Fourteenth Shraddha Story

In the Garuda Purana, there is a story about Shraddha involving Bhishma Pitamah and Yudhishthir. During their conversation, Bhishma explained the significance of Shraddha during Pitru Paksha (a period dedicated to ancestors). He recounted how Maharishi Nimi first learned about Shraddha from Sage Atri. According to the tale, Nimi was grieving the sudden death of his son and began invoking his ancestors. In response, his ancestors appeared and revealed that Nimi’s son had already taken his place among the ancestral gods (Pitru Devas). They praised Nimi’s offerings and rituals for his son, stating that it resembled performing a sacred Pitru Yajna. This marked the beginning of the tradition of Shraddha. Afterward, Maharishi Nimi began practicing Shraddha rituals, which were later adopted by sages and humanity as a whole. Over time, people started performing Shraddha to ensure the salvation of their ancestors and receive their blessings. Shraddha became an important ritual in Sanatan Dharma.