Among the rituals that must be performed by the fatherless, mahALaya SrAddham/tarpaNam is very important.
When is mahALaya paksham?
When Sun enters kanyA rAsi, the following krshNa paksham (in purattasi) called the mahaLaya paksham is the suitable time for mahALaya SrAddham/tarpaNam.
nitya karmA
After the advent of puraTTAsi krshNa paksham, all the ancestors (pitrs) with an expectation that their descendants will do mahALaya SrAddham or tarpaNam, desirous of consuming the annam (rice) or tilodakam (sesame seeds with water), arrive and settle down on the earth. If the mahALaya SrAddham/tarpaNam is not done in puraTTAsi, they stay over here till the advent of kArttikai waiting in the hope that the rituals will be performed at least in aippasi If they are not observed even in aippasi, they become disillusioned and return back to pitru lokam. So, the dharmas SAstrams categorise this as a nitya karmA, one should not skip this mahALaya SrAddham/tarpaNam; it must necessarily be done. If it is not possible to be observed in the appropriate puraTTAsi krshNa paksham, it has to be performed at least in the aippasi krshNa paksham of. Otherwise, it will result in a maha dOsham.
Why is it called mahALayam?
Since the great people that they are, the pitrs, come down and stay over here for about two months, the earth becomes mahA Alayam (great dwelling place) for the great people (mahAns). Thus, it can be said, according to elders, that the period which makes the earth a great dwelling place - 'mahA-Alayam' - got the term 'mahALayam'.
Two categories
The mahALayam is of two categories, paksha mahALayam and sakrn mahALayam.
- paksha mahALayam is observed for all the 16 days: 15 days of puraTTAsi krshNa paksham and the following day, that is, Sukla paksha prathamai.
This can be observed either by way of ‘anna’ SrAddham or “tila” tarpaNam - sakrn mahALayam observed only once during the paksham (as mahALaya tarpaNam)
the sankalpam should be “sakrn mahAlaya SrAddha-pratinidhi tila tarpaNam karishye”
Do and don’ts
- mahALaya tarpaNam - should not be observed ahead of SrAddham of one’s mother/father, if it falls during that month.
- should not be done before pancamI
- should not be done on tithis like, prathamai, shashTI, ekAdaSI and caturdaSI on Friday, and nakshathirams like revatI, magham, that of self, wife and the eldest son
- can be done from the panchamI of mahALaya paksham till the next panchamI either on the tithi of one’s father’s death, or madhyAshTamI, or dvAdaSI
- can be done on mahA bharaNI. As the tithi that coincides with bharaNI (even if it occurs before panchamI) is considered very auspicious, there is no need to check for tithi, nakshathirams, day, etc. and can be done even if it is a Friday
- day, nakshtram, etc. need not be taken into account in respect of madhyAshTamI
- Those who observe ‘anna’ SrAddham. phalahAram is required on previous night to avoid food
- Those who observe ‘tila’ tarpaNam (like amAvAsyA tarpaNam), phalahAram is not required
- tarpaNam must be done with bhugnams for both the lineages (like amAvAsyA tarpaNam)
(Sources: Ahnika Grantham (in maNipravALam) of HH45 Jeeyar of Sri Ahobila Mutt, translation by Oppiliappan Koil Sri. V. Sadagopan)
Lighting mA-viLakku during mahALayam
On a separate note, the author (Oppiliappan Koil Sri. V. Sadagopan) has clarified that the lighting of purattAsi sanikizhamai mA viLakku during mahALaya paksham can be fitted together. One (mA viLakku) is initiated by the pious ladies of the house, and the other (mahALaya tarpaNam) is performed by appropriate male members.
ThiruvEngadamudayAn is the creator of the universe, including the pitru lOkam, and as such, He is worshipped on all days in general and more in particular on purattAsi Saturdays. A similar view was taken in 2013 by HH Andavan swami.
Though there are no specific pramAnams from kalpa sUthram (manual of Hindu religious practice) on observance of mA viLakku, traditionally, most families observe lighting of mA viLakku either on 1st or 3rd (or 5th if occurs) Saturdays of puraTTAsi, subject to either srivari brahmotsavam or following navarathri brahmotsavam (on certain years where they don't coincide) does not takes place on that Saturday. Where no odd Saturdays are available, it can be observed on any of the other two even Saturdays of puraTTAsi.
Hence, for this year 2024, mA viLakku can be lit either on 21/09/24 or 28/09/24, depending on one's convenience. The other two Saturdays coincide with navarathri-srivari brahmotsavam (Oct 4 to Oct 12) and hence are not suitable to light the mA viLAkku. The reason being, lighting mA viLakku symbolises the arrival of perumal to one's home and during brahmotsavam as the flag being hoisted in dwajasthambam, it is customary not to invite perumal crossing the flag post of thirumala.
Disclaimer: Adiyen has summarised from sources authored by various posts of learned vidwAns on this subject. If there is anything inconsistent with your family practice (aathu vazhakkam), you may seek guidance from your elders or family bruhaspathi (aathu vaadhyAr)
Kshamikka prArthikirEn
dAsan
Ramesh Raghuraman