Pitru Paksha 2023: Who performed Shraddha first and how did this tradition start, know its history

Pitru Paksha is considered very important for the peace of the ancestors' souls. During this time, Shraddha is performed as per the rituals and food is offered to the Brahmins. By this one gets salvation from the ancestors and receives their blessings.

Pitru Paksha has great importance in Hindu religion. Pitru Paksha starting from the full moon day of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month is considered till the new moon day of Krishna Paksha of Ashwini month. During this time, by performing Shraddha of ancestors, their souls get peace and get their blessings. It is believed that performing Shraddha of ancestors of three generations during Pitru Paksha brings peace to their souls. After death, the souls of these three generations remain in Pitru Loka between heaven and earth and come to earth during Pitru Paksha.

This year Pitru Paksha is starting from 29th September i.e. Friday and will continue till 14th October. By now you must have acquired all the information about Pitru Paksha, but do you know who performed Shraddha for the first time and how this tradition started. What is the history of Pitru Paksha, let us know-

Who started Shraddha?

There are differences of opinion regarding when and how the tradition of Shraddha started. However, according to a story in the Anushasana Parva of the Mahabharata, it is believed that Maharishi Nimi was the first to start Shraddha and the advice of Shraddha was given to him by Atri Muni. After Maharishi Nimi, other Maharshi also started performing Shraddha rituals, after which gradually its practice started.

What is mentioned about Shraddha in Ramayana?

There is also a belief that after the Mahabharata war, it was Yudhishthir who performed the Shraddha of all those killed in the war on behalf of the Kauravas and Pandavas. On this, when Shri Krishna asked to perform Shraddha of Karna, Yudhishthir said that he was not from our clan, so how could he perform his Shraddha. On this, Krishna for the first time revealed the secret that Karna is none other than Yudhishthir's elder brother. According to Ramayana, Lord Shri Ram had also performed Shraddha of his father Dashraj.