Mahalaya Amavasya – September 30 to Sarva Pitru Amavasya on 14 October 2023

This year, Mahalaya Amavasya puja will be held on Saturday, 14 October – 27, Purattaasi- in Hastam nakshatra at Kanjanur Lord Agniswarar Temple from 6AM to 5PM.

Interested persons and all people can contact us for joining in tarpanam. This year we are doing tarpana pooja at Lord Agniswarar Temple, Kanjanur, Tamil Nadu.

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 Thriveni Sangamam in Bhavani – confluence of Cauvery, Bhavani and Sankameswarer rivers.

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.

2023 Puja at Kanjanur Lord Agniswarar Temple

Kanjanur Lord Agniswarar Temple is one Hindu temple in the village of Kanjanur, 18 kilometres north-east of Kumbakonam. The presiding deity is Sukra (Venus). However, the main idol in the temple is that of “Agniswarar” or Shiva. In concordance with the Saivite belief that Shiva is all-pervading, Sukra is believed to be located within the stomach of the idol of Shiva.

Legend is that Siva blessed Parasara muni (sage) here with cosmic dance. It is believed that Shiva appeared in the form of Sukra to propitiate himself off the dosha of Sukran. The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the northern banks of River Kaveri.

Rituals

One important ritual in 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 history and obligation for up to 7 generations. Same principle is in Hebrew Bible. The approach obviously extends to many past 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 obligation 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 held on Saturday 14 October in Hastam nakshatra, 27, Purattaasi at Kanjanur Lord Agniswarar Temple.
Puja will be done on Saturday, asterism is Hastam, 14 October 2023, Krishna Paksha, from 6AM to 5PM
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: