“In Hindu Dharma, it is believed that when the family members of a deceased person perform Pind Daan, the departed soul does not face any difficulty in reaching Pitru Lok (the realm of ancestors). It is also believed that by performing this ritual, the soul is saved from the tortures of hell and attains liberation (moksha). Another belief is that Pind Daan frees the soul from worldly attachments; otherwise, it keeps wandering, bound by desires and illusions”.
Meaning of Pind Daan
The word pind means “round” and daan means “offering without expecting it back.” Hence, offerings made for the liberation of ancestors are called Pind Daan. In this ritual, round balls made of flour are offered. These pinds are prepared by mixing rice, cow’s milk, ghee, sugar, and honey, and are devoted to the ancestors with faith and reverence.
Since in Hinduism every living being is considered important and divine, cows, crows, and even dogs are fed during Pind Daan. The cow (Gau Mata) holds a highly sacred place and is considered a symbol of purity , crow is regarded as a messenger for ancestors, and dogs are believed to be associated with Yama, the god of death.
When is Pind Daan performed?
The 15 days of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) of the month of Bhadrapada are called Pitru Paksha. On these days, people perform Shraddha for their ancestors on their death anniversaries. It is believed that if Shraddha is performed during these days, the offerings directly reach the ancestors.
According to scriptures, after a father’s death, the son must perform Pind Daan for the liberation of the soul. If it is not performed, the father’s soul does not attain peace, and the son remains bound by Pitru Rin (ancestral debt). Thus, scriptures consider it the duty of the son (and also grandsons) to perform this ritual.
Sequence of rituals after death
- On the third day after cremation, rituals are performed called Trapan.
- On the tenth day, the son shaves his head and performs purification rituals.
- On the thirteenth day, a feast is organized.
- After a month and a quarter, further rites are performed, and yearly Shraddha is observed.
- After three years, Pind Daan is performed in Gaya for final liberation.
Holy places for pind daan
There are 55 sacred places in India for Pind Daan, including Haridwar, Ganga Sagar, Jagannath Puri, Kurukshetra, Chitrakoot, Pushkar, and Badrinath. Out of these, three are considered most important:
Brahma Kapal near Badrinath
Narayani Shila in Haridwar
Gaya in Bihar
It is believed that performing Pind Daan in Gaya grants direct moksha to the ancestors. Gaya is considered the land of liberation, the city of Lord Vishnu, who himself resides here in the form of Pitru Devata.
How is Pind Daan performed?
For Shraddh rituals, it is necessary to use items like sesame seeds, rice, kush grass, and water from the Ganga. Ingredients such as black sesame, white cloth, cow’s milk, ghee, barley, and rice are commonly used. When these are offered with devotion, the ancestors are pleased, and peace and prosperity remain in the home.
Step-by-step process of Pind Daan and Tarpan:
First, mix rice flour or barley flour with milk and oil, knead it well, and make small round balls (pinds).
When you go for Tarpan (offering water to ancestors), always use brass utensils or a brass plate. Fill it with clean water.
Add milk and black sesame seeds to this water and place it in front of you.
Keep another empty vessel beside it.
Join both hands together, take water in your palms, chant the name of the deceased with devotion, and slowly pour the water into the empty vessel.
While offering water (Tarpan), also add barley, black sesame seeds, and white flowers. This is believed to give peace to the departed soul.
After this ritual, feed Brahmins and offer them dakshina (donation).
