Significance of Pithrupaksha – Mahalaya Paksha

The legend of Athmadeva highlights the importance of recitation of Srimad Bhagavatham and its meritorious rewards during the days of Mahalaya Paksha.  It is believed that recitation or listening to the legends of Srimad Bhagavatha Purana during these days would provide liberation to ancestors.  Athmadeva was a highly intellectual twice-born married to a beautiful woman.  Unfortunately,  this couple had no offspring after several years of marriage.  The couple were extremely unhappy, they had a cow at home that was not giving birth to a calf, even the flowering plants were not giving flowers or bearing fruits.  Athmadeva was distressed and he decided to kill himself, arrived on the shores of Manasarovar.  There he met a saintly person who understood the grief of Athmadeva immediately.  He felt sympathetic to Athmadeva, he looked at the forehead of Athmadeva.  The saintly person with his divine power said: “ You are not going to getting the happiness of a child in another seven births.”  Athmadeva requested Sanyasin for the remedy to get out of this grief.  The Sanyasin has given fruit to Athmadeva and asked him to feed his wife, it would provide them offspring.  Athmadeva received the fruit with great enthusiasm, and returned home happily.  He handed the fruit to his beautiful wife Dhundhili, she received it but was doubtful about its result.   She thought if she eats this fruit and gets pregnant, it would take away her lovely appearance immediately after the birth of the child.  Dhundhili gave the fruit to her sister, who was already conceived with a child.  Dhundhili had a prior agreement with her sister that the child born to her should return to Dhundhili immediately after its birth.  Her sister also pacified Dhundhili that she would stay with them to take care of the child,  and carelessly offered the fruit to the cow.   In due course of time, Dhundhili’s sister gave birth to a child who was named Dhundhukari.  At the same time, the cow gave birth to a human child with a pair of cow's ears was named Gokarnna.  These two children were grown up, Gokarnna attained knowledge in scriptures and Veda, and he was inherited with good nature.  Dhundhukari was grown with evil nature, he engaged in all wicked activities.  Once Dhundhukari has stolen huge money and precious ornaments from the palace and offered to a prostitute who was worried at the thought that one of these Dhundukari will get caught by the King’s men, it would bring disaster to her as well.  So she killed Dhundukari, after death, Dhundhukari attained the form of a spirit and wandered all over the place.  Once Dhundukari's spirit met Gokarnna and requested him to relieve from the miserable state.  Gokarnna narrated the legend on Srimad Bhagavatha for seven days to the spirit of Dhundhukari, ultimately got relieved from the state of spirit and attained liberation.

Significance of Pithrupaksha – Mahalayapaksha

There is a legend of Gayasura, a demon who lived in the sacred land Gaya, was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu.  He undertook extreme Tapasya and attained several boons.  He has achieved a unique boon that was, whoever sees him or touches him would attain Moksha or attain the abode of Lord Vishnu, the people who witness him would never go through the hellish tortures in the abode of Lord Yama.   Ultimately, the abode of Lord  Yama has become empty,  the deities were alarmed.  Lord Yama appealed to Lord Bhrama, Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahadeva, even the sinners attained Moksha or Srivaikundham with the help of Gayasura, sinners became fearless and free to commit any crime and therefore deities have to find a solution to stop the increasing crimes.  Lord Bhrama approached Gayasura and praised him, with a proposal “ Gayasura, you are a pious soul, we want to conduct a fire sacrifice on top of your upper back for the welfare of the Universe and its people.” Gayasura was readily agreed for this, all the deities took a seat on the upper back of Gayasura, but after some time his body started moving forcefully, the deities were frightened.  They placed huge and heavy rocks/Prethashila on his upper back to stop the movement, but nothing has worked.  Lord Vishnu came to know about the happenings, he hit hard on the Dharmashila.   Gayasura realized the presence of his beloved Lord Vishnu on his upper back, he requested for a boon to Lord Vishnu “ Oh! Lord kindly offer me a boon, people who perform ancestral rites on this Shila would attain an abundance of piousness and Moksha.”  Lord Vishnu offered the boon, thus the place where the fire sacrifice took place on the upper back of Gayasura known as the sacred land Gaya, one of the   Mokshasthal on the Earth.   

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.

Significance of Pithrupaksha – Mahalaya Paksha

There are a few legends from scriptures emphasizes the importance of Pithrupaksha and performance of ancestral rites on these days.  The Shraddha rituals performed in these days would provide an abundance of meritorious reward to the performer, material well-being, including virtuous offspring, wealth, happiness, prosperity, and peace.

It was believed that homage to the ancestors/Shraddha ceremony was initiated on the Earth by the valorous and righteous King Karna of Mahabharath.  He was an ardent devotee of Lord Surya, who performs the sun worship and gives an abundance of charities to the poor and needy in the form of grains and precious gems, gold, etc.  After the great war of Kurukshetra, Karna was killed on the battlefield and attained heavenly abode.  He was received in the abode of Indra with great honor for his righteous deeds.  During the time of the meal, he was served with an abundance of gold, gems and precious ornaments.  He was shocked to see the precious gems in place of a sumptuous meal.  He asked Lord Indra “ Oh! Lord, why are you serving me with gems and gold ornaments in place of an ordinary meal, while others are having normal food in the heavenly abode.”  Lord Indra said “ Oh! Karnna, you were one of the most valorous and righteous rulers who perform an abundance of charities on the Earth.  None was left without serving properly with the grains and gold coins from your doors.  Unfortunately, you have not performed the ancestral rite in your lifetime and you did not serve your ancestors with a morsel of grain.  All your subjects were highly pleased with your charity, but your ancestors are not satisfied yet.  Hence, you have served here with all those things you have offered as a charity on the Earth.”  Karnna enquired Lord Indra how to resolve the issue and to please his ancestors; Lord Indra advised Karnna to go to Earth and perform Shraddha/homage to ancestors and make them satisfied.  Karnna sincerely followed the instruction of Lord Indra.  He arrived on the Earth and performed the ancestral rites during the sun was on Kanyarashi/Sun transition period on the constellation Virgo, it is believed that during this period of time the moon gets closer to the Earth, which is known as the abode of Pithrus.  During these days, the ancestor expects their offspring to offer food and water to wave off their hunger.   The meals prepared following strict austerities are offered to Pithrus and the remaining are served to Bhramins, people in need and cows so that it will reach the Pithrus who appears in the subtle form on the Earth.  Thus Karnna initiated the practice of performance of homage to ancestors for the first time on the Earth.