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.
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.
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