The months of transitional
weather are a bit difficult. There is something in the air we breathe that
unsettles. On one hand the mornings are more fresh,less sweaty, provoking
and inviting to revel in walk or workouts. On the other, the feel of 'pitr paksh'
slows down, emits low energy.
'Shraadh'- the very word
connects one fondly to the dear departed and naturally brings forth the hordes
of memories which make one acutely conscious of the 'disconnect' in flesh and
body and hence emanates sadness, melancholy. The exhortations for
pilgrimage, performing rituals, jap , yagna , daan or visit to the places
of worship or satsang / katha during this period make sense if viewed from perspective of
creating a 'connect' with what is beyond us beside providing requisite healing to
the undefinable malaise.
Despite the low-dom, the days
are precious being exclusively meant for purgation and catharsis through
remembrance, offering of Brahman bhoj, tarpan and other rituals which we
do not even think of in normal parlance. Its natural to feel the conspicuous
presence in absence of the noble souls who have been our parents, kin and now
are in category of pitr or ancestors. I have little knowledge of importance of
all the rituals attached with 'shraadh' but what I very vividly remember is
that even in the days of penury, the halwa and kheer were prepared in big
quantity and offered to whomsoever we could as it meant offering it to
ancestors. I feel its very important to pass this tradition on to the young as
did our parents. There is so much of healing in feeling gratitude as a child, a
member of the clan. It is difficult to recall the names of great grand
father/mother because we hardly ever make efforts to know about them but
atleast 'we are made to' remember them exclusively during this period alone!
Somewhere we can feel their 'ancient, glittering eyes' blessing us from the
skies above and never mind the lump in the throat as thats human, thats what
being alive means as a cog in the chain of generations.
Well timed , well written , as always.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maneesha. Regards
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maneesha. Regards
ReplyDeleteSimple and uncluttered feelings. Heart to heart. Beautifully said.
ReplyDeleteVery well written. Always awesome writing
ReplyDeleteOffcourse,shraadh are very important ritual in our religion.we must pass these rituals to our younger ones.very well described as always.
ReplyDeleteOffcourse,shraadh are very important ritual in our religion.we must pass these rituals to our younger ones.very well described as always.
ReplyDeleteWell said,gud depiction didi.Ur thought will bring new generation towards d holiness of Shradhs.
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ReplyDeleteVery well describes the ages old culture and tradition,perfect timing.
ReplyDeleteseasonal writing, with climate changes a lot of things..
ReplyDeleteVery well describes the ages old culture and tradition,perfect timing.
ReplyDeleteVery well written! Your musings are interesting and meaningful!
ReplyDeleteVery well written! Your musings are interesting and meaningful!
ReplyDeleteWell said. Wonderful tradition to reconnect with loved ones who live in our hearts and minds but not in our world.
ReplyDeleteWell said. Wonderful tradition to reconnect with loved ones who live in our hearts and minds but not in our world.
ReplyDeleteYes, your words remind us of the great Indian cultural heritage. Shraadhs are time framed rituals to pay our obeisance to our own nears and dears mostly parents. We do what otherwise don't do during rest of the year as you well wrote kheer and halwa. For kids these were the days for family feast with choicest dishes but today it is not more than a ritual to perform only on those particular days of departure of our ancestors. I remember my mother used to offer rotis and kheer to crows cows dogs ants after jal tarpan and then to anyone in home everyday. On particular days added dishes of choice of the departed souls were prepared and offered to brahmin after performing shraadh. He was given such clothes which were liked by the noble souls in heaven. All days as repaying what we learnt and got from them. Your blog is remindful of all those pampering days of childhood scolding days of youth and now all reminiscent nostalgic. We remember our parents in day-to-day activities as they are always with us but importance of performing systematic obeisance to them rests with ongoing shraadhs alone. Your writing makes Wonderful rememberance of the days gone by and underlines importance of shraadhs for the progeny. Thank you for making us feel its significance for children too.
ReplyDeleteYes, your words remind us of the great Indian cultural heritage. Shraadhs are time framed rituals to pay our obeisance to our own nears and dears mostly parents. We do what otherwise don't do during rest of the year as you well wrote kheer and halwa. For kids these were the days for family feast with choicest dishes but today it is not more than a ritual to perform only on those particular days of departure of our ancestors. I remember my mother used to offer rotis and kheer to crows cows dogs ants after jal tarpan and then to anyone in home everyday. On particular days added dishes of choice of the departed souls were prepared and offered to brahmin after performing shraadh. He was given such clothes which were liked by the noble souls in heaven. All days as repaying what we learnt and got from them. Your blog is remindful of all those pampering days of childhood scolding days of youth and now all reminiscent nostalgic. We remember our parents in day-to-day activities as they are always with us but importance of performing systematic obeisance to them rests with ongoing shraadhs alone. Your writing makes Wonderful rememberance of the days gone by and underlines importance of shraadhs for the progeny. Thank you for making us feel its significance for children too.
ReplyDeleteShraads are the rituals that we perform to remember our near & dear ones(parents).Yes, you are right we should pass this tradition to our young ones. While doing shraad we feel we are in the Presence of ourgreat grand ancestors blessing us from the heaven's brink.It has a healing effect also as it lessens our sorrows that we feel after their departure. It is a wonderful ritual that reconnect us with our loving ones,who are present in our heart but not in this world.Thanks for thinking of passing this imp. ritual of ours to the coming generation.Regards
ReplyDeleteShraads are the rituals that we perform in the memory of our near &dear ones,who have always been present in our heart but not in this world . It is a wonderful ritual that reconnect us with ourloving Parents/ancestors. We feel ourself in their great grand Presence,blessing us from the heaven's brink.It also lessens our sorrows as it has a healing effect in feeling gratitude as a child.Yes, you are right we should pass this imp. tradition Of ours to our coming generation.Thanks for making us feel this ritual as imp for us as for our young ones.Regards
ReplyDeleteBeautifuly explained pitra paksh meaning great sir
ReplyDeleteBeautifuly explained pitra paksh meaning great sir
ReplyDeleteshraadh is really very meaningful as you have described in details in your write up as pitra paksh
ReplyDeleteis connected with the ritual tradition to remember
our ancestors those not alive, but their souls are given due respect through the tap jap dhyan pinddaan, sanaan and daan. precisely, these are the days, when on the particular day or on amavas pitragan are supposed to be on earth to get our offerings like pinds, clothings sweets halwa kheer
through the puja conducted by brahamans. being in the holy place kurukshetra, I can understand well that the importance of brahamsarover tirth and pinddaan co related. in my family we know the day triodashi which is fixed for shraadh of my mother and amavas for grand fathers, father others dead
relatives and near dears. interestingly, our new generation is very keen to know all why do we pay puja obeisance to dead ancestors in such a way on this particular pitra paksh. Really, your write up is valuable for new generation to draw attention and to follow the holy path of performig pitra paksh puja and shraadh for the satisfaction of souls of dead relatives and ancestors in a ritual way.