उदीरतामवर उत्परास उन्मध्यमाः पितरः सोम्यासः।
Rigveda 10.15.1 — Pitru Sukta"May they ascend — the lowest, highest, midmost — the Fathers who deserve a share of Soma."Your ancestors are waiting. Call them. They will come.
The Sacred Debt — Pitru Rin
You are not merely performing a ritual. You are repaying a debt that exists before your birth.
जायमानो वै ब्राह्मणस्त्रिभिर्ऋणवा जायते।
Taittiriya Samhita 6.3.10.5"A Brahmana is born with a threefold debt — to the gods, to the sages, and to the ancestors (Pitru Rin)."This is not optional. This is your birthright — and your responsibility.
Why Shraddha Works
श्रुते: प्रत्यक्षत: प्रामाण्यं बलवत्तरम्।
Garuda Purana, Preta Kanda, Ch. 10, V. 11"The authority of Shruti is more powerful than direct perception. The food served in Shraddha turns into nectar for the departed souls."You cannot see the offering being received. But the Shruti says it is. Trust the scripture.
नामगोत्रं पितृणां वै प्रापकं हव्यकव्ययोः।
Garuda Purana, Preta Kanda, Ch. 10, V. 12"By their names and gotras, the manes receive the offering made by their relatives."When you say your father's name — Lal Bahadur Moktan — he hears it. This is transmission.
अस्माभिरक्षयं श्राद्धं तद्भविष्यत्यसंशयम्।
Garuda Purana 1.89.73"The Shraddha performed by us will become inexhaustible — of this there is no doubt."Your Shraddha does not end when the ritual ends. It becomes inexhaustible.
Origin of Pinda Daan
भगवान् महावराहने जो प्राचीन कालमें पिण्डोंकी उत्पत्ति करके पिण्डदानकी मर्यादा चलायी।
Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, Adhyaya 349, Shloka 26"The Blessed Lord, the Great Boar, brought forth the origin of the pindas and established the ordinance of pinda-offerings."Lord Varaha Himself instituted Pinda Daan.
The Oldest Ancestor Hymn
उदीरतामवर उत्परास उन्मध्यमाः पितरः सोम्यासः।
Rigveda 10.15.1 — Pitru Sukta"May they ascend — the lowest, highest, midmost — the Fathers who deserve a share of Soma."This is the oldest prayer to the ancestors in human history.
The Promise of the Ancestors
"Those of our descendants shall follow a righteous path who shall reverently present us with cakes at Gaya."
Vishnu Purana, Book 3, Chapter 16 — The Song of the PitrisYour ancestors sing this song across time. You are the descendant they hoped for.
पितरः पूर्वदेवा हि निर्वैरा नित्यपावनाः।
Manusmriti 3.192"The Pitris are the foremost gods, free from anger, ever intent on purity."Your ancestors are not angry spirits. They are gods — waiting to bless you.
What They Give in Return
The ancestors of men being thus satisfied, give longevity, progeny, wealth, learning, heaven, emancipation, pleasures and even a kingdom to the offerer of Shraddha.
Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva, Chapter 89You offer a rice ball. They give you life, children, wealth, wisdom, liberation.
Dates — Columbia, SC 2026
Event
Date
Pitru Paksha begins
Sat, Sep 26
Sarva Pitri Amavasya
Sat, Oct 10
Amavasya Tithi
Event
Time (EDT)
Tithi Begins
Fri, Oct 9, 9:35 PM
Tithi Ends
Sat, Oct 10, 9:19 PM
New Moon Moment
Sat, Oct 10, 11:50 AM
Most Important Day: Sarva Pitri Amavasya is for ALL ancestors collectively.
— Agni Purana, Drik Panchang
My Ancestral Lineage
Paternal Line — पितृ कुल
Lal Bahadur MoktanFather • पिता
Father: Jung Bir Moktan
Mother: Maya Moktan
Grandfather: Dhan Bir Moktan
Spouse: Sharada Moktan
Death: April 9, 2021 (२०७७-१२-२७ B.S.)
Annual Tithi: Chaitra Krishna Trayodashi
Jung Bir MoktanGrandfather
Remembered within: Known & unknown ancestors
Maya MoktanGrandmother
Remembered within: Known & unknown ancestors
Dhan Bir MoktanGreat-Grandfather
Certificate spelling: Dhan Birf Moktan
Remembered within: Known & unknown ancestors
Maternal Line — मातृ कुल
Sharada Poudyal MoktanMother • माता
Father: Bed Byas Poudyal
Grandfather: Komal Krishna Poudyal
Spouse: Lal Bahadur Moktan
Death: Dec 5, 2013 (२०७०-०८-२० B.S.), age 63
Annual Tithi: Margashirsha Shukla Tritiya
Bed Byas PoudyalMaternal Grandfather
Certificate spelling: Bed Byasi Poudyal
Remembered within: Known & unknown ancestors
Komal Krishna PoudyalMaternal Great-Grandfather
Remembered within: Known & unknown ancestors
Brother — भ्राता
Binod MoktanBrother
Relation: Son of Lal Bahadur Moktan
Remembered within: Known & unknown ancestors
No separate tithi. Remembered within the universal invocation.
All Other Souls — सर्वे पितरः
All relatives, friends, teachers, neighbours, and unknown ancestors are remembered under the universal invocation.
Daily Morning Ritual — 9 Steps
About 15–20 minutes. Face South throughout.
1
Cleanse Yourself
Bathe, or wash hands, face, and feet. Wear clean clothes. Remove shoes before sitting.
2
Sit Facing South
Place the diya in front of you, slightly to the South. Keep the water vessel on your right.
3
Light the Diya
Light with ghee or til oil. Sit quietly for 30 seconds and bring to mind all departed souls.
4
Achamana
30 sec
Take three sips of water from your right palm:
ॐ केशवाय नमः। ॐ नारायणाय नमः। ॐ माधवाय नमः।
Om Keśavāya Namaḥ. Om Nārāyaṇāya Namaḥ. Om Mādhavāya Namaḥ.
Salutations to Keshava, Narayana, and Madhava.
5
Sankalpa — The Vow
1 min
Hold rice grains and black sesame in your right palm:
ॐ अद्य पितृपक्षे, अहं बिकाश मोक्तान,
मम पूज्य पिता लाल बहादुर मोक्तान तथा
मम पूज्य माता शारदा मोक्तान —
तथा मम पितृकुल-मातृकुलका समस्त ज्ञात-अज्ञात पूर्वजहरूको
अक्षय तृप्ति, शान्ति र मोक्षार्थम्
इदम् तर्पणं करिष्ये।
"Today, during Pitru Paksha, I, Bikash Moktan, perform this tarpan for my father Lal Bahadur Moktan and my mother Sharada Moktan, and for all known and unknown ancestors — for their eternal satisfaction, peace, and liberation."
6
Universal Tarpan
2 min
Offer sesame water to the ground facing South, three times:
Om Pitṛkulāya Mātṛkulāya Cha Sarvebhyo Jñāta-Ajñāta Pitṛbhyo Namaḥ Svadhā. Om Tṛpyantu Mama Pūrvajāḥ. Om Sarve Pitaraḥ Tṛpyantu.
9
Silent Remembrance
2 min
Sit silently. Offer a flower. Fold your hands, bow. Let the diya burn out.
What Is a Muhurta?
A muhurta (मुहूर्त) is a specific window of time within the day that the Vedic tradition considers especially auspicious for a particular action. Each day is divided into many muhurtas, and each one has its own quality, ruling deity, and best use.
For ancestral rites, three muhurtas on Sarva Pitri Amavasya are traditionally used. Below is what each one means and why it is used.
Final Day Muhurtas — Columbia, SC
Kutup Muhurta
11:45 AM – 12:31 PM
Meaning: "Kutup" refers to the moment approaching midday — the high point of the sun's journey. This window is considered the most auspicious for sankalpa (the formal vow) because the mind is clearest and the sun's energy is at its peak.
Use it for: Lighting the diya, taking the Sankalpa vow, and beginning the ritual. This is the moment to declare what you are about to do.
Rohiṇa Muhurta
12:31 PM – 1:18 PM
Meaning: Named after the star Rohini — the most beloved of the 27 nakshatras, associated with growth, nourishment, and the divine mother. Rohini is considered the best nakshatra for offerings to ancestors because it carries the energy of nurturing.
Use it for: The main Tarpan — offering water with sesame seeds to all ancestors. The Rohini energy ensures the offering reaches them.
Aparāhṇa Kāla
1:18 PM – 3:37 PM
Meaning: "Aparāhṇa" means afternoon — the period after midday but before evening. In Vedic ritual, this is the second-most sacred time of day, and it is specifically assigned to pinda daan (rice ball offerings). The afternoon is when the ancestors are said to come closest.
Use it for: Pinda Daan (rice balls) and Panchabali (five offerings). Do not do pinda daan before noon.
Other Important Timings
Amavasya Tithi Begins
Fri, 9:35 PM EDT
Meaning: The exact moment when the Amavasya tithi (new moon day) begins. This is when the ancestral realm is said to open.
New Moon Moment
Sat, 11:50 AM EDT
Meaning: The exact astronomical moment when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. This is called the "New Moon."
Why it happens during the day: The New Moon is not a nighttime event. Because the Moon is lined up between Earth and Sun, it rises with the Sun and sets with the Sun — so it is overhead during the day. Its Earth-facing side is completely unlit, so we see a "dark moon." It is invisible not because it is gone, but because it is unlit and lost in the Sun's glare. When the alignment is perfect, we get a solar eclipse. The New Moon moment marks the exact center of Amavasya.
Sunset
~6:57 PM EDT
Meaning: The end of the daylight period. After sunset, ancestral rituals should not be performed — the Manusmriti states the night belongs to other forces.
Important: Complete all Shraddha, Tarpan, and Pinda Daan before sunset.
Amavasya Tithi Ends
Sat, 9:19 PM EDT
Meaning: The tithi concludes. Any ritual started within the tithi must be finished before this moment. Beyond this, the day is over for ancestral work.
Rule of thumb: Start at Kutup (11:45 AM), do Tarpan at Rohini (12:31 PM), do Pinda Daan and Panchabali in Aparāhṇa (1:18–3:37 PM). Finish everything before sunset.
Why Muhurtas Matter
The Vedic tradition holds that time is not uniform. Each moment has a quality. Performing an action in the right muhurta is like planting a seed in fertile soil — the same seed in the wrong soil may not grow. The muhurta is not superstition; it is alignment with the rhythm of nature.
Sarva Pitri Amavasya
Saturday, October 10, 2026 • Most important day
This day is for everyone. If the death tithi of any deceased person is unknown, their Shraddha can be performed today.
— Agni Purana
Timings — Columbia, SC
Window
Time (EDT)
Amavasya Begins
Fri, 9:35 PM
Kutup Muhurta
11:45 AM – 12:31 PM
Rohina Muhurta
12:31 PM – 1:18 PM
Aparahna Kala
1:18 PM – 3:37 PM
Sunset
~6:57 PM
Amavasya Ends
Sat, 9:19 PM
Need detail? See the Muhurtas section on the Home screen for a full explanation of each window.
Step-by-Step
1
Morning Preparation
Before 11:45 AM
Prepare Pindas (3 rice balls)
1 cup cooked rice + 1 tbsp black sesame + 1 tsp honey + 1 tsp ghee
Roll into walnut-sized balls
One for Father, one for Mother, one collective
Prepare Panchabali (5 portions)
Divide cooked rice or flour into 5 small portions — one for each recipient you have chosen.
Prepare Tarpan Water
Clean water + 1 tsp black sesame seeds.
2
Light Diya & Achamana
~11:45 AM
ॐ केशवाय नमः। ॐ नारायणाय नमः। ॐ माधवाय नमः।
3
Sankalpa
~11:50 AM
ॐ विष्णुर्विष्णुर्विष्णुः।
अद्य आश्विन मासे कृष्ण पक्षे अमावास्यायां तिथौ, कोलम्बिया, दक्षिण कैरोलिना नगरे,
मया बिकाश मोक्तान—
मम पूज्य पिता लाल बहादुर मोक्तान,
मम पूज्य माता शारदा मोक्तान,
तथा मम पितृकुल-मातृकुलका समस्त ज्ञात-अज्ञात पूर्वजहरूको
अक्षय तृप्ति, शान्ति र मोक्षार्थम्
इदम् तर्पणं श्राद्धं पिण्डदानं च अहं करिष्ये।
"Today, in Columbia, South Carolina, I, Bikash Moktan, perform this Tarpan, Shraddha, and Pinda Daan for my father Lal Bahadur Moktan, my mother Sharada Moktan, and all known and unknown ancestors — for their eternal satisfaction, peace, and liberation."
Anushasana Parva, Ch. 89Ancestors give longevity, progeny, wealth, learning, liberation.
Vishnu Purana
Book 3, Chapter 16The Song of the Pitris.
Manusmriti
3.192"The Pitris are the foremost gods, free from anger, ever intent on purity."
Agni Purana
Ch. 209Importance of Shraddha on each tithi.
TraditionalOfferings for all — known and unknown, those who died without sons.
A Final Word
The scriptures say the ancestors are free from anger, ever intent on purity, supremely blessed (Manusmriti 3.192). They are not waiting to punish you. They are waiting to bless you.
You offer a rice ball. They give you life, children, wealth, wisdom, and liberation.
You are the bridge. Between your father and his father. Between the ancient Rigvedic rishis and the generations yet to come.