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SUMMARY:Pitru Paksha
DESCRIPTION:One of the traditions followed on the Siddha Yoga path is the observance of Pitṛ-pakṣa\,1 which means the “fortnight of the ancestors.” This period of two weeks falls on the Indian lunar month of Aśvina\, which corresponds to the Gregorian calendar months of September or early October. The origin of this tradition harks back to India’s oldest scripture\, the Ṛgveda. Pitṛ-pakṣa is described in scriptural texts\, mainly the Purāṇas\,2 as a powerful occasion in which we honor and express gratitude to those who have come before and laid for us a path to walk upon—our departed relatives\, friends\, benefactors\, and countless souls who have brought grace\, wisdom\, protection\, and love to our lives. \nBy Vedic tradition\, the term “ancestors” includes three generations of departed relatives from our father’s side and from our mother’s side\, that is\, our parents\, grandparents\, and great-grandparents. It also includes other relatives such as departed spouses\, children\, siblings\, aunts and uncles\, and parents-in-law. During Pitṛ-pakṣa\, one can also honor friends\, neighbors\, teachers\, mentors\, and even beloved animals that have left this world. \nAccording to the Garuḍa Purāṇa\, by worshipping one’s ancestors one attains longevity\, children\, heaven\, fame\, health\, strength\, good fortune\, happiness\, prosperity\, and abundant food.3 The Viṣṇu Purāṇa states that one who\, with faith\, performs rituals for the ancestors makes the whole world content.4 \nThe observance of Pitṛ-pakṣa is a way to harmonize ourselves with the forces of nature. Those of us who live in this world and those who have departed from it are all part of the one vital power of Consciousness that underlies creation. Therefore\, the giving and receiving of prayers and good will brings about auspiciousness to our lives and to the lives of those who preceded us in this world. \nThrough the observances of Pitṛ-pakṣa\, a person confers the merits of their spiritual practices as blessings to the departed ones. Pleased by the worship performed for them\, the ancestors in turn grant blessings to their descendants and friends. \nRecommended Observances\nIt is traditional during Pitṛ-pakṣa to dedicate spiritual practices such as meditation\, chanting\, mantra repetition\, and prayer to our ancestors. Another powerful way of sending blessings to our departed ancestors and friends is dedicating to them the recitation of Śrī Guru Gītā. \nOn behalf of our ancestors\, we can also make donations to not-for-profit organizations like the SYDA Foundation\, or give food or clothing to a charitable organization. \nRecommended Abstentions\nDuring this fortnight\, it is recommended that people refrain from beginning new projects or major undertakings. While long journeys such as cross-continental or international travel are not recommended\, short-distance air and car travel are fine. If you find that you must travel during this time\, it is good to be especially vigilant and alert\, and to offer prayers for protection. Travel considered auspicious during Pitṛ-pakṣa is that which is undertaken as a pilgrimage or to begin spiritual practice. \nPlease consider these guidelines as suggestions\, and make plans that are most appropriate for your situation. \nPrayers\nThe following passages from the Upaniṣads and the Bhagavad Gītā invoke the presence of the eternal Truth as the undying heart of all beings. During Pitṛ-pakṣa\, you can offer these to your beloved ones who have departed as an invocation of the Truth. \nPerfection\noṁ pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidaṁ\npūrṇāt pūrṇamudacyate\npūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya\npūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate.\noṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ \nOm. That is perfect. This is perfect.\nFrom the perfect springs the perfect.\nIf the perfect is taken from the perfect\, the perfect remains.\nOm. Peace! Peace! Peace!5 \nThe Undying Supreme Self\nThe supreme Self is not born\, nor does it ever die.\nHaving once existed\, it never ceases to exist.\nThe supreme Self is unborn\, eternal\, changeless\, and ancient.\nIt does not die when the body dies.6 \nThe Pervasive Ātman\nThe Inspired Self is not born nor does he die;\nhe springs from nothing and becomes nothing.\nUnborn\, permanent\, unchanging\, primordial\,\nhe is not destroyed when the body is destroyed. \nSmaller than the small\, greater than the great\,\nthe ātman is hidden in the core of every creature.\nOne free from desire and thus free from grief\nsees the greatness of the ātman by grace of the Ordainer.7 \nThe Self Who Dwells in the Heart\nOnce freed of all desires that lie in the heart\,\nthen a mortal man becomes immortal.\nEven in this life he attains to Brahman. \nOnce all the knots of the heart are cut\,\nthen a mortal man becomes immortal. \nThe Person of a thumb’s size\, the ātman within\,\never dwells in the heart of beings.\nOne should draw him out of one’s body with care\njust as an inner stem is drawn from its sheath.\nHim you should know\, the Pure\, the Immortal;\nhim you should know\, the Pure\, the Immortal.8 \nThe Immortal Reality\nFrom unreality lead me to reality;\nfrom darkness lead me to light;\nfrom death lead me to immortality.9 \n\n1 The Sanskrit term Pitṛ-pakṣa can be pronounced as “pitru paksha.” There is no vowel after the ṛ\, so that letter is pronounced as a regular English “r” with the slight sound of an “u.” \n\n2 The Purāṇas are Sanskrit texts of India that recount the deeds of gods and the creation\, sustenance\, and dissolution of the universe. \n\n\n3 Garuḍa Purāṇa 10.5.57-59: Sankśipta Garuḍa Purāṇa\, Geeta Press\, Gorakhapur\, Uttar Pradesh\, India; (trans. from Hindi by Pratibha Trimbake) \n\n\n4 Viṣṇu Purāṇa 3.14.2: Viṣṇu Purāṇa\,Geeta Press\, Gorakhapur\, Uttar Pradesh\, India; (trans. from Hindi by Pratibha Trimbake) \n\n\n5 Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad; Nectar of Chanting\, SYDA Foundation\, 1983\, p. 68 \n\n\n6 Bhagavad Gītā\, 2.20; Darshan Magazine\, v. 52 \n\n\n7 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.18\, 20; ed. & trans. Raimundo Panikkar\, The Vedic Experience—Mantramañjarī\, All India Books\, Books\, Pondicherry\, 1977\, p. 566 \n\n\n8 Katha Upaniṣad 6.14\,15\,17; Ibid\, p. 568 \n\n\n9 Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.3.28; Ibid\, p. 599
URL:https://siddhayoganyc.org/event/pitru-paksha-15/
CATEGORIES:Natural Cycles
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