Offering Pinda at These Four Sacred Places Grants Liberation (Moksha) to the Ancestors
Lokanath Mishra
📍 Shraddha is not merely a religious ritual; it is a sacred expression of reverence, remembrance, and gratitude toward our ancestors. It is a holy period during which we consciously remember our forefathers and pray for peace and elevation of their souls. During this time, rituals such as tarpana (offering of water), pinda-dana (ritual food offering), and charity are performed.
According to the beliefs of Sanatana Dharma, Shraddha performed during the Krishna Paksha of the month of Ashwin directly reaches the ancestors and bestows peace upon them.
📌 Which pilgrimage places in India are considered most sacred for this holy act?
These are the places where Shraddha performed for the ancestors becomes a means of their happiness, fulfillment, and ultimate liberation (moksha).
- Gaya (Bihar)
It is believed that performing Shraddha at Gaya grants liberation to ancestors up to seven generations. The tradition of pinda-dana and tarpana is performed at the Vishnupad Temple situated on the banks of the Phalgu River. It is said that the footprints of Lord Vishnu are enshrined here.
According to mythological belief, Goddess Sita herself offered pinda here for her ancestors. For this reason, Gaya is also known as Mukti Dham (the abode of liberation). Every year during Pitru Paksha, lakhs of devotees visit Gaya to perform Shraddha rituals.
- Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh
The very name Prayagraj brings to mind the sacred confluence (Sangam) of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the invisible Saraswati rivers. The Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh Melas are held here.
Apart from this, the Sangam Ghat is regarded as one of the most auspicious places for performing ancestral Shraddha. Hence, people come here on auspicious dates to take a holy dip in the Ganga and offer pinda for their ancestors.
- Badrinath (Uttarakhand)
Badrinath Dham is not only one of the four Char Dhams but also an extremely sacred place for Shraddha. Near the Badrinath Temple lies Brahma Kapal Ghat. It is believed that Lord Shiva attained liberation here from the sin of Brahma-hatya.
Therefore, devotees consider it highly auspicious to perform the final Shraddha of their ancestors at this place. It is also believed that Shraddha performed here yields results many times greater than even Gaya.
- Puri (Odisha)
Puri Dham is one of the four Char Dhams of India and is home to the grand temple of Lord Jagannath. During Pitru Paksha, there is a strong tradition of performing pinda-dana and Shraddha here.
It is believed that Shraddha performed at Puri guides the soul toward liberation. For this reason, thousands of devotees visit Puri every year during the month of Ashwin.
Additional spiritual tradition:
In Puri, Shraddha is to be performed outside the Jagannath Temple and not inside the sanctum. It is believed that the Pitru Purushas (ancestral souls) cannot enter the temple due to the presence of Yama Shila.
Further Paya Shraddha is traditionally performed during Diwali at Puri. This is a very important Shraddha and it is performed only in Puri.