Aaj Ka Panchang: Shraddha will be performed today for the family members who left this world due to untimely death, accident and suicide; See the complete calendar and auspicious time of Chaturdashi date

Pitru Paksha i.e. the holy fortnight of Mahalaya is moving towards its last stop. The Chaturdashi date of Krishna Paksha of Ashwin month has been described as having a very special, sensitive and esoteric significance in the Hindu scriptures and Garuda Purana. This Chaturdashi of Pitru Paksha is known as ‘Ghayal Chaturdashi’, ‘Ghat Chaturdashi’ or ‘Shastrahat Shraddha’. According to Sanatan tradition, this is the only special date on which Shraddha, Tarpan and Pind Daan are performed for those ancestors, relatives or clan members who did not die naturally (due to natural old age or disease) but due to some accident, untimely death, murder, suicide, poisoning, snake bite, drowning in water, fire accident or war or weapon attack. There is a strict rule in the scriptures that Shraddha of ancestors who died normally or naturally is never performed on Chaturdashi Tithi; Their Shraddha is performed either on their natural date or on the day of Sarvapitri Amavasya. Even if the actual date of death of a family member who dies an untimely death is not known, performing their Shraddha on Ashwin Krishna Chaturdashi helps their wandering unsatisfied soul attain peace and salvation.

It is mentioned in authentic texts like Garuda Purana and Nirman Sindhu that the souls who leave their bodies due to some sudden calamity, accident or unnatural circumstance without completing their natural age, their souls often keep wandering in the atmosphere trapped in the bondage of attachment, lust and unfulfilled desires. Such disturbed souls do not find a comfortable place in the ancestral world. This holy day of Ashwin Krishna Chaturdashi has been specially dedicated for the liberation of these unsatisfied ancestors. On this day, the ritual offering of water, black sesame seeds, kusha, barley, white sandalwood and Ganges water provides peace to those ancestors who had perished in untimely times. It is believed that if the family members perform Narayan Bali, Tripandi Shraddha or general Panchbali rituals for them on this day, then the ancestors become free from all kinds of troubles and bondages of ghosts and provide their descendants with the auspicious blessings of happiness, prosperity, progeny growth and protection from untimely death.

The astronomical and almanac details of this important date of Ashwin Krishna Paksha bring very special energy as per astrological calculations. Today, Sun is transiting in Virgo and Moon is in its specific position.

• Samvatsar and Samvat: Vikram Samvat 2083, Shak Samvat 1948 (Kalyukt Samvatsar).

• Month and Paksha: Ashwin month, Krishna Paksha.

• Date: Chaturdashi Tithi (effective till noon, thereafter Amavasya Tithi starts).

• wise: Saturday (the day under the influence of Shani Dev, which is considered very effective for ancestral deeds and tarpan).

• constellation: Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra (after entry of Hasta Nakshatra).

• sum: Shukla Yoga (after the beginning of Brahma Yoga).

• Karan: Shakuni Karan (after Chatushpada and Naga Karan).

• Sun and Moon position: Sunrise will be transiting in Virgo and Moon will be transiting in Virgo.

• Sunrise and sunset: Sunrise will be at 06:19 am and sunset will be at 05:58 pm.

Shraddha ritual is never performed in the early morning or at night. In the scriptures, the afternoon time has been called ‘Kutup’ and ‘Rouhin’ period, which is considered the best time for taking food and offering offerings to the ancestors. Today, the following auspicious times are best to perform Shraddha and Pind Daan on Ghat Chaturdashi:

• Kutup Muhurat: From 11:45 am to 12:31 pm. (Duration: 46 minutes – This is the best time to offer water and sesame seeds to the ancestors).

• Rauhina Muhurta: From 12:31 pm to 01:18 pm. (Duration: 47 minutes).

• Afternoon Kaal (Main Time of Shraddha): From 01:18 pm to 03:37 pm. (Within this period the work of Brahmin food, Tarpan and Pind Daan should be completed).

• Abhijeet Muhurat: From 11:45 am to 12:31 pm (Muhurat for accomplishment of all tasks).

• Vijay Muhurta: From 02:05 pm to 02:51 pm.

• Twilight time: From 05:58 pm to 06:22 pm.

While performing Pitru Karma, one should especially avoid the polluted times like Rahukaal and Yamgandh, because the results of the Tarpan done during these Muhurtas do not reach the ancestors:

• Rahukaal: From 09:14 am to 10:41 am. (Do not start any new work, resolution or Shraddha during this period).

• Yamgand period: From 01:36 pm to 03:03 pm.

• Gulik period: From 06:19 am to 07:46 am.

• Durmuhurta: From 06:19 am to 07:06 am.

It is mandatory to observe special purity and rules while performing Shraddha for the relatives who died due to untimely death. After morning routine and bath, sit facing south direction. Wear the sacred ring of Kusha on the ring finger. Mix pure water, Ganges water, raw milk, black sesame seeds, white flowers and barley in a copper or bronze vessel and offer it to ‘Pitritirtha’ (middle part of thumb and forefinger) with the fingers of both the hands. At the time of Tarpan, take the name, clan and name of the departed soul and resolve to pray for their salvation. After tarpan, one must perform Panchabali ritual, in which five separate morsels of food are taken out on a plate:

1. Gau Bali (for cow): Feed the first morsel to the mother cow.

2. Dog sacrifice (for dog): Offer the second mouthful to a black or brown dog.

3. Kaak Bali (for crows): Crows are considered messengers of ancestors, hence keep the third grass on the roof or parapet for the crows.

4. Devadi Bali (to gods and ants): Put the fourth grass at the root of the tree for the sake of ants and insects.

5. Pipilikadi Bali (for guest and beggar): Keep the fifth gram for a needy person or a Brahmin. After this, offer sattvik food (kheer, puri, urad dal bada etc.) to the deserving, virtuous Brahmin with devotion and after giving him clothes, food and dakshina as per your capacity, touch his feet and seek blessings.

There is a clear warning in the scriptures that if a family member has died due to old age, illness or natural causes, then their Shraddha should never be performed on Ashwin Krishna Chaturdashi. It is believed that if Shraddha of a naturally deceased ancestor is performed on this day, discord, unrest and health problems may arise in the family. Shraddha of such ancestors should be performed with devotion only on the next day, Sarvapitri Moksha Amavasya. This holy day of Ghat Chaturdashi is the great festival of salvation of those departed souls who had untimely said goodbye to this mortal world. On this day, offering a pot of water with a true heart removes all the troubles of the ancestors and establishes a protective shield of peace and security in the family.

Meta Description: Aaj Ka Panchang: Today on Ashwin Krishna Chaturdashi, there will be untimely death and death of family members who died in the accident. Chaturdashi Shraddha; See today’s complete calendar, Kutup Muhurta, Rahukaal and Shraddha Tarpan method.

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