Mahalaya Mahimai - English 2015 by Aksharam

Concept

Mrs. Meenakshi Balu, Advocate

LLB,MBA,ML.,

Translation by

Importance of Mahalaya Paksham

Mrs. Kanthalakshmi Chandramouli

Published by

Sri MB Publishers,

“SWARNAGIRI” 47, 7TH Street, Annai Velankanni Nagar, Phase – I Ext., Madanandapuram, Porur, Chennai – 600 116. Phone: 044-26366015, Email: srimbpublishers@gmail.com Website: www.srimbpublishers.com

First Edition: September 2012

For copies contact: 94444 44120 / 044-26366015 For bulk orders: admin@superprintingpress.com

Price: Rs. 80/-

Published by Sri MB Publishers, “SWARNAGIRI” 47, 7th Street, Annai Velankanni Nagar, Phase – I Ext., Madanandapuram, Porur, Chennai – 600 116. Email: srimbpublishers@gmail.com Website: www.srimbpublishers.com

Printed at Super Printing Press, Plot T#349-B, SIDCO Women Industrial Park Vellanoor Panchayat, Kattur Village, Thirumullaivoyal, Chennai – 600 062.

Publisher’s Note

Quest and quench to understand the duties of what is life and how blessed can we be in leading a life with less difficulties is associated deeply in bringing this book many a times, I felt that, my life is much different and unusual from many other ladies, with whom I am associating, for eg. like my staff, my relatives, corporates, modern people with whom I have regular connections. There were many adventures and shocks which I had to overcome right from 13th age of mine few of the stocks were related to “Life, Living, relation and death” thought of understanding life and inevitable death of a perform, came to me when my mother Smt. Lakshmi Giri died all of a sudden. She was in Mumbai and I was Chennai. On the same day, She was supposed to take the train from Mumbai to Chennai for my marriage that was scheduled to be held one and a half months later. My mother’s death, and situations during that time, I faced then is still fresh in my heart till date. The other shocks were when my brother Sri Aiyappan, a very dynamic personality died at a very young age of 38 years, leaving behin his wife and daughter a only. Well, until marriage, the question and understanding of who is karta, what is His role of Amavasya Day etc did not arise at all. This knowledge came to me only because, when I had to accompany my husband E. Balu during his performing the tarpana,, Shraaddham and Mahalayam. However, there were many doubts that was not answered at all and the curiosity arose, mainly because, of being an Advocate and a publisher of bringing primarily spiritual books in Sanskrit- English and in other Indian languages. The books on “Mahalayam” is purely based on our duties, rights conferred on us as per Indian Law’s Hindu

iv § Mahalayapaksha Mahimai

succession Act. The concept visualized was successfully made as a hard copies in Tamil and was released two years before. The concept though conceived by me was actually made in real book form byme was actually made in real book form by Mrs. Kanthalakshmi Chandramouli a famous Novelist, writer of children’s books etc., I thank her for her great support interest, involvement and dedication given to this project.I once again need to thank Kanthalakshmi for her further tireless, undeterred attention and support in translating the same into English. I thank my office team members who have great faith in me an in all my ventures. I am a blessed, by Goddess Karpagambal and Sri Kapaleeswar who is making me sail in running my enterprise till now, and publishing such books praised by spiritual people,in spite of undergoing many difficulties,as a publisher.however my intentions are to bring out user friendly books for a layman to understand ancient scriptures given to us by our Gods,ancestors and our Hindu culture,to follow the sanatana Dharma,and the same is not found in understanding languages and with proper presentation required for modern,westernised life style. I pray unto the Almighty, to help and support me by making me meet, great people in this world from whom I can gain knowledge and wisdom and also make me,bring more such books.i pray to him,the same time to relieve me from all the financial stress which I am undergoing in bringing such spiritual books. I also pray to the Almighty to remove all the difficulties faced by the readers of thish book and make them perform their duties towards their ancestors in the form of vasu Rudra and Aditya.May Guru Vishwaedaevar, the leader the ancestors, relatives and friends reach them to their ward’s

§ v

relative’s and friend’s homes, and Sri Maha Vishnu, to protect the family by showering peace, happiness and prosperity. I request the readers of this book not to copy and infringe, but buy this book. For the profit proceeds of this book is for constructing a Vocational Training school for Disabled and in this institute we shall equip them with skills by which they will become independent and take care of their bread and butter. The training modules include the Art of screen printing techniques for physically challenged and dub and deaf. For blind we shall construct a Music school along with studio set up and a dance school for deaf children. We have conducted various workshops and programs so far under the banner “sri mb charity and educational trust” aiding them and also tapping their hidden talent. In the spiritual sector, I intend to construct a school for learning Sandhyaavandana,, Tarpanam, Mahaalayam and Shraadha Prayogam. The school will be open to all age group who has keen interest in learning this and performing the same at their respective homes. The classes will be on short time certificate course with merit cards which will authorized by Vedic stalwarts and great Gurus who will witness their talent and then approve. This mission cannot get completed unless you all take this mission also as yours and together join hands to make India a better nation than today by striving towards maintaining and observing peace, non violence, rich in culture, maintain equality with equal dignity without prejudice in all standards of life. Publisher Mrs. Meenakshi Balu, LLB,MBA,ML., Advocate “Lokaah Samastaah Sukhino Bhavantu”

Message

When Mrs. Meenakshi Balu (Founder – President, Sri MB Publishers) asked me to translate the Tamil Version of Mahalaya Paksha Mahimai and Pithru Darisanam into English, I was slightly reluctant as it felt like almost reading the book once again, as I had written the original Tamil Version. Meenakshi was insistent and I thank her for the opportunity, As I started writing it was gripping just as much as the original was and I once again applaud her perseverance and trust in Sanatana Dharma. Mahalaya Paksham gives us a Fifteen Days in a year, to pray to our elders and think of their love, sacrifice and affection towards us. If Tarpanam, Shrardham and Dhanam are performed with full devotion the Blessings received from our ancestors are double fold. A great peace descends on us and there is prosperity, upliftment and happiness enveloping our homes. Mrs. Meenakshi Balu, as extraordinary person who insists on getting books published in rare subjects from Hinduism, is very enthusiastic about more and more on publishing such books. May Sri Kapaleeshwara and Sri Karpagambal shower their Blessings on her and on her supporting family. Kanthalakshmi Chandramouli.

Contents 1. The Story of Ganga 3. King Bhageeratha’s Eternal Success 4. Pithrus and Genetics 5. The Human Being and The Debt of Pithrus 6. The Day of The Pithrus 7. Sri Maha Vishnu and The Pithrus 8. The Mahalaya Paksha and The Worship of Pithrus 9. The Role of Dharbai (Dried Grass) and Tharpana 10. The Importance of Mahalaya Paksham 11. Pithru Mandalam – An Abode of Pithrus. 12. The Role of Woman in Mahalaya Paksham 13. Mahalaya Paksham & The Law 14. Our Role in Pithru Karyam 15. Mahalaya Paksha and Its Reasons 16. Dhanam & Dharmam on Mahalaya Paksham Days 17. From Prathama Thithi to Chathurdasi 18. The Effects of 16 Days 19. The Day of Mahalaya Amavasya 20. Prayers to our Pithrus

2. The Curse of Ganga

1 4 8

14 19 24 29 34 40 46 51 60 76 89 96

103

114

124 130 141

1. The Story of Ganga

HE all encomposing Hinduism teaches us to view the Nature and its bounty with a spiritual vision. The mountains are the incarnation of Lord Siva, the rivers are worshiped as female deities, the trees are considered as sacred wood, its leaves, branches and flowers used in each part of a puja or yagna, the animals are the vehicles of Gods [eg. Mooshika, (A Rat) a vehicle of Lord Ganesha; A Peacock – Vehicle of Lord Muruga] the stars are the eternal shining ascetics – Rishis. Thus Hinduism pervades every atom of this universe and each and every thing is worshipped as the sacred creation of God. If some one wants to have a Dharshan of Lord Kailasanatha then they have to undertake the arduous journey of Mt. Kailash at Himalayas. River Ganga gets her birth in the same Himalayas, sometimes crawling like a child, some times bouncing like a woman in fury in the Northern part of India. She came to the earth not only to quench our thirst but also our spiritual quench. Who is Ganga? Where was she born? Who brought her to this earth? What is her Speciality? Why every inch of this earth that she touches, turns out to be a sacred place? The questions are aplenty indeed! In order to get the answers let us open the book of the great epic – ‘The Mahabharatha’.

2 § Mahalayapaksha Mahimai

The sanctity of the Pithrus (The departed ancesters of our family) Tharpanam (A ritual conducted by men on particular days with water, dharbai (a dried grass)