What the tradition says
Annual ancestor-offerings during the 16-day Pitra Paksha period. Traditional texts pair it with tarpana (water offerings) and pinda-dana (rice-ball offerings) on the lunar tithi corresponding to an ancestor's death. The canonical remedy for what the texts call 'pitra-dosha'.
What it addresses
- Sun
- Moon
- Pitra dosha
Traditional timing
- Krishna-paksha of Bhadrapada (typically September) is the canonical 16-day window.
- The tithi matching the ancestor's death date is the most important day.
- Gaya, Prayag, and the Kashi-ghats are the named tirthas in the tradition.
Source
Garuda Purana, Pretakhanda; Manu-smriti ch. 3
Common questions
- What is Pitra-paksh-shraddha?
- Annual ancestor-offerings during the 16-day Pitra Paksha period. Traditional texts pair it with tarpana (water offerings) and pinda-dana (rice-ball offerings) on the lunar tithi corresponding to an ancestor's death. The canonical remedy for what the texts call 'pitra-dosha'.
- What does Pitra-paksh-shraddha address?
- Traditionally associated with Sun, Moon. Cited in connection with Pitra dosha.
- When is Pitra-paksh-shraddha traditionally performed?
- Krishna-paksha of Bhadrapada (typically September) is the canonical 16-day window. The tithi matching the ancestor's death date is the most important day. Gaya, Prayag, and the Kashi-ghats are the named tirthas in the tradition.
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