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Reading, for families working it out.
Many families meet these traditions only when a date is approaching or an elder is no longer there to ask. The Blog explains the terms, rites, sacred places and practical questions in plain language. Customs can vary by family, region and tradition, so use these articles as orientation and ask when something needs personal guidance.
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Ancestors
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Image · Pind Daan
Pind Daan
The Deva Pitrus in Hindu Tradition
When we honor our ancestors, are we only connecting with our recently departed family, or does our lineage stretch into divine, cosmic…
Image · Pind Daan
Pind Daan
The Richika and Satyavati Story of Swapped Offerings
What happens when sacred offerings, meticulously prepared by a powerful sage to bless his lineage with specific qualities, are accidentally swapped? The…
Image · Pitru Loka
Pitru Loka
Pitru Shaap in Hindu Stories: Themes of Duty and Neglect
What dire warnings do the ancient Pitru Shaap stories legends embedded in Hindu Puranas hold about neglecting our ancestors? Is "Pitru Shaap"…
Image · Core Concepts
Core Concepts
Bhagiratha and the Descent of the Ganga: A Traditional Account
How could the actions of one king rewrite the destiny of sixty thousand cursed ancestors, bringing a celestial river down from the…
Image · Core Concepts
Core Concepts
Ancestors in the Markandeya Purana: Traditional Teachings
How can an ancient text, one of the eighteen revered Mahapuranas, hold the key not only to profound personal transformation but also…
Image · Pind Daan
Pind Daan
Why Traditions Say Ancestors Visit During Pitrupaksha
Have you ever wondered why ancestors visit Pitrupaksha, this specific fifteen-day period? Is it merely an age-old belief, or do profound truths…
Image · Pind Daan
Pind Daan
Jaratkaru and His Ancestors: A Story About Lineage
Why is continuing a lineage and performing Shradh rites so deeply emphasized in Hindu tradition, especially during Pitrupaksha? The compelling Jaratkaru ancestors…
Image · Core Concepts
Core Concepts
Yama and Pitriloka in Hindu Tradition
What truly unfolds when our earthly existence concludes? The ancient Yama Pitriloka legends within Hindu lore offer a fascinating glimpse into the…
Image · Pitrupaksha
Pitrupaksha
Who Are the Vishwadevas in Shradh?
Elevate your Shradh beyond mere ancestral remembrance by truly understanding the pivotal role of the Vishwadevas in Shradh! These ten divine sons…Where to start
Three short ways into the same material, depending on what brought you here.
New to all of it
Start with why Gaya
Begin with the story of Gayasura and why Gaya became central to ancestral remembrance.
A date is coming up
When the tithi is unknown
Understand the practical questions families ask when an ancestor’s death tithi is not known.
Who may perform it
Traditions and family questions
Read an orientation to participation questions, then ask for guidance for your own family tradition.
A question of your own
Reading only goes so far.
If the question is about your own family, send it to us and a coordinator will reply personally. An enquiry does not confirm a rite, pandit, place, date or price.
Send an enquiry →