Significance of Pithrupaksha – Mahalayapaksha

The Hindu Sanathana Dharma believes that the Mahalayapaksha/Pithru Paksha is an auspicious occasion to please one's ancestors who arrive on the Earth to bless their lineage.   The people who worship Pithrus and meticulously perform ancestral rites would be blessed with happiness and peace in their life.  The people who does not perform any of these ancestral rites, would   compel their ancestors to return to their abode with the hunger and thirst, they get so disappointed and displeased by this act and return to their abode, due to this the family may have to undergo constant conflicts, unexpected and accidental death, lack of peace and prosperity, mental agony, and physical ailments.  Therefore, it is highly propitious to perform charities, contributions, ancestral rites, etc.. are during these days.

There is a legend of two brothers Jogi and Bhoge, who lived with their families in different houses. The elder one Jogi was rich and the younger was poor, but these two brothers were too close to each other.  The wife of Jogi was proud of her wealth, but Bhoge’s wife was pleasant and modest. The auspicious Pithru Paksha arrived Jogi’s wife requested her husband to perform the ancestral rites, Jogi was not interested in it.  Jogi’s wife felt if her husband did not perform the rite, the villagers may talk about it and spread rumors.  She informed her husband that she can make all arrangements with the help of the wife of Bhoge, so it is not a matter for her to cook and serve the guests.  She planned to be with her parents and one of the best opportunities to invite her parents for a meal and spend a good time with them.    Jogi thought it would be fine, so he sends his wife to invite her parents.   As planned by Jogi’s wife, on the day of Pithrupaksha, she invited the wife of Bhoge to work in the kitchen, so that she cooks sumptuous meals for the entire family. Bhoge’s wife arrived early in the morning and started preparing the meal, she cooked various sweets and savories, after that returned to her home to prepare for the ancestral rite.  During the afternoon, Joge’s Pithrus arrived in his home and found his in-laws, there was no enthusiasm to perform the rite in the family, so the Pithrus arrived in Bhoge’s house.  Bhoge was sincerely performing the ancestral rites, simple offerings were given to Pithrus,  there was no elaborate cooking to serve the Bhramin because  Bhoge was extremely poor.  The Pithrus felt sorry for Bhoge who has nothing much to offer for his ancestors, they wished If Bhoge had wealth, he would have performed the ancestral rites with a sumptuous meal, they blessed Bhoge with an abundance of wealth.    Soon, Bhoge attained all those comforts and wealth with the blessing of Pithru, but he did not leave his simplicity and virtues.  The next year Pithrupaksha arrived, Bhoge performed elaborately the ancestral rite  with grand meal and charities, he served the Brahmins and offered generous contributions.  The Pithrus were immensely pleased with the deeds of the couple and blessed him with an abundance of wealth and happiness.