What is the importance of Pind Daan in Shraddha Paksha?

According to Vedic tradition and Hindu beliefs, performing Shraddha with reverence for ancestors is a great task.

According to the belief, the sonship of a son is considered meaningful only when he serves his living parents during his lifetime and after their death, on their death anniversary and Pitru Paksha, proper Shraddha is performed.

From Ashwin Krishna Paksha Pratipada to the new moon day of Ashwin month is called Pitripaksha. According to belief, Pind Daan is an easy and simple path to attain salvation. It is said that Lord Ram and Sitaji also performed Pind Daan in Gaya for the peace of the soul of King Dasharatha.

According to the Acharyas, there is a common belief among the people that only one person from a family is ‘Gaya’. Performing Gaya means performing Shraddha and Pind Daan of ancestors in Gaya. It is written in Garuda Purana that when leaving the house to go to Gaya, each step of the person going becomes a step for the ascension of the ancestors to heaven.

Gaya is considered the city of Vishnu. This is called the land of salvation. It has also been discussed in Vishnu Purana and Vayu Purana. According to Vishnu Purana, by offering Pind Daan in Gaya, ancestors get salvation and go to heaven. It is believed that Lord Vishnu himself is present here in the form of an ancestral deity, hence it is also called ‘Pitru Tirtha’.

According to mythological beliefs and legends, a demon named Gayasur, in the lineage of Bhasmasur, had performed rigorous penance and sought a boon from Brahmaji that his body should become pure like the gods and people would be freed from sins just by seeing him. After receiving this boon, the population of heaven started increasing and everything started happening contrary to the natural law. People started committing sins without any fear and were freed from their sins after seeing Gayasur.

To avoid this, the gods asked Gayasur for a sacred place for the yagya. Gayasur offered his body to the gods for yagya. When Gayasur lay down, his body spread across five kos.
This place of five kos further became Gaya but Gayasur’s desire to free people from their sins did not go away and then he asked for a boon from the Gods that this place should remain the place of salvation for the people. May those who perform Pind Daan here with the desire to offer tarpan to someone, attain salvation. This is the reason why even today people come to Gaya to worship their ancestors and offer Pind Daan.

Not only son but also son and daughter-in-law can perform Shraddha.

Shraddha is performed to express reverence and gratitude towards the ancestors and to remember them. This is respect towards ancestors. It is believed that this also repays the debt to the ancestors. By performing Shraddha, the gods along with the ancestors are satisfied. Astrologer Pt. Narendra Krishna Shastri said that it is often said and heard about Shraddha that only a son can perform Shraddha. But you will be surprised to know that

If there is no son then daughter can also perform Shraddha

Evidence of this is also found in religious texts. Let us know..

1:- Such evidence is found in Valmik Ramayana:-

Daughters can also perform Shraddha rituals. There is an example in this regard in Valmiki Ramayana, during the exile, when Shri Ram along with Lord Lakshman and Mata Sita reached Gayadham to perform Shraddha during Pitru Paksha, he went to the city to get some material for Shraddha. moved towards. At the same time a voice came from the sky that the time for Pind Daan was drawing to a close. With this, Mother Sita saw the soul of Dashrath Ji Maharaj, who was asking her to donate Pind Daan. After this, Mother Sita, taking the Falgu river banyan tree, Ketaki flowers and cow as witnesses, made a ball of sand and offered Pindadan to Shri Dasharatha Ji Maharaj on the banks of Falgu river. Due to this, his soul became happy and went away after blessing Sita ji.

2:- Such mention is found in the verse of Purana:-

Daughters can also perform Shraddha, there is mention in this regard in Garuda Purana also. In this, it has been mentioned in the verses number 11, 12, 13 and 14 who can perform Shraddha.