Pitru Paksha 2025 - Honoring Our Ancestors
Pitru Paksha – Remembering the Departed Souls
Pitru Paksha represents a sacred period in the Vedic calendar, dedicated to honoring, respecting, and expressing gratitude to the departed souls of one’s lineage, our predecessors, enabling us to experience this material dimension. It is observed in the month of Bhadrapada, spanning fifteen days from Pratipada to Amavasya during the Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the Moon).
According to tradition, it is believed that during this fortnight the ancestors residing in Pitru-loka—the realm of forefathers—descend to Earth to visit their descendants. To honor their presence, families perform Śrāddha or Piṇḍa-dāna, Tarpana—offerings made to the departed. Unlike funeral rites, Śrāddha is not associated with mourning but represents a distinct form of ancestral worship and reverence. These rites are primarily conducted for the preceding three generations—father, grandfather, and great-grandfather—ensuring that the flow of remembrance remains unbroken.
In order to perform the rituals correctly, one must remember the date and time of the ancestor’s passing and identify the corresponding tithi (lunar day) as noted in the Pañchāṅga. However, if the exact date is forgotten or unknown, the rituals may be performed on Amavasya, known as Mahalaya Amavasya or Sarva Pitru Amavasya. This final day of Pitru Paksha holds special significance, as it is dedicated collectively to all ancestors, regardless of their individual dates of departure.
Religious and Astrological Importance
The observances of Pitru Paksha are not merely symbolic; they carry profound religious and astrological value, among many other, spiritual significance as the utmost, essential ideal. It is believed that performing these rites mitigates many doṣas (afflictions) that may arise in an individual’s horoscope due to the certain positions of malefic planets, representing the karmic debts of the ancestors we must put forward to the surface and release ourselves and lineage from a certain bondage. In particular, the unfavorable positioning of the Sun and Jupiter is often cited as a cause of Pitru Doṣa; additionally, malefic influences on the ninth house—the house representing higher wisdom, dharma, prosperity, reputation, fortune, and forefathers—also contribute to this affliction, among others.
The ninth house and its lord play a vital role in shaping one’s destiny and fortune. When afflicted—either by placement or aspect of malefic planets—it results in struggles, delays, and hardships in the native’s life. Such doṣas are also said to arise when a person disrespects or mistreats elders, or when the prescribed Śrāddha rituals are neglected during Pitru Paksha. If no rituals are performed in this period, no pure and sincere thoughts, intentions, devotion are pointed towards our ancestors, expressions of gratitude, etc. makes the departed souls of our predecessors sad and angry, disappointed, which in turn would only make our karmic condition worse.
Therefore, performing these rites is not an act of superstition but one of honor and duty towards the lineage. Remembering and worshiping the forefathers, one not only brings peace to the departed souls but also lessens the karmic burden reflected in the horoscope and events manifested in our circumstances, as well as the afflictions of the mind. Acts of generosity, such as donating food, feeding the needy, or serving the community, are also regarded as effective remedies to balance planetary afflictions and bring harmony to the ancestral line.
Performing Tarpana & Dates
Among the essential practices of Pitru Paksha, Tarpana holds a special place. This ritual is performed to honor and appease the ancestors through offerings of sacred water mixed with black sesame seeds, barley, and sometimes rice. Traditionally, it is conducted in the morning, immediately after taking a purifying bath.
For those who may not be able to perform Śrāddha every day of the fortnight, Tarpana serves as an equally meaningful gesture of devotion and remembrance.
Preparation:
Take a purifying bath early in the morning.
Wear clean, preferably white, traditional attire.
Materials Required:
A clean copper or brass vessel (āchamani) filled with water.
Black sesame seeds (til).
Barley grains (jau).
Kusha grass (if available).
A clean cloth or seat (āsana) to sit on.
Procedure:
Sit facing the south, the direction associated with the ancestors.
Place the vessel of water in front of you.
Add black sesame seeds and barley grains into the water.
Recite the prescribed mantras while offering the mixture, letting it flow onto the ground or into another vessel.
Express gratitude, remembrance, and seek blessings from the ancestors with sincerity.
Performing Tarpana with heartfelt devotion is believed to bring peace to the departed souls and ensure the well-being of the family.
In 2025, Pitru Paksha spans 15 days, beginning on Sunday, 7 September, and culminating on Sunday, 21 September. This period commences with Purnima Shraddha and concludes with Sarva Pitru Amavasya — the universal ancestor worship day.
Here’s the day-by-day breakdown:
7 Sep, Sunday – Purnima Shraddha
8 Sep, Monday – Pratipada Shraddha
9 Sep, Tuesday – Dwitiya Shraddha
10 Sep, Wednesday – Tritiya & Chaturthi Shraddha
11 Sep, Thursday – Panchami Shraddha (Maha Bharani)
12 Sep, Friday – Shashthi Shraddha
13 Sep, Saturday – Saptami Shraddha
14 Sep, Sunday – Ashtami Shraddha
15 Sep, Monday – Navami Shraddha
16 Sep, Tuesday – Dashami Shraddha
17 Sep, Wednesday – Ekadashi Shraddha
18 Sep, Thursday – Dwadashi Shraddha
19 Sep, Friday – Trayodashi & Magha Shraddha
20 Sep, Saturday – Chaturdashi Shraddha
21 Sep, Sunday – Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya Amavasya)
Pitru Paksha is not merely a fortnight of rituals—it is a sacred window in time when the visible and invisible worlds converge, allowing us to honor, heal, and transform the karmic ties that bind us to our lineage.
The central observances of Śrāddha, Piṇḍa-dāna, and Tarpana are not funeral rites, but sacred acts of reverence—expressions of gratitude for the lives, struggles, and sacrifices of those who came before us. These rituals primarily extend to the last three generations—father, grandfather, and great-grandfather—yet they ultimately encompass the entire ancestral line, especially on Mahalaya Amavasya, the day dedicated to all forefathers.
Observing Pitru Paksha and performing its associated rituals is more than a traditional duty—it is a profound expression of gratitude, connection, and continuity. It strengthens family bonds across generations, resolves ancestral afflictions, and aligns one with the eternal cycle of dharma.
By honoring our ancestors, we not only bring peace to their souls but also invoke their blessings, ensuring harmony, prosperity, and spiritual growth in our own lives.
The Karmic Dimension of Pitru Paksha
Before taking our first breath in this dimension—we inherit the karmic legacy of our lineage. Just as DNA carries physical, mental, personality and other traits, subtle karmic imprints are passed down through the soul-stream of generations. Blessings and burdens alike ripple forward, shaping the circumstances of our lives. Many of the struggles we face are not wholly our own, but continuations of ancestral debts unresolved in past generations.
Pitru Paksha, therefore, is a time for ancestral healing. By performing these rites with sincerity, we not only bring peace to the departed ones, but also release karmic blockages within ourselves, paving the way for spiritual growth in this lifetime, but for those upcoming ones as well. According to Jyotish, neglect of these rites manifests as Pitru Doṣa, afflicting the ninth house—the house of dharma, fortune, and forefathers. This affliction may result in repeated setbacks, family discord, financial instability, or delays in life events such as marriage or childbirth.
Every step we take in this life is supported and guided by the presence, the force of our ancestors, we are one and eternally connected in higher dimensions. Without them, we would not stand upon this earthly plane.
We are the living carriers of their karmic and energetic lineage, inheritance, formed into human beings who must navigate the eternal tension between rising as conscious beings or remaining bound as mere creatures in the repeating circle of incarnations in the physical realm.
It is in this context that we enter the immensely potent period of Pitru Paksha, marked by the waning phases of the Moon (Chandra), when it is believed that the ancestors journey from the shadowed side of the lunar realm to visit their descendants on Earth. This sacred window of time is far greater than a series of external rituals; it is a cosmic reminder of the unseen bonds we share with those who came before us.
During this period, each individual is called to immerse themselves in the spiritual guidance of their forefathers—offering them love, respect, forgiveness, and prayers—while also seeking their blessings for healing and guidance on our paths. In doing so, we not only assist them in their journey beyond, but we simultaneously heal ourselves and our lineage. The planetary movements (grahas) and subtle rhythms of the cosmos during this time amplify the connection between past and present, between the souls who came before and those who now walk the path.
The soul’s entry into this dense, material plane is never accidental. It occurs precisely at the moment when the planets (grahas), stars (nakshatras), and celestial bodies—manifestations of divine order—align to create the conditions destined, predetermined for the soul to experience in a particular incarnation. This is the divine law, the unfailing order of the Universe, the Omnipresent Force. As long as the soul remains within the cycle of rebirth—samsara, this law cannot be avoided.
Curses, blessings, prosperity, and challenges—these are all transmitted through the chain of generations. Each of us is bound by duty (dharma) and karma, for it is through them that our existence takes shape. If we were devoid of karma, we would cease to exist in this form. It is precisely for this reason that Pitru Paksha holds such profound significance: it allows us to honor our ancestors and to heal the karmic bonds that tie us to the illusion of Maya.
Philosophical Perspective – Oneness and Samsara
From the vast knowledge of Vedic tradition, life is a continuum—past, present, and future are interwoven by the thread of karma. To honor our ancestors is to honor ourselves, for they live within us, and we are their continuation. Their joys, struggles, and unresolved desires echo through us. By performing these rituals, Śrāddha and Tarpana, we acknowledge this sacred bond, offer healing to them, and in turn, receive their blessings.
Pitru Paksha also reminds us of saṃsāra—the cycle of birth and rebirth governed by divine law. Ancestral karma plays a vital role in this unfolding, influencing both blessings and challenges. By consciously participating in Pitru Paksha, we transcend ritual dimension of this period and step into a deeper spiritual practice—of acknowledging our roots, purifying inherited debts, and moving closer to liberation (mokṣa).
The act of offering food and water, or prayers is symbolic yet immensely powerful. It is not the material act alone but the devotion, sincerity, and gratitude behind it that transform the ritual into spiritual healing. Donating food, feeding cows, planting or watering sacred trees, and acts of charity are extensions of the same principle: by giving, we elevate our forefathers’ souls and lighten our karmic burden.
Pitru Paksha teaches us that just as we inherit karma from our ancestors, so too will our descendants inherit the legacy of our choices of thoughts, deeds, intentions and energetic, karmic imprints we create. By honoring and purifying the past, we shape a brighter, lighter path for the future, peacefully accepting our destiny, and, with the strength and guidance of our ancestors and higher divinities—we shall liberate ourselves gradually.
Every thought, word, and action creates ripples in the stream of time—what we do now becomes the inheritance of those who follow.
Within every lineage—a soul takes human form, destined to break these cycles—to purify what has long been carried, to guide the lineage towards the Light again. Such a soul, through awareness, patience, spiritual discipline, and the wisdom carried across lifetimes, becomes the vessel for transformation. When this purification is achieved, the lineage itself receives immense blessings, blessings too profound to be rationally explained but deeply felt by all who come after.
Astrological Perspective – Aligning with the Universe
Pitru Paksha encapsulates a deep astrological dimension, as a significators of karma being displayed in the placement of planets and other celestial bodies in a horoscope of an individual. The waning Moon, coupled with the influence of planets such as Saturn and Rahu, draws ancestral karma to the surface during this period. These celestial dynamics open a rare opportunity for spiritual progress, for the purification of lineage, and for the deepening of one’s connection to higher truth.
To honor one’s ancestors during this time is to honor oneself. By aligning our actions with cosmic rhythms, we invite peace, harmony, and prosperity into our lives and into the lives of those yet to come.
The ancestors live within us. By remembering them, we remember ourselves, for they are us and we are them. Each generation is both the fruit of the past and the seed of the future. When we take on the karmic work of our lineage, we bravely step into the role of settling the waves of energy that ignorance, lack of awareness, and misguided deeds have set in motion. Through this work, we come to glimpse the truth of Oneness—the unity of all beings across time and space.
Pitru Doṣa – Ancestral Debts in Astrology
In astrology, unresolved ancestral issues may appear in the horoscope as Pitru Doṣa—an affliction indicating the presence of ancestral debt that must be settled at one point in time. Its manifestations can be varied: delays in marriage, difficulties in childbirth, financial instability, discord within families, or repeated failures despite great and sincere effort.
Such conditions are not punishments but signals, urging us to bring awareness to forgotten ancestral debts, to connect with our true Self which is selfless, transcending the illusory realms of personality.
The acts of charity and performing rituals with sincere intentions, from the center of the heart, channel energy toward healing and elevate the souls of forefathers while simultaneously dissolving obstacles in one’s life path.
Honoring the Past, Healing the Present, Shaping the Future
Every act of remembrance performed during Pitru Paksha echoes across time, eternally. Our actions today shape the karmic legacy of generations to come. Just as we inherit the unresolved deeds of our forefathers, so too will our descendants inherit the energy of our choices.
To live with presence, coherence, compassion, and equanimity is to ensure that those who follow us receive not burdens but blessings. This sacred fortnight is thus not simply about looking backward—it is about taking responsibility for the present and shaping the future.
Pitru Paksha is an profound occurrence for us and our loved ones to progress spiritually and liberate ourselves from the certain heavy karma. Through its observance, we heal the past, illuminate the present, and bless the future. By honoring the ancestors, by lifting their burdens, we free not only our souls but also those yet unborn.
Let us not lose ourselves in the distractions of an artificial, anxious, fast paced world of illusions (Maya). Instead, let us listen for the whispers of guidance, observe the omens, feel the subtle presence of our forefathers, and move through this sacred time with devotion and awareness.
For our ancestors are never absent—they are always with us. They are us. Through them we came into being, and through us their journey continues. In this truth lies both our responsibility and our liberation.
Thus, Pitru Paksha is both remembrance and responsibility. It is a call to align ourselves with the eternal continuum of life, to act with awareness, and to transform ancestral debts into blessings for generations to come.
In its essence, Pitru Paksha is not superstition, nor obligation, but a sacred opportunity to honor the past, heal the present, to create a luminous future—for ourselves, our ancestors, and those yet to be born.
