent to leaving one’s parents without basic necessities like water, clothing and food, and serving the world with sumptuous meal.  It is traditional not to celebrate any other Kamyakarma/ rites performed for the personal benefit, in the house of a person other than daily rituals to deity, after performing homage to ancestors.   The person who is performing rites should follow strict austerities, even the daily rituals to deity are not allowed to perform on the day of performance of homage to ancestors, usually worship of deities are carried out after the performance of rite to ancestors.  Amavasya is the day of lunar phase of New Moon, highly auspicious to worship ancestors, performing charity, offering meals, and clothing to needy, it  is considered as highly meritorious, it is believed that our ancestors will be suffering from extreme hunger and thirst on this day, therefore performance of annual rite and oblation to ancestors keep them out of hunger and thirst, in return they will get immensely pleased with the worshiper, and bless the family.  New Moon day is the day to worship our ancestors, it is highly auspicious to perform charities and performance of homage to ancestors,  it is the day to remove the hunger and thirst of our ancestors, it is assumed that on this day ancestors of the each family would be waiting  at the front  door with great expectation that the family would serve them with meal and quench their thirst, if the family is not taking these matters seriously, the ancestors would get deeply dejected and return their abode with the extreme  hunger and thirst, and some may curse the family.  People who do not follow any of these rites may undergo curse of ancestors and the family undergoes constant struggle, afflictions, conflicts, illnesses etc.. Even the deity refuses to accept offerings from the worshiper.   Therefore performing rite to ancestors is important as taking greatest care of one’s own family progress, it is customary practice to cook particular type of meal, performance of fire sacrifices and offerings to ancestors, it is an opportunity to present substantial amount as contribution and serve  the performing priest, which could bring abundance of meritorious reward.