Mahalaya Sraddha

Courtesy: Sri.A.Vaidyanathan

why should we do Mahalaya Sraddham

1 If many mandatory sraadhams are to be perfomed on the same day or thithi..

The yearly Sraddham should be done first,

then the Masika or monthly sraadham,

then the Darsha Sradham or amavasya sradham or tarpanam and

then Mahalaya Sraddham should be performed in that order.

2 In mahalaya paksham, ( Mahalaya Paksham is simply the Krishna paksham.. where the Amavasya falls in Kanni Masam.. the Sun is in Kannya rasi at least partly.. and sun is stationed also in hasta nakshatrm partly.)

Shradhams can be done for the entire Krishna paksham (Panchama paksham) or from Panchami upto Amavasya,

and if it not possible from Krishna Ashtami to Amavasya,

or if that is also not possible, from Krishna Dashami to Amavasya, Sradhams can be performed..

If any of the choices is not possible, then Mahalaya Sraddham should be performed at least on a single day in that Paksham..

And on the day following the Mahalaya Amavasya.. on Shukla Prathama sradham for the Mathamaha (Maternal)Side can be done

3 When the Sun is in the Kanya Rasi in Varsha Ritu a man shall perform Sradha at least with a vegetable dish (if he is a householder) during the Panchama Paksha.. or Mahalaya Paksha.. If this is not possible Sraddham should be done at least on a day when the Sun is in the Kanya Rasi. ( According to Dharmasastra of sage Yama)

4 As per Sumantu, when the Sun is in the Kanya Rasi or in the Thulam Rasi later, Sradham sould be done for the pitrus before the Sun enters Vrischika Rasi

Sraddham should be done at least before the day which is called Deepavali arrives. If the Sraddham is not already performed in the Pitru Paksham.

The pitrus would be expecting with great hope and anxiety for the Sradham during the pitru paksham and when the pitru paksham is over they will linger on until the Sun is in the Kanya Rasi.

They may linger on when the sun is in the Thula Rasi, with some ray of hope .(Sumantu)

5 Madhaveeyam Says… When the Sun enters Kanya Rasi the pitrus come to earth in search of their sons.

The whole of land of Spirits..

Yamaloka will be empty till Vrischika Rasi is sighted.

But if the pitrus are not offered Sraddhm till Vrischikam they will go back disappointed, uttering curses in most harsh words.

6 Karshnayana Says.. When the Sun stands in the Hasta constellation, the King of Preta Rajya ( Yama dharma) just evicts the spirits there with a direction not to come back till the month of Vrischikam is seen. ( That means the pitrus are homeless for the months Kanya and Thulam).

So if the pitrus are not treated well by the sons during their sojourn in the martyaloka, they would go back to the city of Yama in the company of Vishvedevaas at the start of Vrischikam.. sighing sadly and giving curses during their return..

7 Adityapuranam Says When the Varsha Ritu arrives Yama sends pretas and pitrus to the world of men and empties his own yama loka.

The pitrus who are haunted by grief and hunger and are very sad about their own fate and are yearning for sweet payasam, honey, and tilam from their sons and grandchildren.

Therefore the pitrus should be treated well with mixture of honey, ghee, sesame etc and should be offered cold and pure water to drink