Legend of pitrupaksha

The Legend Of Pitru Paksha – The Story Of Karna

Karna, who was an important character in Mahabharata, gave all his wealth in form of gold, gems, cash, and so on when he was alive.  After his death he reached Heaven. But when he went there and requested for food, he was served gold and gems instead.

Karna enquired about this to Yama. Yama let him know that till he or his descendents give food to needy individuals he would not get food. Karna’s children were likewise passed on in the war. Nobody arrived to perform food charity in his memory.

Karna had never given any food in memory of his ancestors as he was not aware of them. He asked Yama to send him back to earth that he will donate food and then return back to the Heaven. Yama concurred and send Karna to earth for 14 days amid which Karna feed poor and needy individuals.

He likewise watched customs to his dead ancestors even he was unaware of them. Karna came back to the Heaven following 14 days and got a lot of food. These 14 days are known as Mahalaya Paksha.

It is trusted that offering oblations and giving food during these days would get salvation to individual and his dead ancestors. Pitru Paksha starts on Ashwin Krishna Pratipada and closes on Ashwin Amavasya (Mahalaya Amavasya) in North Indian Hindi timetables.

It is also called as Sarve Pitri Amavasya.  The fortnight committed to dead ancestors begins on Bhadrapad Krishna Padyami and closes on Bhadrapada Amavasya in Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, and Telugu calendars.

Pitru Paksha is a special time period during the Hindu year when Hindus pay their respects to the souls of their ancestors by performing Shradh rituals at holy locations. Pitru Paksha is a time period of 16 days during the Bhadrapada Maas of the Hindu month when the wandering souls of dead relatives and ancestors come to earth in form of energies, which have the power to affect our daily lives.

These souls come in search of food and warmth and it is the duty of the next generations to provide the same for the wandering souls. It is a devotee’s goal to free their ancestor’s soul from the cycle of life and death and help them to seek Mukti or liberation.