Shraddh Paksha 2025: Honoring Ancestors with Faith, Service, and Liberation

 

What is Shraddh Paksha?

Shraddh Paksha, also known as Pitru Paksha, is a sacred 15-day period for Hindus to honor and express gratitude to their ancestors through offerings, prayers, and service. In 2025, Shraddh Paksha will begin on 7th September 2025 and end on 21st September 2025 (Mahalaya Amavasya).

During these days, rituals such as Tarpan, Pind Daan, and feeding Brahmins and the needy are performed to seek peace for departed souls while invoking blessings for the family.

The Essence of Shraddh: Serving with Faith

Shraddh is derived from ‘Shraddha’ (faith) and represents offerings made with devotion to ancestors. According to Padma Purana:

“श्रद्धया दीयते यत्र तच्छ्राद्धं परिचक्षते।”
 “That which is offered with faith to the ancestors is called Shraddh.”

The Garuda Purana states that pleased ancestors grant longevity, knowledge, prosperity, and spiritual upliftment to their descendants.

Mahalaya Amavasya 2025: The Most Auspicious Day

The final day of Pitru Paksha, Mahalaya Amavasya (21st September 2025), is the most significant for performing Shraddh. It is believed that on this day, ancestors visit the homes of their descendants expecting offerings and prayers.

For those who do not know their ancestors’ death dates, performing Shraddh on Mahalaya Amavasya brings peace to all ancestors in the lineage.

Saint Eknath Maharaj: The Spirit of True Shraddh

Saint Eknath Maharaj embodied the spirit of Shraddh with faith and service. Once, on his father’s Shraddh, he prepared a grand feast and invited Brahmins to partake in the offerings.

As the fragrance of the feast spread, a Mahar family passed by, and their child, drawn by the aroma, expressed a longing for the food. Seeing God in every being, Eknathji immediately invited the family into his home and, along with his wife Girijabai, served them the Shraddh meal with love and respect.

Girijabai said:

“Today, it is God Himself seeking the offering through them. Let us serve them with love.”

Later, they cleaned the home and prepared the Shraddh meal again for the invited Brahmins. However, upon learning the meal was first served to the Mahar family, the Brahmins refused to eat and left in anger.

The Divine Arrival of Ancestors

At this moment, Shrikhandiya, Eknathji’s devoted servant, encouraged him:

“Master, why worry? The Shraddh is meant for your ancestors; if you call them with pure faith, they will accept your offering themselves.”

It is believed that Lord Himself served in Eknathji’s home for years, taking the form of Shrikhandiya, quietly guiding and protecting him.

Following Shrikhandiya’s advice, Eknathji laid out the meal and invoked his ancestors with deep faith. Miraculously, his ancestors manifested in physical form, accepted the offerings, blessed him, and departed.

Divine Validation and Transformation

Despite witnessing this, the Brahmins insisted that Eknathji perform penance. Humbly agreeing, he prepared for ritual purification. At that moment, a leprosy-stricken Brahmin arrived, stating that while performing penance at Tryambakeshwar, Lord Shiva instructed him in a dream to seek blessings from Eknathji, whose merit from serving the marginalized during Shraddh could cure his disease.

Eknathji took water in his hand, offered a portion of his merit, and sprinkled it on the Brahmin. Instantly, the leprosy vanished, and the Brahmin’s skin radiated with a golden glow. Witnessing this miracle, the previously critical Brahmins realized their mistake, sought forgiveness, and understood the true essence of Shraddh.

Spiritual Practices for Shraddh Paksha 2025

To observe Shraddh Paksha 2025 meaningfully:

 Perform Tarpan and Pind Daan with devotion, not mechanically but as gratitude for your ancestors.
 Recite Chapter 7 of the Bhagavad Gita daily, as it is believed to help souls attain liberation and reduce suffering.
 Feed Brahmins, cows, birds, and the needy with humility, seeing them as divine embodiments.

 Reflect on Bhagavad Gita 9.25:

“Those who worship the gods go to the gods; those who worship ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship spirits go to the spirits; but those who worship Me come to Me.”

Maintain simplicity, faith, and humility during rituals.

Shraddh Paksha 2025: A Spiritual Opportunity

Shraddh Paksha is not about fear of ancestral displeasure but about expressing gratitude, maintaining spiritual connection with your lineage, and remembering the divine essence that flows through every soul.

Saint Eknath Maharaj’s example teaches that:

 ✨ God dwells in every being, and true Shraddh is seeing Him in all.
 ✨ Faith transforms rituals into spiritual yajnas.
 ✨ Serving the marginalized with faith brings immense merit.
 ✨ Ancestors are not separate from the Divine; serving them with love pleases God Himself.

Let Shraddh Paksha 2025 Transform Your Inner Life

As Shraddh Paksha 2025 approaches, let this be a time to:

 ✅ Reflect on the blessings and sacrifices of your ancestors.
 ✅ Serve selflessly and with devotion.
 ✅ Deepen your spiritual practice.
 ✅ Invoke blessings for your family and lineage with humility.

May your Shraddh Paksha 2025 be a period of peace, spiritual growth, and divine connection, transforming your offerings into light that illuminates your soul and the souls of your ancestors.