AUM SRI SAI RAM
MAHALAYA AMAVASYA
12 October 2015
Mahalaya Amavasya is the no moon day in the Tamil month of Purattaasi and is considered highly auspicious for performing rituals to the dead like Shraddha and Tarpana. Mahalaya Patsam from September 28 to Amavasya on 12 October, Hastham. The day is also auspicious to Lord Siva. Important rituals on the day include performing rites for dead ancestors in sacred Teerths and riverbanks and also taking a holy dip in sacred rivers and spots. This year, Mahalaya Amavasya puja will be conducted on 12 October 2015.
Mahalaya Amavasya – 12 October 2015
Devout Hindus perform holy bath in various scared rivers, seas and sacred ponds or Teerthams in Tamil Nadu. Thousands of Hindus take a holy dip and perform rites to the dead ancestors at Agni Theertham in Rameswaram, Thriveni Sangamam in Bhavani and Kannyakumari and various holy spots on the banks of Cauvery River.
Shradh (spiritual effort, spiritual activities) and pitr tarpana (rituals for the deceased in one’s family – maternal and paternal) is considered highly beneficial for the people participating.
Rituals
One important ritual of Hinduism is tarpana. Tarpana means “satisfying” or “satiating”. One acknowledges the debt one has to devas (gods), rishis (sages) and pitris (ancestral manes) and tries to satisfy them using this ritual. Just as gods are invoked in fire in a homam, pitris are invoked in water in this ritual, then held in the palm and released in a specific way conducive to freeing them.
One owes a lot to one’s parents and ancestors. In modern scientific terms, one owes all of one’s genetic characteristics to one’s parents and ancestors. Each ancestor is actually present in the person as a genetic characteristic. In karmic terms, one inherits some karmas of one’s parents and ancestors and each ancestor is actually present in the person as a karmic predisposition. The latter approach obviously extends to multiple lives and some karmic predisposition is inherited from the ancestors from a past life also, though they may not be related to one in this life.
By recalling the deceased ancestors with gratitude and trying to give them an emancipation, one is actually trying to free oneself from various karmic predispositions that one has as a result of the rina (karmic debt) with several people. If death anniversary of ancestors are not known or forgotten then those Shraddhas can be performed on this Tithi. That’s why Amavasya Shraddha is also known as Sarvapitra Moksha Amavasya.
Two external spiritual sadhanas are particularly powerful, useful and recommended for every person desirous of fast spiritual progress:
Homam (fire ritual): Gods are invoked in fire and satisfied with offerings with mantras. In summary, a regular practice of this ritual increases the subtle fire burning inside one’s subtle body, burns various impediments to spiritual progress and gives clarity, focus and stability to the mind.
Tarpana (water ritual): Gods, sages and manes are invoked in water and satisfied with emancipation given to them. To summarise, a regular practice of this ritual increases the release of various karmic predispositions and weaknesses that are blocking one’s spiritual and material progress.
This year, Mahalaya Amavasya puja will be conducted on 12 October 2015 from 6AM to 6PM. If you wish to participate then please follow the steps below.
Step 1: Send Email stating your wish to participate in Archana (prayers), Abhishekam (pouring of libations amidst chanting of mantras), Homam (ritual offerings to fire), Sankalpam (sacred resolutions and intentions), and Puja (offerings). YOU MUST WRITE YOUR NAME, MOON SIGN AND SUN SIGN.
Step 2: Make Payment via Paypal using the link below:
Thanks and Best Regards,
Sai Bharathi
Agastya Astrologer
Puttaparthi
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthy