Pitru Paksha, also known as Shradh, is a significant period in the Hindu calendar dedicated to paying homage to one’s ancestors. During these days, it is believed that our ancestors visit the Earth to bless their descendants. To seek their blessings and show respect, many rituals and remedies are followed. One such powerful remedy is lighting lamps (Deepak) at specific places in the house. By doing this, you not only receive blessings from your ancestors (Pitrus) but also please Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Here is a detailed guide on where and why you should light lamps during Pitru Paksha 2024:
1. Tulsi Plant
Lighting a lamp near the Tulsi plant is one of the most revered rituals during Pitru Paksha. Tulsi is considered sacred in Hinduism, and it is believed that it helps in connecting with the divine. By lighting a lamp near the Tulsi plant daily during this period, you are not only invoking the blessings of your ancestors but also creating a divine atmosphere in your home. The positive energy emitted by the Tulsi plant, combined with the light of the lamp, is believed to bring peace to the departed souls. Moreover, it attracts the grace of Goddess Lakshmi, bringing prosperity and happiness to the household.
2. Main Door (Entrance of the House)
The main entrance of your house is where energies, both positive and negative, enter your home. Lighting a lamp at the main door is a way of welcoming positivity and keeping away any negative influences that may harm the peace of your home. During Pitru Paksha, it is especially important to light a lamp at the entrance to invite the blessings of your ancestors into your home. It is believed that this ritual ensures that the ancestors enter your home happily and bestow their blessings upon the family. Along with this, Goddess Lakshmi is also pleased, bringing fortune and wealth to the household.
3. Pooja Room (Home Altar)
The pooja room, or home altar, is the most sacred space in any Hindu household. This is where the divine energies of the gods and ancestors converge. Lighting a lamp in the pooja room during Pitru Paksha is believed to strengthen the connection with the departed souls and ensure their blessings reach the family. This ritual also helps to keep the divine light alive in your home, ensuring the presence of Goddess Lakshmi. By offering this light, you ensure peace, harmony, and divine grace for your family members.
4. Peepal Tree
In Hindu tradition, the Peepal tree is considered sacred, often associated with Lord Vishnu and the ancestors. Lighting a lamp under a Peepal tree during Pitru Paksha is a highly auspicious practice. It is believed that the souls of the ancestors reside in the Peepal tree, and by offering light, you bring them peace and satisfaction. Additionally, this act pleases Goddess Lakshmi, who bestows her blessings of wealth and abundance upon the household. The light under the Peepal tree is also said to remove ancestral doshas (curses) and ensure happiness and prosperity in the family.
5. Near a Water Source (Well, Pond, or River)
Water has always been a symbol of life and purification in Hindu culture. Lighting a lamp near a water source during Pitru Paksha has a profound meaning. It signifies the flow of life and the continuity of blessings from the ancestors. By lighting a lamp near a well, pond, or any water source, you ensure that the ancestors’ souls are at peace, and in return, they bless the family with good fortune. Additionally, this ritual is believed to remove any ancestral debts or doshas that may be affecting the family. It also pleases Goddess Lakshmi, who ensures the continuous flow of wealth and prosperity.
Importance of Lighting Lamps During Pitru Paksha
The act of lighting a lamp (Deepak) during Pitru Paksha is symbolic of dispelling darkness and ignorance. It brings clarity, peace, and positive energy to the household. Ancestors are believed to visit their descendants during this time, and offering them light ensures they are pleased and content. Along with the ancestors, Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is also pleased by this act of devotion, ensuring that your home is always filled with prosperity and happiness.
How to Perform the Ritual:
Choose the Right Lamp: Use a clay lamp (diya) filled with ghee or sesame oil for this ritual. Ghee lamps are considered very auspicious and have a higher spiritual significance.
Recite Prayers: While lighting the lamp, chant prayers for the peace of your ancestors’ souls and invoke Goddess Lakshmi’s blessings.
Offer Flowers and Sweets: Along with the light, offer flowers and sweets to the ancestors and Goddess Lakshmi to please them further.
Perform the Ritual Daily: It is important to light the lamps at the specified locations every day during Pitru Paksha to ensure continuous blessings.
By following these remedies and lighting lamps at the five key places during Pitru Paksha, you can seek the blessings of your ancestors, remove ancestral doshas, and invite prosperity and peace into your home. This ritual not only honors the departed souls but also brings divine grace from Goddess Lakshmi.