Pitru Paksha is an important auspicious time in Hinduism to remember and honour the departed ancestors. During these days, various rituals are performed by the family, such as Shraddha, Tarpan, Pind Daan, and other types of ancestor worship. Pitru Shanti Puja is one of the significant rituals that are observed during this time, which is traditionally done to pray for the ancestors' peace and spiritual welfare.
This is a basic guide to the process, preparations, and related rituals observed during Pitru Paksha for families who don't want to miss this puja but want to know what is happening and how.
What Is Pitru Shanti Puja?
It is a traditional Hindu puja to pay respect to ancestors and pray for their peace and tranquility, which is known as Pitru Shanti Puja. Prayer, mantra, and offerings may be observed in the ritual, as well as other Vedic rituals performed under the guidance of a qualified priest.
This puja is also performed by the family as a part of their ancestral puja on Pitru Paksha. Specific practices can differ according to family customs and geographic location.
Individuals can look for associated practices too, including words like pitra shanti, pitra shanti pooja, pitra shanti puja, or pitru shanti pooja.
How to do Pitru Shanti Puja during Pitru Paksha?
The details of the procedure may differ depending on the tradition of the family and instructions from the priest. But the usual procedure of a Pitru Shanti Puja might consist of the following steps:
1. Sankalp
Usually the puja starts with a Sankalp, that is, a declaration of the intention of the devotee. The name of the devotee, family information, Gotra, etc can be provided, as per the ritual requirements.
2. Invocation and Prayers
The priest starts the necessary prayers and, using the usual Vedic procedure, calls the deities and ancestors. The puja includes the recitation of Mantras.
3. Offerings to Ancestors
It is a ritual of worship to ancestors in which offerings are given. Water, food, and other traditional items may be provided depending on the ritual being performed.
This part is also related to Pitru Tarpan pooja, where water and other items are offered with prayers for the ancestors.
4. Mantras and Puja rituals
The priest conducts the necessary Vedic ceremonies and chants certain mantras. The aim is to perform the puja as per tradition and to pray for peace and blessings for the family.
5. Completion of the Puja
When the main rituals and prayers have been finished, the priest will conduct the final rituals and prayers. Families can also pray for peace, harmony, and well-being.
Pitru Tarpan During Pitru Paksha
The other important ritual of Pitru Paksha is Pitru Tarpan. It means providing water and remembering ancestors. Many families have a family tradition for performing pitru tarpan pooja as per the appropriate Shraddha Tithi.
If one is not able to visit a traditional ritual place, pitru tarpan online services can help such individuals to participate in the ritual from a distance, organised by a Vedic puja service.
Likewise, those who seek pitru puja online can have a puja performed by priests based on the ritual and sankalp that they have chosen for pitru puja online.
What About Pitra Dosh Shanti Puja?
The Pitra Dosh Shanti Puja is linked with the worship of ancestors, but it does not necessarily have to be treated as the same puja. In this regard, Vedic astrology speaks about Pitra Dosh, and families who feel that they have such a concern could take advice about Pitra Dosh Shanti Puja or Pitra Dosh Nivaran Puja.
The Book Pitru Puja should be performed after gaining some knowledge about the Ritual, which suits one's religious or astrological needs.
Feeding of Crows during Pitru Paksha
Another ritual of Pitru Paksha is to provide food to crows. In many Hindu cultures, feeding the crows is thought to be a way to remember and honor the ancestors.
For those who want to do this seva, there is also ePuja by Satvik, which provides Feed Crows, Pitru Seva. The service enables devotees to perform this traditional form of Pitru Seva even if they cannot do the seva themselves.
Worshiping Pitru Shanti Puja Online
Families that are not living in their hometown or puja house may find it challenging to make these arrangements on their own today. Devotees can attend puja online and give their Sankalp to the priest.
On ePuja by Satvik, Vedic puja services are available online, and devotees can book puja and give details about the Sankalp. The service called Pitru Shanti Puja is for the devotees who want to do this ancestral puja during Pitru Paksha.
In addition to Pitru Shanti Puja, people can do traditional crow feeding seva with Feed Crows Pitru seva during this period.
Conclusion
Pitru Paksha is a unique occasion for families to honor their ancestors and observe the traditions with utmost solemnity. Ancestral remembrance is associated with practices like Pitru Shanti Puja, Pitru Tarpan, Shraddha, and feeding crows.
But what is essential is that the ritual is done according to tradition and is done in a sincere, respectful way, either with one's own family or through an online service.
