Trayodashi Shradh 2025 is a special occasion for devotees, ensuring peace for ancestors and happiness within the home. Performing tarpana, pind daan, and chanting mantras according to rituals on this day helps alleviate Pitru Dosha (ancestral affliction) and grants liberation to the souls of children and saints who passed away untimely.
Trayodashi Shradh 2025: Today, devotees are performing Trayodashi Shradh with complete rituals. This ceremony is especially significant for families whose ancestors passed away on this specific date. Across every region of India, this ritual is being duly observed today. Devotees perform traditional ceremonies like Pind Daan, Tarpana, and offering food to Brahmins after taking a morning bath and wearing clean clothes. The purpose of this is to ensure peace for ancestors, bring happiness to the home, alleviate Pitru Dosha, and receive the blessings of forefathers.
Auspicious Time for Shradh and Tarpana Method
The auspicious time for Shradh is considered to be Kutup, Rohini, or the Midday period. Pind Daan performed during this time directly reaches the ancestors and ensures their blessings. According to the Tarpana method, take a morning bath, wear clean clothes, and prepare special food for the ancestors. This food includes kheer (rice pudding), puri (fried bread), vegetables, and other items suitable for offering to Brahmins.
In the Shradh ritual, it is mandatory to prepare Pind (rice balls) and offer them to ancestors. Pind is typically made from rice, barley, and black sesame seeds. After offering it, Tarpana should be performed with water. Additionally, respectfully feeding a portion of the Shradh meal to Brahmins and offering Dakshina (donation) is considered auspicious. Including items preferred by the ancestors in the meal is beneficial.
Offer Food to Animals Too
Shradh should not be limited to offering food only to Brahmins. It is also considered essential to set aside a portion of the food for crows, dogs, and cows. According to mythological beliefs, these animals are symbols of ancestors, and feeding them ensures peace and blessings from the ancestors.
Pitru Mantras and Tarpana Rules
- Devotees should chant specific mantras while performing Tarpana. The first mantra is: Om Pitruganaya Vidmahe Jagat Dharini Dhimahi Tanno Pitro Prachodayat. Chanting this with devotion and faith brings the blessings of ancestors.
- The second mantra is dedicated to ancestors and deities: Om Devatabhyah Pitrubhyashcha Mahayogibhya Eva Cha. Namah Swahai Swadhai Nityameva Namo Namah. This mantra honors ancestors and deities during Tarpana.
- The third mantra is a spiritual tantric mantra: Om Adya-Bhutaya Vidmahe Sarva-Sevyaya Dhimahi. Shiva-Shakti-Swaroopena Pitru-Dev Prachodayat. This is used for the worship of ancestors and Shiva-Shakti.
Remembering Gotra and Ancestors
In the Shradh ritual, it is important to perform Tarpana by invoking the names of one's ancestors. For example, Gotre Asmatpita (Ancestor's Name) Sharma Vasuroopat. This step establishes a personal connection in the Shradh ritual and makes the Shradh more effective.
Final Tarpana with Sesame and Water
In the final stage of Tarpana, offering sesame seeds and water is considered mandatory. The mantra is:
Trupyatamidam Tilodakam, Ganga Jalam Va Tasmai Swadha Namah. This process ensures peace and blessings for the ancestors and provides spiritual benefits to the devotees.
Religious and Social Significance
Trayodashi Shradh is considered important not only for the peace of ancestors but also for increasing happiness, mental peace, and family harmony in the home. According to religious beliefs, actions performed during Shradh yield double benefits. This not only grants liberation to the souls of ancestors but also ensures the flow of positive energy within the family.
During Shradh Paksha, this ritual is also a way to strengthen mutual relationships in society and uphold religious traditions. Through Shradh, people get an opportunity to honor the memory of their ancestors and understand how vital the blessings of forefathers are in their lives.
Confluence of Modern Life and Faith
In today's time, people often cannot perform religious rituals regularly due to their busy lifestyles. Nevertheless, observing traditions like Trayodashi Shradh is essential. This allows family members to stay connected to their ancestors, experiencing mental balance and positive energy in life.
Devotees fulfill their responsibility towards their ancestors by observing religious rules and chanting mantras on this occasion. This ensures that the purpose of Shradh is achieved and ancestors attain liberation.
