Purnima Shraddha
Also called: Bhadrapada Purnima Shraddha, Proshthapadi Shraddha
The opening day of the Pitru Paksha cycle. It is reserved for ancestors who passed away on a full moon day (Purnima tithi) of any month of the year.
Key facts
- Paksha
- Shukla Paksha (Full Moon)
- Lunar month
- Bhadrapada
- Observed on
- Purnima tithi preceding the dark fortnight
- Deities
- Departed Ancestors who passed away on Purnima, Lord Vishnu
The story
Classical texts state that while Mahalaya Paksha technically spans the dark fortnight, Bhadrapada Purnima is included to ensure that ancestors who departed on full moon days receive their rightful offerings.
Practices
- Performing midday Tarpan with black sesame and kusha grass
- Offering Pinda Daan to departed grandparents or parents who died on Purnima
- Feeding cows and donating grains to Brahmins
Regional variations
- Observed across all states as the inaugural rite of the ancestral season
Common questions
- Does Pitru Paksha have 15 or 16 days?
- It spans 16 lunar tithis when counting from Bhadrapada Purnima through Sarva Pitru Amavasya.
Types of Pitru Paksha
- Purnima ShraddhaPurnima tithi preceding the dark fortnight
- Pratipada ShraddhaKrishna Pratipada tithi
- Dwitiya ShraddhaKrishna Dwitiya tithi
- Tritiya ShraddhaKrishna Tritiya tithi
- Chaturthi ShraddhaKrishna Chaturthi tithi
- Bharani ShraddhaChaturthi or Panchami coinciding with Bharani Nakshatra
- Panchami ShraddhaAshwin (Purnimanta); Bhadrapada (Amanta)
- Shashthi ShraddhaKrishna Shashthi tithi
- Saptami ShraddhaKrishna Saptami tithi
- Ashtami ShraddhaKrishna Ashtami tithi
- Navami ShraddhaAshwin (Purnimanta); Bhadrapada (Amanta)
- Dashami ShraddhaKrishna Dashami tithi
- Ekadashi ShraddhaKrishna Ekadashi tithi
- Dwadashi ShraddhaAshwin (Purnimanta); Bhadrapada (Amanta)
- Trayodashi ShraddhaAshwin (Purnimanta); Bhadrapada (Amanta)
- Chaturdashi ShraddhaAshwin (Purnimanta); Bhadrapada (Amanta)
- Sarva Pitru AmavasyaAshwin (Purnimanta); Bhadrapada (Amanta)