Sarva Pitru Amavasya, also known as Mahalaya Amavasya (‘Maha’ means ‘great’ and ‘laya’ signifies ‘destruction’), falls on October 1st/2nd, 2024. This day is dedicated to honoring our ancestors and performing rituals for them, making it the most important day of Pitru Paksha (Pitru Paksha means ‘fortnight of the ancestors’ and is a two week period for remembering our departed souls).
On this special day of Sarva Pitru Amavasya, we pay respect to our ancestors and honor them through offerings, rituals, and prayers, expressing our respect and gratitude for their existence.
Solar Eclipse On The Same Day - Extra Auspicious
This year, the Solar Eclipse falls on the same day as Sarva Pitru Amavasya, the most important day to honor our ancestors, making it an exceptionally auspicious occasion.
During Pitru Paksha, the sacred fortnight dedicated to our ancestors, they are closer to the earthly plane, awaiting the benefits of our rituals and ready to bless us in return. The Solar Eclipse amplifies the effects of spiritual practices and rituals. For example, chanting the mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya‘ 108 times on this day is spiritually equivalent to chanting it 1080 times. So, when you perform rituals to honor your ancestors on the Solar Eclipse and Sarva Pitru Amavasya, it not only brings multiplied blessings to them but also immense happiness, joy, and success into your life in return from your ancestors.
There are special personalized remedies and rituals you can do based on the house where the eclipse is happening in your birth chart.
Timings
New York, USA 🇺🇸 – 2nd Oct, 2024
Amavasya Tithi Begins – 12:09 PM on Oct 01, 2024
Amavasya Tithi Ends – 02:48 PM on Oct 02, 2024
Chennai, India 🇮🇳 – 2nd Oct, 2024
Amavasya Tithi Begins – 09:39 PM on Oct 01, 2024
Amavasya Tithi Ends – 12:18 AM on Oct 03, 2024
London, UK 🇬🇧 – 2nd Oct, 2024
Amavasya Tithi Begins – 05:09 PM on Oct 01, 2024
Amavasya Tithi Ends – 07:48 PM on Oct 02, 2024
For local timings download the align27 app.
Sarva Pitru Amavasya Rituals
Starting your day by offering Arghya to the Sun God is considered highly auspicious. In Sanskrit, ‘Arghya’ means offering, and this ritual is a powerful way to strengthen the influence of the Sun in your birth chart. [Learn how to perform Arghya here].
Performing Shraddha and Tarpanam (water rituals to honor ancestors) is considered highly auspicious on this day. If you missed performing Shraddha on the specific Tithis throughout the year, don’t know the exact death anniversaries, or were unable to conduct rituals properly at the time of passing, conducting these rituals on this day is enough. [Learn how to perform Tarpanam here].
If you are unable to perform the full Shraddha or Tarpanam rituals, making a donation to charity or providing food in your ancestor’s name can also be powerful for you. You can also offer a simpler form of Tarpanam which involves offering grains of rice and black sesame seeds.
You can also honor them through chanting, reciting prayers and also remembering and appreciating their existence through meditation.
These rituals can be done for all your ancestors on a single tithi, (Sarva Pitru Amavasya), helping to bring them peace and contentment as they continue their onward journey.
Benefits of honoring our ancestors on this day
Honoring our ancestors on this special day brings numerous benefits, including:
- Gaining Lord Yama’s (God of Death) Blessings: To bring you and your family protection.
- Family Protection: To shield your family from obstacles and misfortunes.
- Soul Relief for Ancestors: To provide peace and liberation to your ancestors’ souls, aiding their spiritual journey.
- Blessings for Children: For children in the family to receive specific blessings for their futures.
- Expressing Lineage Gratitude: To acknowledge and thank the lineage you were born into, honoring your roots.
- Astrological Remediation: To mitigate Pitrudosha or Putradosha, if your chart indicates it.
The Legend of Pitru Paksha
According to legend, it is said that during the churning of the “Divine Nectar” many Rishis and Devas were killed by the demons on the Amavasya of Ashwin month. Since these Rishis (Saints) or Devas (Heavenly beings) are also considered to be our ancestors, the final day of this Pitru Paksha, Sarva Pitru Amavasya, has been specifically dedicated to them and is the most important and sacred of the 16-day period. Legend also suggests that on this day Lord Vishnu granted permission for the departed souls to visit Earth.
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