When it comes to the rituals of Shraaddha, there are many misconceptions. Some people assume that offering the favorite food of their late ancestors directly in front of their photograph will satisfy them. For instance, if a grandfather enjoyed eating meat during his lifetime, one may think of preparing chicken or mutton and placing it before his picture during the ritual. But this is completely incorrect. Such an act does not reach our ancestors, nor does it bring them peace.

Who Actually Receives the Offering?

It is essential to understand that our departed ancestors cannot directly receive offerings placed before their photographs. Instead, food must first be cooked as an offering to Lord Vishnu — without onion, garlic, or any non-sattvic items. After placing a Tulsi leaf and offering it to the Lord, the sanctified food becomes prasadam.

This prasadam is then honored by qualified Vaishnava Brahmanas, who act as spiritual agents. Through the medium of the pitru devatas (ancestral deities), the merit of these offerings is passed on to our forefathers, delivering them from suffering and granting them higher destinations.

The Meaning of Shraaddha

The word Shraaddha comes from the root shraddha, which means “faith.” Thus, the foundation of this ritual lies in complete faith that Lord Vishnu, out of His compassion, will liberate our ancestors. Without such faith, performing the ritual becomes meaningless.

Why Perform Shraaddha?

Shraaddha is more than a ritual; it is an act of gratitude and duty.

We owe our ancestors for the very life we enjoy today — our human birth, family, lineage, wealth, property, even our social identity. Expressing gratitude through Shraaddha is a way of acknowledging this debt. Additionally, our forefathers may be trapped in lower conditions — in hellish realms or wandering without a body. Being unable to help themselves, they depend on their descendants to perform these rituals for their deliverance. The scriptures explain that Pitru Puja grants benefits not only to ancestors but also to descendants, such as:

· Longevity and good health

· Prosperity and abundant food

· Blessed children

· Freedom from pitru dosha (ancestral obstacles)

· Birth in a Vaishnava family in the next life

Even great personalities like Lord Rama (for Dasharatha Maharaj at Chitrakoot) and Lord Chaitanya (at Gaya) performed Shraaddha ceremonies.

There are four primary forms of Shraaddha:

· Immediate Shraaddha – Performed 10–12 days after a person’s death.

· Monthly Shraaddha (Maasik) – Conducted every month for the first year, on the death tithi.

· Annual Shraaddha (Vaarshik or Barsi) – Performed once every year, on the death tithi, after the first year.

· Pitru Paksha Shraaddha – Held during the fortnight of Bhadrapada Purnima to Ashwin Amavasya. If the death tithi is unknown, then it is performed on Mahalaya Amavasya.

The central offering in these rituals is Pinda Daan — three rice balls (pinda) offered with water (udaka).

Scriptural Origins of Pinda and Til

The ritual of offering pindas has its roots in divine history. During the Varaha Lila, when Lord Varaha lifted the Earth from the Garbhodaka Ocean, some soil stuck to His tusk. He cast it away in the southern direction, where the Pitru deities were worshipping. They requested to always receive offerings in this form of pindas. Later, during His battle with Hiranyaksha, drops of the Lord’s sweat fell, producing black sesame seeds (til), and His hairs gave rise to kusha grass. The Pitru devatas expressed their desire to receive offerings of these sacred items as well, hence they are integral to the Shraaddha ceremony.

The Three Categories of Pitru Devatas

· Pitru Pati (Heads of the Pitru Realm) – Yamaraja, Soma (Moon-god), and Kavya devata. They oversee the entire process of Shraaddha.

· Pitra Gana – The children of the Saptarishis, who are celibate Vaishnavas. They act as subtle agents who accept offerings through the hearts of Vaishnava Brahmanas.

· Chira Pitru – They assist in carrying out the process.

During Pitru Paksha, Yamaraja specifically allows ancestors to accept offerings from their descendants on earth.

Vedic injunctions prescribe very strict conditions for the ritual, such as:

· It must be performed in the afternoon (Kutapa Kaal) after fasting until noon.

· The performer should wear only white clothes.

· Cooking must be done by the person or their wife, not hired cooks.

· The ritual should be performed at one’s home, not at rented venues.

· One must remain peaceful — no anger, scolding, or quarrel is permitted.

· If any of these are violated, the Pitru devatas withdraw, leaving the Shraaddha incomplete.

A Simple Form of Shraaddha

Because the traditional procedure is complex, scriptures also prescribe a simplified method. On the chosen day, one may:

· Serve cows (Gau Seva).

· Feed and donate to Brahmana Vaishnavas.

· Recite the Bhagavad Gita.

· Chant and sing the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

These four activities, done with devotion, ensure the blessings of the Pitru devatas and the upliftment of one’s ancestors.

The Ultimate Deliverance

The highest truth is revealed in the Bhagavatam: If one fully surrenders to Lord Krishna, then he becomes free of all debts — to demigods, sages, society, and even ancestors (na kinkaro nayam rini ca rajan). By becoming a pure devotee, not only is one liberated, but one’s entire family line also receives deliverance. Lord Nrisimha Himself promised Prahlada that his ancestors would be saved due to his devotion.

Thus, while Shraaddha rituals bring great benefits, the ultimate way to honor our ancestors is by cultivating bhakti and serving Lord Krishna with full dedication. Through our devotion, our forefathers attain eternal peace at His lotus feet.