Pitripaksha, Pitri-paksha, Pitṛpakṣa: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Pitripaksha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Pitṛpakṣa can be transliterated into English as Pitrpaksa or Pitripaksha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismPitru Paksha is a 16–lunar day period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors (Pitrs), especially through food offerings. The period is also known as Pitru Pakshya, Pitri Pokkho, Sola Shraddha ("sixteen shraddhas"), Kanagat, Jitiya, Mahalaya Paksha and Apara paksha.
According to Hinduism, the souls of three preceding generations of one's ancestor reside in Pitru–loka, a realm between heaven and earth. This realm is governed by Yama, the god of death, who takes the soul of a dying man from earth to Pitru–loka. When a person of the next generation dies, the first generation shifts to heaven and unites with God, so Shraddha offerings are not given. Thus, only the three generations in Pitru–loka are given Shraddha rites, in which Yama plays a significant role.
Garuda Purana: The performance of Shraddha by a son during Pitru Paksha is regarded as compulsory by Hindus, to ensure that the soul of the ancestor goes to heaven. In this context, the scripture Garuda Purana says, "there is no salvation for a man without a son".
Etymology: Pitru Paksha (Sanskrit: पितृ पक्ष), also spelt as Pitr paksha or Pitri paksha, (literally "fortnight of the ancestors")
In Buddhism
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Worldwide Dharma Community: BuddhismPitṛ Pakṣa is a 2 week period, starting after the full moon of the month Bhadrapada. Our first debt as dharma practitioners is to our ancestors. This is because they have given us the greatest gift, which is the auspicious human birth we are currently enjoying. Many sacred texts begin with a reminder to the practitioner of this fact. By observing this time of remembrance and offering, we can connect deeper to our real situation as an expression of our ancestors immortal presence through our own life. During this fortnight, our ancestors are remembered and honored with the offerings of Tarpaṇa (offering of water) and feeding those in need, strangers, and other practitioners of the dharma in the name of our deceased ancestors.
This fortnight culminates with the ceremony of Gaya Śrāddha (October 5th) on which a universal offering is made to benefit all beings and also to make a specific offering of peace and contentment to all those who died without any funeral rights, or those who died in tragic circumstances. For this ceremony, offerings of Piṇḍas (balls of rice flower, honey, and black sesame seeds) are made for the various beings who have suffered and again the feeding others is of utmost importance.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarypitṛpakṣa (पितृपक्ष).—m (S) corruptly pitṛpākha m pitṛpāṭa or ṭha m The fortnight of the waning moon of bhādrapada, the period appointed for Shraddha to the manes of male ancestors.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishpitṛpakṣa (पितृपक्ष).—m corruptly pitṛpākha m The fort- night of the waning moon of bhādrapada Period appointed for Shra'ddh to the manes of male ancestors.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryPitṛpakṣa (पितृपक्ष).—
1) the paternal side, paternal relationship.
2) a relative by the father's side.
3) 'the fortnight of the Manes'; Name of the dark half of Bhādrapada which is particularly appointed for the celebration of obsequial rites to the Manes.
Derivable forms: pitṛpakṣaḥ (पितृपक्षः).
Pitṛpakṣa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms pitṛ and pakṣa (पक्ष).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPitṛpakṣa (पितृपक्ष).—m.
(-kṣaḥ) 1. The paternal side. 2. The second half of the month of Bhadrapada peculiarly appointed for the celebration of obsequial rites to the manes.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Pitṛpakṣa (पितृपक्ष):—[=pitṛ-pakṣa] [from pitṛ] m. the half month of the P°s, Name of the dark half in the Gauṇa Āśvina (particularly dedicated to the performance of the Śrāddha ceremonies), [Religious Thought and Life in India 388]
2) [v.s. ...] the paternal side or party or relationship, [Mahābhārata]
3) [v.s. ...] [plural] the fathers or ancestors, [Harivaṃśa]
4) [v.s. ...] mfn. being on the f°’s side, [Manvarthamuktāvalī, kullūka bhaṭṭa’s Commentary on manu-smṛti on Manu-smṛti ii, 32.]
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusPitṛpakṣa (ಪಿತೃಪಕ್ಷ):—
1) [noun] collectively, one’s paternal relations.
2) [noun] the second fortnight (from the day next to the full moonday to the new moon day) of Bhādrapada, the sixth month in the Hindu lunar calendar.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Pitri, Paksha.
Full-text: Pretapaksha, Pitarapaksha, Paksharambha, Mahalavada.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Pitripaksha, Pitṛ-pakṣa, Pitr-paksa, Pitri-paksha, Pitṛpakṣa, Pitrpaksa; (plurals include: Pitripakshas, pakṣas, paksas, pakshas, Pitṛpakṣas, Pitrpaksas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 3.273 < [Section XXI - Relative Merits of the Offering-Materials]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 31 - Greatness of Raktānubandha < [Section 3 - Arbuda-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 19 - Greatness of Pitṛkūpikā Tīrtha < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 222 - Decision Regarding Caturdaśī Śrāddha < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 118 - Śiva Answers Kārtikeya’s Queries < [Section 6 - Uttara-Khaṇḍa (Concluding Section)]
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