📜 Significance:
Preta Shanti is performed to bring peace to the departed soul (preta atma) and help it move onward to the ancestral realm (pitru loka). It ensures that the soul does not remain trapped in the earthly plane and receives liberation.
Pind Daan is the offering of pindas (rice balls) to nourish the soul in its journey after death. It is a vital part of Hindu after-death rituals and is considered a debt to ancestors (Pitru Runa).
These rituals are essential to avoid ancestral doshas, bring harmony to the family, and ensure the soul’s peaceful transition. In Maharashtra, they are often performed near rivers or holy places like Nashik (Godavari), Trimbakeshwar, or Prayagraj.
🗓️ When It’s Performed:
- Typically performed on the 10th, 11th, 12th, or 13th day after death
- Also done during Pitru Paksha or on the death anniversary (Tithi Shraddha)
- Can be done later if not done earlier (with special vidhi)
🛐 Who Can Perform:
- Eldest son, male relatives, or anyone from the lineage
- In some cases, daughters also perform under guidance
- Must be performed under the direction of an experienced Panditji familiar with Shraaddha and Preta Shanti rites
📦 Puja Samagri (Items Required):
- Barley flour, black sesame seeds (til), kush grass, darbha
- Cooked rice, pindas (rice balls with black sesame and ghee)
- Cow’s milk, honey, curd, ghee (for Panchamrit)
- Kalash (copper pot), mango leaves, coin, sacred thread
- Ganga jal or river water
- Fresh flowers, camphor, diya, incense sticks
- Bhojan (food) for Brahmins and crows (as representatives of ancestors)
🕯️ Main Rituals:
- Sankalp: Invocation of the deceased’s name, gotra, and tithi
- Preta Shanti Puja: Chanting of mantras to pacify the soul
- Pind Daan: Offering of pindas made of rice/sesame to the soul
- Tarpan: Offering water and black til to the departed
- Brahman Bhojan/Daan: Feeding Brahmins and giving dakshina as part of punya
- Shraddha Homa (optional): A havan to purify the environment and assist the soul
- Visarjan: Pinda immersion in flowing water (nadi or kund)
⏳ Duration:
- Full Preta Shanti and Pind Daan process takes 2.5 to 4 hours
- Shraddha + Havan may extend it further depending on rituals chosen
🎁 Spiritual Benefits:
- Grants sadgati (peaceful departure) to the soul
- Prevents disturbances from unsatisfied or wandering spirits
- Brings relief from Pitru Dosh or ancestral imbalances in the family
- Ensures blessings of the ancestors for prosperity, health, and peace
- Maintains dharma and family lineage harmony through sacred obligations
