
Learn the divine story of the Tenth Shraddha, a revered observance that carries great spiritual importance, where offerings are made to ensure the well-being and liberation of ancestors' souls.
The story of Shraddha is connected to the Mahabharata era. It revolves around Karna, the eldest son of Devi Kunti, who was well-known for his generosity. Throughout his life, Karna donated wealth, gold, silver, and jewelry to the poor and needy, ensuring no one left his door empty-handed. However, he never offered food (Anna Daan). After Karna’s death, he ascended to heaven, where he was served gold and silver as food. Surprised, Karna asked Lord Indra why he wasn’t given proper food and how he was supposed to eat these items. Lord Indra explained that since Karna had never offered food to his ancestors during his lifetime, he was receiving the same as a meal in heaven. Karna admitted that he lacked knowledge of these rituals and wished to correct his mistake. Indra granted his wish and sent him back to Earth for 15 days to perform Pinddaan and Tarpan for his ancestors. Karna followed the rituals properly, repaying his debt to his forefathers (Pitru Rin). After completing the rituals, Karna returned to heaven, where he attained salvation. It is believed that this marked the beginning of the tradition of Shraddha rituals, which are performed to honor and satisfy one’s ancestors.
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