Mahalaya Amavasya
Mahalaya Amavasya or Pitra Amavasya is the New Moon day of Pitri Paksha or Mahalaya Paksha, the fortnight which is especially sacred for offering oblations to the departed ancestors. It is believed that performing Tarpanams or Tarpan during the auspicious Mahalaya Paksha will bless the ancestors and will free them from all their sins. Each day in the Mahalaya Paksha is ruled by a particular Tithi or Moon Phase and the benefits of offering Tarpanam on each day are different. It is during Mahalaya that one can dissolve two types of ancestral Karma - Karma that blocks the ancestors from blessing one, and Karma that keeps the ancestors trapped in this world
The Legend
The renowned hero of the Mahabharata, Karna, was a great philanthropist and he never refused anyone who approached him for help. He had donated huge wealth and had done all kinds of charity, except donating food.
When Karna reached heaven the great charity which he had done on the earth was returned to him hundredfold, but it was all material wealth and no food at all. He then realized that although he had done all kinds of charity, he did not donate food. He prayed to the God of Death, who sent him back to earth for 14 days, to make up for this deficiency.
Karna fed the Brahmins and the poor and offered oblations of water during the 14 days which were in the Mahalaya Paksha. On his return to Heaven, he had plenty of food. It is now believed that offerings made during the period of Mahalaya Paksha benefits all the departed souls, whether they are connected to one or not.
Source: Internet
Quote for the day
“One can only believe, perhaps, in what one cannot see. ”
—
Virginia Woolf, ORLANDO
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