|| हरी ॐ ||
The fortnight of Pitrupaksha, my young friend, is a period of immense spiritual significance in our Hindu calendar. It is a time dedicated with utmost devotion to honouring and propitiating our ancestors, our revered Pitrs. During these fifteen lunar days, the performance of Shradh ceremonies and other acts of heartfelt reverence are considered paramount for the spiritual welfare and peaceful progress of both the departed souls and their living descendants. These sacred rites are governed by specific injunctions (Vidhi) and prohibitions (Nishedha), meticulously laid down in our Shastras, intended to maintain the highest degree of ritual purity and ensure the efficacy of the offerings made. Among the most commonly observed and scripturally emphasized restrictions is the avoidance of certain foods, including particular grains and pulses Pitrupaksha grain restrictions
The Sacred Period and the Overarching Need for Purity (Shuddhi)
Pitrupaksha is fundamentally about connecting with, remembering, and showing profound respect to our Pitrs. The Puranic texts consistently highlight the importance of conducting rites like Shradh with utmost care, sincerity, and purity. This imperative for purity is not merely external; it encompasses our thoughts, words, actions, and most certainly, the food that is consumed by those performing the rites, the food offered to the invited Brahmins (who represent the Pitrs), and the food ingredients used in offerings like Pinda Daan. The sources emphasize that adherence to prescribed conduct and the scrupulous avoidance of prohibited actions and substances are crucial during these sacred observances.
The Puranic Injunction: Avoiding Specific Grains and Pulses During Pitrupaksha
Our ancient texts, the Puranas, provide clear and often detailed lists of items that are considered unsuitable for use in sacred rituals and for consumption by those observing vows (vratas) or performing rites such as Shradh. Certain grains and pulses are frequently mentioned among these prohibited items, forming a key aspect of Pitrupaksha grain restrictions.
Explicit Prohibitions in the Sacred Texts:
The Puranic excerpts you have studied explicitly name several pulses and grains that should be strictly avoided, particularly in the context of Shradh ceremonies during Pitrupaksha and other pious observances:
- Masoor (Lentil – This is perhaps one of the most consistently prohibited pulses.
- The Markandeya Purana unequivocally states that “lentils” are “forbidden in a Sraddha.”
- The Brahma Purana also lists “Masura” among items whose consumption during Shradh leads to hell and whose offering to Pitrs causes both the giver and the Pitrs to fall into the hell named Puyavaha.
- Similarly, the Skanda Purana lists “Masurika” (a type of pulse similar to or identical with lentil) among “heavy indigestible pulses” to be avoided by a householder undertaking a sacred rite. It also lists “Masura” among “grains and lentils” to be generally avoided by observers of Vratas (vows) and notes that “Masura” is one of the things that should be particularly avoided if uncooked and containing salt. The Skanda Purana further lists “Masura pulse” among items to be avoided in the sacred month liked by Lord Madhava (Vaisakha), and during the austerities of Karttika Vrata.
- Adhaka (A type of pulse, often identified as Toor Dal or Pigeon Pea – Cajanus indicus):
- The Agni Purana lists “adhaka (a kind of pulse)” in the context of food items.
- The Skanda Purana lists “cooked Adhaki (Cajanus Indicus Spreng)” that contains salt among things to be avoided during certain vows. (Note: While Toor dal is commonly consumed, its avoidance might be specific to certain vows or when prepared in particular ways, like with salt during a vow. For Pitrupaksha, local and family traditions guided by priests are important here, though Masoor is more universally restricted).
- Mudga (Green Gram or Mung Bean – Vigna radiata):
- The Agni Purana lists “mudga (a kind of kidney bean/green gram)” among grains generally conducive to vows but also, in another context, lists “Green gram, masura…” among a group of items that could be considered. This suggests nuances based on context or specific rite.
- However, the Skanda Purana suggests eschewing “Mudga (green grams)” during the Caturmasya period for a specific outcome (for the enemy to die), indicating it can be restricted.
- The Markandeya Purana also lists “green gram” among items forbidden in a Shradh. Given this direct prohibition for Shradh in the Markandeya Purana, it’s safer to avoid it or use it with caution based on family tradition.
- Nishpava (A sort of pulse, possibly related to flat beans or specific local beans):
- The Skanda Purana lists “heavy indigestible pulses like Nipava” to be avoided by a householder undertaking a rite. It also lists “Nipiiva” among “grains and lentils” to be generally avoided by observers of Vratas and in the sacred month of Vaisakha.
- Kodrava (Kodo Millet – Paspalum scrobiculatum):
- The Brahma Purana lists “Kodrava” among items whose consumption during Shradh leads to hell.
- The Skanda Purana lists “Kodra1.1a” among “grains and lentils” to be generally avoided by observers of Vratas.
- The Garuda Purana mentions grains of Kodrava as being bile-provoking (pitta-kaari).
- Viprashika Seed:
- The Markandeya Purana states “Viprashika seed” is “forbidden in a Sraddha.” (The exact botanical identity might require scholarly interpretation).
- Kalaya (A variety of Pea, possibly Field Pea – Pisum arvense):
- The Garuda Purana mentions “Kalaya!” and notes it “generates Vayu excessively” (increases the wind element in the body).
- Rajamasha (A variety of beans, often Red Kidney Beans or similar large beans):
- The Skanda Purana suggests eschewing “Rajama~a” during Caturmasya to acquire plenty of wealth, indicating its restriction in sacred periods.
- The Markandeya Purana lists “raja-masha” pulse among general food items but its avoidance during Caturmasya points to caution for similar sacred periods.
- Tuvari (A variety of Dal, often equated with Tur/Toor Dal or specific local variants):
- The Skanda Purana suggests abandoning “Tuvari” during Caturmasya for achieving wisdom, intelligence, strength, and virility, implying its restriction for spiritual observances.
Beyond these specifically named pulses and grains, the Skanda Purana also more broadly lists “small grained pulses” as prohibited for a Brahmana during certain contexts and mentions avoiding “leguminous grains etc.” in the sacred month of Karttika. The Markandeya Purana lists “pulse” in general as forbidden in a Shradh.
Based on these explicit and repeated mentions across various Puranas, the avoidance of pulses like Masoor Dal (Masura), and with strong caution or explicit prohibition for Mudga (Green Gram), Kodrava millet, Nishpava, Kalaya, Rajamasha, and others during Pitrupaksha Shradh and other sacred observances is a direct injunction rooted in scriptural authority.
Understanding the ‘Why’: Purity, Sin, Spiritual Consequences, and Subtle Qualities
The prohibition of these specific grains and pulses during Pitrupaksha is not arbitrary, my children. It is deeply connected to fundamental principles of ritual purity, the avoidance of sin (papa), and the potential for adverse spiritual repercussions if these injunctions are ignored.
- Adherence to Sacred Law (Shastric Vidhi Pālana):
The primary reason for avoiding these items, as consistently indicated in the Puranic sources, is the paramount importance of adhering to the sacred laws and divine commandments prescribed for these rites. The Skanda Purana starkly states that by “doing what is prohibited,” one creates a “loophole” or vulnerability for negative influences like “Kali (strife/dark age personified) and Kala (time/death)” to “strike down that Brāhmaṇa” (the performer of the rite). This strongly implies that the prohibitions are divine decrees, and violating them is fraught with spiritual danger. The avoidance of these items is thus a fundamental act of obedience, faith, and respect for the sacred injunctions governing Pitrupaksha and Shradh. - The Weight of Disregard (Negative Spiritual Consequences):
The consequences of disregarding these dietary rules in the context of Shradh are presented in no uncertain terms, often with grave warnings.- The Brahma Purana issues a stern and unambiguous warning: “If he feeds on things prohibited in Sraddha, he will go to Raurava hell.”
- Even more severe is the consequence of offering these forbidden items to the ancestors themselves: “If he gives these to the Pitrs, he falls along with them in Puyavaha” hell.
- Given these dire potential outcomes, the counsel is clear and emphatic: “by all means, a wise person should not partake of them.”
- The Skanda Purana powerfully reinforces this by stating that if certain things (including specified grains and pulses) are offered in Shradh “flouting the injunctions laid down… it shall be entirely yours,” addressing this statement to Rakshasas (demonic beings). This implies that such improper offerings are claimed by malevolent entities and do not benefit the Pitrs.
Thus, the prohibition of these Pitrupaksha grain restrictions is intrinsically linked to avoiding sin (Papa) and ensuring the spiritual well-being and peaceful progress of both the living descendants and the departed ancestors.
- Considerations of Food Qualities (Subtle Energetic Properties):
While the Puranas primarily emphasize the ritual prohibition and its direct spiritual consequences, some texts, like the Garuda Purana, also touch upon the inherent qualities and physiological effects of these foods according to traditional Ayurvedic principles.- For instance, Masura (lentil) is described as sweet, cooling, astringent, and able to dispel Kapha and Pitta.
- Kalaya (field pea) is noted to have similar properties but “generates Vayu (wind element) excessively.”
- Mudga (green gram) is described as light.
- Masa (black gram) and Rajamasa (kidney bean) are said to dispel Kapha and Pitta, but Masa is also noted as heavy.
- Canaka (chickpea) is said to generate Vayu.
- Adhaki (pigeon pea/toor) is described as dispelling Kapha and Pitta.
- These descriptions suggest an ancient awareness of how different foods interact with the body’s subtle energies and humors (doshas). Foods that are “heavy and indigestible” (as the Skanda Purana describes some prohibited pulses like Nishpava and Masurika) or those that “generate Vayu excessively” might be considered less conducive to the subtle, pure, and calm physical and mental state required for performing sacred rites effectively. Such foods could potentially cause discomfort, lethargy, or mental agitation, thereby distracting the performer and diminishing the sanctity of the ritual. Furthermore, offerings to the Pitrs, who exist in subtle forms, are ideally light, pure, and Sattvic in nature, rather than heavy or Vayu-aggravating.
However, it’s important to note that based solely on the explicit statements in the provided Puranic sources, the direct causal link between these general physiological qualities and the specific reason for the ritual prohibition during Shradh is not always as strongly and directly asserted as the link between the prohibition itself and the resulting sin and hellish consequences. The prohibition is presented foremost as a matter of divine injunction and maintaining ritual purity. The Ayurvedic understanding of their qualities often provides a complementary, subtle rationale.
Beyond Specific Pulses: A Glimpse into Broader Dietary and Ritual Purity During Pitrupaksha
The avoidance of certain pulses and grains is part of a wider, holistic set of dietary and conduct-related restrictions diligently observed during Pitrupaksha and other sacred periods. The Puranas also list various other food items to be avoided, such as onion, garlic, brinjal, pumpkin, bottle-gourd (in some contexts), stale food, food cooked twice, food obtained from certain individuals or sources, and specific types of meat (especially if not consecrated or if prohibited by particular scriptural authorities for specific rites).
Furthermore, the texts enjoin specific behaviors during Shradh, such as avoiding eating again after the Shradh meal for a certain period, refraining from journeys, excessive exertion, coitus, worldly studies (that distract from spiritual focus), quarrels, and daytime sleep. Even seemingly minor actions like not cleaning teeth on certain sacred days or avoiding specific types of vessels (like bell-metal or iron for Shradh food) are meticulously mentioned. These comprehensive rules underscore the holistic nature of ritual purity, encompassing diet, conduct, and mental state, all aimed at creating the most conducive and sacred environment for honouring the Pitrs and adhering to divine will.
Observing Pitrupaksha Grain Restrictions with Reverence and Purity
In essence, the practice of avoiding pulses like Masoor Dal and other prohibited grains and foods during Pitrupaksha, as conveyed by these venerable Puranic sources, is a profound act of faith, spiritual discipline, and unwavering adherence to sacred law. It is rooted in the deep understanding that these substances, for various scriptural and subtle reasons, are deemed unsuitable for the solemn and sacred purpose of honouring our ancestors and engaging in holy rites. Disregarding these injunctions is clearly presented as a serious transgression with significant spiritual consequences for both the performer and the ancestors.
By observing these Pitrupaksha grain restrictions and maintaining purity in all aspects of life during this sacred fortnight, devotees ensure that their offerings are pure, acceptable, and deeply pleasing to the Pitrs. This, in turn, ensures that the rites performed are efficacious, thereby bringing great merit to themselves and ensuring the continued well-being, peace, and spiritual progress of their entire ancestral lineage. It is a humble and beautiful acknowledgment of the spiritual laws that govern the cosmos and our sacred place within it.
May this exploration into the Puranic wisdom deepen your understanding and guide your observance of Pitrupaksha with the utmost reverence, purity, and devotion.
|| हरि ॐ तत् सत् ||