Ancestral rites
The last month of the Malayalam Era is Karkkidakam (July 16 to August 17). The new moon day in this month is considered best-suited and auspicious for conducting the observances to please the ancestors.
Both the Sun and the Moon stay in the same rashi (the sign in the zodiac), and hence this day is chosen for the annual observances. New moon days are particularly important for ancestors. The observance of Bali (a ritual where offerings are made to please one’s ancestors), it is believed, gives them salvation. In North India, the month of shradh — a ritual done to express one’s respectful feelings for the ancestors with devotion — are from September 13 to September 27, 2011.
The one who conducts shradham should eat only once the previous day. One has to do the rites after taking bath and wearing wet clothes.
The observer of the rites should first put on his finger “pavithra”, a ring made of durba grass. Holding the durba grass in both hands, he should chant mantras pleading with the ancestors to accept the Bali. He should then move the durba grasses around the head thrice, place it on a plantain leaf, sprinkle water on it, while uttering “Jalaabhishekam Karishyami”.
Different articles like sandalwood paste, paddy mixed with pounded brown rice, flowers, a wet thread etc are also submitted before the pindam. Now the plantain leaf on which the rice was rolled into a ball should be placed on the pindam face down. Then there’s worship with lighted camphor. Circumambulate the pindam, worship it with flowers and kneel before it, while chanting mantras.
Apologising for the flaws possibly committed in the process and offering a little rice for the crow, sprinkle water around it. The remaining rice can be dropped into water for the fish to eat. After reciting Brahmarppanam, a vessel with a spout containing water is placed upside down and the observer kneels down with his face upon it. The rites come to an end.
The observer of Bali should chant the following mantra while taking bath:
“Gange cha Yamune chaiva Godavari Saraswathi
Narmade Sindhu Kaveree jalesmin sannidhim kuru.”
The area where Bali is observed should be smeared with cow dung. Water mixed with cow dung should be sprinkled in the entire premises. Garuda Purana says that Lord Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and other devas visit places where cow dung is smeared and puja held. At the end of the rites, koorcham, the durba grass tied together, should be untied to send back the ancestors to Pitrauloka. Our tradition insists that all the karmas related to the ancestors be done with utmost care. Then only will they be pleased and bless us.
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