Shradh 2024: Why Urad Dal And Rice Are Used For Ancestor Worship During Pitru Paksha

Shradh 2024: In Hinduism, ancestor rituals also known as Pitru Puja or Shradh hold immense significance. These rituals honour deceased ancestors, seeking their blessings and protection. Performing Pitru Puja ensures the well-being and prosperity of descendants, while neglected rituals can invite Pitru Dosha, leading to misfortune and hardship. Offerings of food, water, and sesame seeds nourish ancestors' spirits, liberating them from earthly attachments. By honouring ancestors, devotees acknowledge the debt of birth.

During Pitru Paksha, Hindus pay homage to their ancestors through sacred offerings, including Urad Dal and Rice. But what lies behind the selection of these specific grains? Explore the spiritual significance and cultural importance of using Urad Dal and Rice in ancestor worship.

Shradh 2024: Why Urad Dal And Rice Are Used For Ancestor Worship

In Hindu ancestor worship, specifically during Pitru Paksha, Urad Dal and rice hold great spiritual significance. Urad Dal, also known as black gram, symbolises the subtle, spiritual essence of the ancestors. Its small size represents the minute, atomic nature of the soul, while its black colour signifies the unknown, transcendent realm. When offered to ancestors, Urad Dal is believed to nourish their subtle bodies, providing sustenance for their journey. Rice, conversely, represents abundance, fertility, and the cyclical nature of life. Its white colour signifies purity and clarity, while its numerous grains embody the infinite, eternal essence of the ancestors. Together, Urad Dal and rice form a complete offering, bridging the material and spiritual realms.

Ancestor worship honours deceased family members, seeking blessings, protection, and forgiveness, ensuring spiritual growth and familial harmony. (Image Source: Canva) 

The combination of Urad Dal and rice also holds ritualistic importance. In Pitru Puja, these grains are mixed with water and sesame seeds to create an offering called 'Pind Daan'. This mixture represents the union of the five elements: earth (rice), water, fire (sesame seeds), air, and ether (Urad Dal). By offering Pind Daan, devotees acknowledge the ancestral debt, seeking forgiveness and blessings. The ritual is believed to satiate ancestors' hunger, quenched by the subtle essence of Urad Dal and the nourishing qualities of rice. This sacred offering ensures ancestors' peaceful journey, liberating them from earthly attachments and fostering a harmonious relationship between the living and the departed.

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(Disclaimer: This is based on general public information. Jagran English does not confirm its veracity. Before adopting any measures, consult an expert in the relevant field.)