Thirteenth Shraddha Story
image
downloadDownload
shareShare
ShareWhatsApp

Thirteenth Shraddha Story

Learn the divine story of the Thirteenth Shraddha, an observance dedicated to performing rites for the departed souls, ensuring their peaceful journey and spiritual fulfillment.

Thirteenth Shraddha Story

The tradition of Shraddha dates back to the Mahabharata era and has been practiced ever since for the salvation of ancestors. According to the tale, when Karna, the noble and charitable warrior, passed away, his soul reached heaven. Feeling hungry, he was served gold and silver as food. Surprised, Karna asked how such items could be consumed. Lord Indra explained that during his life, Karna had generously donated gold and silver to those in need but had never offered food (Anna Daan), which is essential to repay the debt owed to ancestors (Pitru Rin). Karna admitted that he was unaware of this responsibility, which left him unable to clear this debt. To rectify his mistake, Karna pleaded with Indra, who granted him 15 days on Earth. During this time, Karna performed rituals like Tarpan and provided food offerings to his ancestors. After completing these rites, Karna returned to heaven and attained salvation. It is believed that this marked the beginning of the Shraddha tradition, which has been carried on ever since.

divider
Published by Sri Mandir·April 29, 2025

Did you like this article?

srimandir-logo

Sri Mandir has brought religious services to the masses in India by connecting devotees, pundits, and temples. Partnering with over 50 renowned temples, we provide exclusive pujas and offerings services performed by expert pandits and share videos of the completed puja rituals.

Address:
Firstprinciple AppsForBharat Private Limited 435, 1st Floor 17th Cross, 19th Main Rd, above Axis Bank, Sector 4, HSR Layout, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560102
Play StoreApp Store

Follow us on

facebookinstagramtwitterwhatsapp

© 2025 SriMandir, Inc. All rights reserved.