Tila Homa & Pitru Puja During Pitru Paksh

Br. Ramanand will conduct Ganapathy Homa (Havan), Tila Homa and a Puja for departed souls from 6:00 AM on September 13th at M A Center DC

The ceremonies are:

• Ganapathy Homa

For overcomng obstacles and bestowing prosperity and auspiciousness. Cost $65

• Tila Homa

For departed souls, to be performed 45 days after death or later; for peace of one's ancestors and to receive the blessings of ancestors. If you are sponsoring Tila Homa, Pitru Puja is included in the price. Cost $195

• Pitru Puja for departed souls:

A ceremony intended for honoring ancestors, irrespective of the lunar day they died. The ritual performed on this day is considered as fruitful as one conducted in the holy city of Gaya which is seen as a special place to perform the rite. $25 per person. $50 for family (children above 10 can participate)

Registration

To register, please complete the registration form. Registration is required to arrange for items for Puja. No walk-ins please.

Detailed instructions will be provided as to how to perform the Puja. This is a guided puja with Br. Ramanand guiding participants in the rituals involved in conducting the puja. All the items needed for the puja is provided by MA Center. Prasad and chai is served after the Puja.

Why Perform Pitru Puja during Pitru Paksha (The fortnight of Ancestors)

In Indian Culture, the day starting from Purnima (full moon night) of Shukla Paksh of Bhadra Pad month till the Amavasya (No moon night) of the Krishna Paksh of Ashwin month is considered to be the period dedicated to our departed ancestors. This period of 16 days is known as "Pitra Paksh or the Shraadh Kaal". This period is said to be very auspicious for performing special rituals known as "Shraadh Karma" for appeasing our departed Ancestors and getting their blessings. These rituals of Shraadh Karma are suppose to be done by every person irrespective of caste, creed and culture as they are mandatory for everyone according to Ancient Vedic Texts.

For 2019, the Pitru Paksh is between 9/13 and 9/28.

During the ritual, participants wear a sacred ring (pavithram) made of dharba (a grass) and make an offering of sesame seeds, cooked rice, and water placed on a banana leaf into a nearby body of water.

Its an opportunity for each one of us to express our gratitude towards our departed ancestors, and pray for their wellbeing and spiritual progress.

This ceremony is considered as a part of Pitru Yajna (sacrifice for parents) – one of the Pancha-mahayagnas (5 sacrifices) we should perform as part of a Dharmic life. Amma says, “We always have a thought of only getting, never of giving to others. We grew up because our parents have been giving to us. Now whatever we may give, we cannot repay for what they have given us. Through this ritual, we are showing our respect, out gratitude, towards our departed ancestors. Giving verbal thanks only remains as words, and doesn’t get translated into action. By partaking in this ritual, we are performing action – spending some time for others, spending some money for them, and chanting mantras. We therefore get purified, creating positive vibrations.

For example, if the email id is correct, email will reach the recipient wherever the person is.

Similarly, if your sankalpa is pure, when making offerings towards departed souls, the result will reach him/her even if he has taken another birth. In addition, we also get the benefit of the mantras and the good actions we do.

This ritual is part of Sanatana Dharma, which believes in the rebirth. Whether you believe in this or not, whether they are reborn or not, we get a punya (merit) for the actions we do.

For each action there are two types of results. Drushta Phalam and Adrusthta Phalam – the seen and the unseen results. When we feed a hungry orphan, we feel the joy when we see him enjoying the food we have offered – that is drushta phalam. The result is visible. By giving food we get some punya – merit. That is the unseen result, adrusthta phalam. If you are a sadhak, all that you are doing is done selflessly, the whole world will benefit.”

Stating the example of some of the ashramites, Amma concluded, “If there is a Sannyasi in a family, three generations before and four generations in the future will receive the merit of his Sannyas! "