PITṚ PAKṢA
Kangra School, c. 1780
9.26–10.10
Falling during Kṛṣṇa pakṣa (the second fortnight) of Bhadrapadā (Sept), Pitṛ Pakṣa पितृ पक्ष is a sacred sixteen-day period dedicated to honoring our ancestors, beginning on Pratipadā (first day) and culminating with the New Moon (Mahālaya Amāvasyā).
This is a profound time to reflect on our interconnection with all things — to shine light on inherited habits and the legacy we leave through our thoughts, words, and deeds, conscious and unconscious.
Intergenerational healing calls us now, inviting deeper inquiry into ancestral wounds, patterns, and genetic coding. We are asked to take responsibility for cycles that have persisted through our lineage and break those that no longer serve us or our descendants.
It is believed that when we honor and remember our ancestors during this sacred window, they bless us. This is a time to clear ancestral debts and unresolved karmas, paving the way for longevity, abundance, wisdom, and protection.
In Jyotiṣa, Maghā Nakṣatra is presided over by the Pitṛs (Devatā), the ancestral beings who carry the memory and continuity of lineage. The Pitṛs are also the Adhi Devatā of Rāhu, revealing the ancestral current as a profound thread through which we enter into relationship with the manifest world.
Over the next two weeks, nourish your ancestors as the veil between realms is thin, and their blessings are near. The New Moon on 10/10 is the most potent day for ancestral reverence. Spend time attuning inward, reflecting on the legacy inherited from those before you.
Traditionally, this period is reserved for spiritual practice and honoring ancestors, not for new ventures. It is a time for reflection, gratitude, and seeking guidance. Ketu, the south node, is linked to our ancestral lineages, and invoking Gaṇeśa's blessings can be a powerful remedy. Gaṇeśa harmonizes Ketu's influence, guiding us through karmic transitions with grace.
Some may feel called to create an ancestral altar or offer Tarpaṇa (ritual feeding of ancestors), especially on Mahālaya Amāvasyā. Cultivate inner peace and respect, avoiding conflict, as you connect with the wisdom of your roots.
According to legend, Karṇa of the Mahābhārata ascended to the heavens but was offered gold instead of food. He learned that although he had given wealth in life, he hadn't fed his ancestors. To make amends, Karṇa returned to earth for a sixteen-day period to offer Tarpaṇa, ensuring their nourishment and blessings.
All My Relations, Tulsi
ॐ पितृभ्यः स्वधायिभ्यः स्वधा नमः
Oṁ pitṛbhyaḥ svadhāyibhyaḥ svadhā namaḥ