The krishna paksha of the solar month when Surya transits Kanya rasi is called mahalaya paksha.This corresponds to sun's placement in the nakshatras Uttara phalguni, Hasta and Chitra. . Mahalaya paksha includes the subsequent shukla paksha pratipada also.
As soon as sun enters Kanya rasi, all the pitrus leave pitruloka, rendering it empty and proceed towards their descendents, hungry and thirsty looking forward to receiving the offerings in sraadham. If they are not propitiated, they become disappointed and go back cursing. Unlike in heaven where everything is provided, the pitrus can receive their food and water only through the hands of their descendents. When they come home visiting and are deprived of even these, naturally that will cause terrible grief. It is even said that, on the days of the sraadham the pitrus come and wait at the doorsteps to be called in and offered food and water.
In old times, mahalaya paksha was observed by performing sraadham in parvana vidhana everyday during the entire paksha. Nowadays, most of those who observe mahalaya, perform tilatarpanam everyday during the paksha and/or perform hiranyasraddham or sraadham with bhojanam on any particular day during the pasksha often on the tithi of the father and accompanied by special daanams as guided by their family priests.
Sraadham/tarpanam performed on each day of the paksha yields results as follows.
Prathama - wealth
Dwiteeya - progeny
Triteeya - suitable husband
Chaturthy - success over rivals
Panchami - prosperity, this day has a special status.
Shashti - fame
Saptami - leadership
Ashtami - progress, special day
Navami - suitable wife
Dasami - all desires
Ekadasi - vedic knowledge
Dwadasi - gain of gold, special day for sanyasis
Trayodasi - progeny, intellect, wealth, freedom, longevity, prosperity. This is called gajacchaya.
Chaturdasi - mukti for those killed by weapons
Amavasya - all desires and swargaprapti
Observing mahalayapaksha is no less than performing a yajna. It should be observed with a peaceful mind and sraadham should be performed not in a hurry.
In case of incapability to observe the entire paksha, one may start from panchami, ashtami or dashami and do till pratipada.. Darshasraadham (amavasya tarpanam) should be performed separately even while observing full mahalaya paksha also tarapnams coming within the 96 sraadhams.
The Bharani nakshatra that falls within Mahalaya paksha has special status and it is called Mahabharani. Performance of sraadham on this day is equal in result to gayasraadham.
When it comes to the ritual part, there are many variations based on the deshachara and family customs. One may take guidance from the family priest for this. One major difference from the normal tarpanam and sraadham is that the kaarunika pitrus (other relatives) are also included in mahalaya sraadham.
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As soon as sun enters Kanya rasi, all the pitrus leave pitruloka, rendering it empty and proceed towards their descendents, hungry and thirsty looking forward to receiving the offerings in sraadham. If they are not propitiated, they become disappointed and go back cursing. Unlike in heaven where everything is provided, the pitrus can receive their food and water only through the hands of their descendents. When they come home visiting and are deprived of even these, naturally that will cause terrible grief. It is even said that, on the days of the sraadham the pitrus come and wait at the doorsteps to be called in and offered food and water.
In old times, mahalaya paksha was observed by performing sraadham in parvana vidhana everyday during the entire paksha. Nowadays, most of those who observe mahalaya, perform tilatarpanam everyday during the paksha and/or perform hiranyasraddham or sraadham with bhojanam on any particular day during the pasksha often on the tithi of the father and accompanied by special daanams as guided by their family priests.
Sraadham/tarpanam performed on each day of the paksha yields results as follows.
Prathama - wealth
Dwiteeya - progeny
Triteeya - suitable husband
Chaturthy - success over rivals
Panchami - prosperity, this day has a special status.
Shashti - fame
Saptami - leadership
Ashtami - progress, special day
Navami - suitable wife
Dasami - all desires
Ekadasi - vedic knowledge
Dwadasi - gain of gold, special day for sanyasis
Trayodasi - progeny, intellect, wealth, freedom, longevity, prosperity. This is called gajacchaya.
Chaturdasi - mukti for those killed by weapons
Amavasya - all desires and swargaprapti
Observing mahalayapaksha is no less than performing a yajna. It should be observed with a peaceful mind and sraadham should be performed not in a hurry.
In case of incapability to observe the entire paksha, one may start from panchami, ashtami or dashami and do till pratipada.. Darshasraadham (amavasya tarpanam) should be performed separately even while observing full mahalaya paksha also tarapnams coming within the 96 sraadhams.
The Bharani nakshatra that falls within Mahalaya paksha has special status and it is called Mahabharani. Performance of sraadham on this day is equal in result to gayasraadham.
When it comes to the ritual part, there are many variations based on the deshachara and family customs. One may take guidance from the family priest for this. One major difference from the normal tarpanam and sraadham is that the kaarunika pitrus (other relatives) are also included in mahalaya sraadham.
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