Pitṛ Pakṣa: Fortnight of the Ancestors

PRITṚU PAKSHẠ

पितृ पक्ष

Artwork: Pinterst

September 17/18 - October 2

Falling during Kṛṣṇa paksha (the second fortnight) of the month of Bhadrapadā (September), beginning on Prātipada (the first day of the fortnight) and culminating with the New Moon (Mahālaya Amāvásyā) in October, Pitṛ Pakṣa is a sacred sixteen-day period dedicated to honoring our ancestors.

This is a profound time to remember our ancestors and reflect on our interdependency with all things — to shine light on our inherited habits, cycles, and reactions as well as the legacy we’re leaving behind with the imprint of our thoughts, words, and deeds, both conscious and unconscious.

Intergenerational healing calls to us now. For some, this may feel like a baptism by fire, inviting a deeper inquiry into ancestral wounds, patterns, and the genetic coding that continues to influence us. We are asked to take responsibility for the cycles that have persisted through our lineage, and to break those patterns that no longer serve us or our descendants.

It is believed that when we honor, nourish, and remember our ancestors during this sacred window, they return to bless us. This is a time to settle ancestral debts and unresolved karmas, clearing the way for longevity, abundance, wisdom, success, and protection.

Artwork: Pinterest

Over the next two weeks, nourish your ancestors both figuratively and literally, as the veil between realms is thin and their blessings are near. The New Moon (Amāvásyā) on October 2nd is the most potent day for ancestral reverence. Spend time attuning your inward flow of awareness towards the legacy you’ve inherited from those who have walked before you.

Traditionally, this period is reserved for deep spiritual practice and honoring our ancestors, rather than initiating new ventures. It is a time for quiet reflection, gratitude, and seeking guidance from those who have come before us. As Ketu, the south node, is linked to our ancestral lineages in Vedic astrology, invoking the blessings of Gaṇeśa can serve as a powerful remedy during this sacred fortnight. Gaṇeśa, the remover of obstacles, harmonizes Ketu’s influence, guiding us through karmic transitions with grace. Some may feel called to create an ancestral altar or offer Tarpana (the ritual feeding of ancestors), particularly on Mahālaya Amāvásyā. During this period, cultivate inner peace and respect, avoiding conflict or anger, as you honor your lineage and connect with the deeper wisdom of your roots.

According to legend, Karṇa, a great hero of the Mahābhārata, ascended to the heavens after his death, only to be offered gold instead of food. When he asked why, he was told that during his life, he had only given wealth to others but never fed his ancestors. To make amends, Karṇa returned to earth for a sixteen-day period to offer Tarpan (ritual offerings) to his ancestors, thus ensuring their nourishment and blessings.

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Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Pūrva Bhādrapadā: The Scorching Pair

FULL MOON LUNAR ECLIPSE

Pūrva Bhādrapadā

Artwork: Pinterest - Chinnamastā

September 17th, 19:35 PM PDT | 18th 4:35 AM Spain

Our last eclipse season of the year commences with a partial lunar eclipse (Candra Grahaṇam - चन्द्र ग्रहणं) on the 17th/18th of September, occurring in the Vedic lunar mansion of Pūrva Bhādrapadā पूर्वभाद्रपदा (Pisces), the Burning Pair.

Pūrva Bhādrapadā is symbolized by metamorphosis, rebirth, tapas (penance), perseverance, and the undifferentiated fire energy that has the capacity to raise our consciousness. This transit requires careful handling, as it is defined by the goals we set for ourselves and our full commitment to them. Eclipses welcome a time outside of time, creating potent moments for accelerated spiritual growth. 

Lunar eclipses are like doorways through which we can peer deeper into ourselves. The veil is thinning now, as if you’re awakening from a deep sleep. That which is ready to be healed is brought to the surface and revealed. Hidden energies are emerging. The impact of a lunar eclipse offers an instant reveal, while the solar eclipse on 10/2 will resonate for months to come, weaving the energetic tapestry that will shape the next six months of our journey—like an omen of the energies ahead.

Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth aligns precisely between the Sun and Moon, casting its shadow upon the lunar surface—a moment where light meets shadow, reflecting profound cosmic shifts. Typically, there are two eclipse seasons per calendar year (on rare occasions, three), each season bringing forth two or sometimes three eclipses. This phenomenon occurs because the Moon’s orbit is tilted relative to the ecliptic plane, crossing it only twice per year.

The points where the Sun and Moon intersect this ecliptic plane, positioned exactly 180 degrees apart, are known as the lunar nodes, or Rāhu and Ketu in Vedic Astrology. These shadowy grahas, often referred to as the 'great awakeners,' govern the eclipses and symbolize the dance between light and darkness within our lives. As the eclipse occurs, we are offered an opportunity to confront our shadows, disrupt old patterns, and awaken to deeper truths within our journey.

Utilize this time wisely, especially on the day of the eclipse—slow down, take a step back, pause, and go deeper than you’ve been willing to go before. Sit with and observe all that moves through you—this is the most important time to see into yourself. In ancient times, many would fast during the eclipse window (9/17, 17:41–21:47 PM PDT) and immerse themselves in a salt bath or the ocean, not only to purify their energies but to decompress the spine, allowing the body and mind to recalibrate.

This is a powerful time for our personal sādhana (practice)—it is said that any mantra or practice taken up during this time offers potency a thousandfold. I will personally be steeping in a simple āsana practice, accompanied by bhrāmarī prāṇāyāma (bumblebee breath—humming while holding the postures), followed by meditation, breathwork, kriya, mantra practices, a fast and an ocean swim once the eclipse is complete.

Symbolized by a male lion, sword and two-faced man representing both duality and transformation. The deity of this nakṣatra (constellation), Aja Ekapāda (one of the eleven Rudras - thundergods or forms of Lord Śiva), holds immense spiritual energy. Aja Ekapāda translates to “one-footed,” representing balance and stability amidst the chaos and duality of existence. It suggests the one-pointed foundation we’re seeking, which provides the ability to remain grounded and centered in the face of life’s upheavals. 

Artwork: Pinterest - Ardhanārīśvara

Holding the energy or power (Yajamana Udyamana Śakti) of elevation through sacrifice, or ‘giving away,’ can refer to offering one’s resources or self in the fire ceremony (the fire of tapas). This alchemical process of metamorphosis arises from balancing duality and achieving transformation through one-pointed spiritual discipline and sacrifice. This cycle is defined by how we manage large amounts of life force energy and our capacity to channel focus into a particular goal that supports inner growth. Another point of learning is cultivating satisfaction with what one already has.

Pay extra attention if you’re running a dasha (cycle) or sub-period of Rāhu, or if you have any planets sitting in Pūrva Bhādrapadā (Pisces)—especially your Moon or rising sign (lagna).

This eclipse is offering momentum and seeks to clear something out. Expect instant exposure to hidden truths and heightened emotions—be kind to yourself, your body and others. Don’t be too direct right now. ‘Not my monkey, not my circus,’ is a personal mantra of mine for eclipse season. Listen to the subtle energies coming forward now. Reassess your habits, patterns, and especially your health routines—take note of any warning signs from your body. 

Stay rested and keep life simple. This is a perfect time to release outdated patterns. Delay travel and public engagements on the day if possible. Postpone major decisions for about a week to allow energies to settle and integrate.

Pūrva Bhādrapadā seeks to bridge heaven and earth and holds the power to elevate through sacrifice. This sacrifice contains the energy to draw down spiritual power through tapasya and into the central channel. This energy rises to melt the hidden moon in our brain, gracing us and raining down blessings. Clarity is on its way.

For more personalized, in-depth guidance on how to navigate these celestial waters, please visit Jyotish Consultations to book a Vedic Astrology Consultation.

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The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance. 

- Alan Watts

Published Article with Millential Magazine: How to Navigate the Spiritual Growth of the Sept. 17/18 2024 Lunar Eclipse

Rādhāṣṭamī

Rādhāṣṭamī

राधाष्टमी

“Krishna Adoring Radha’s Hair”, ca. 1815-20. VMFA. Kangra

Today marks the sacred celebration of Rādhāṣṭamī, observed on the eighth day (āṣṭamī) of the bright fortnight (śukla pakṣa) in the auspicious month of Bhādrapada (Aug-Sept).

Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the eternal consort and beloved of Lord Kṛṣṇa, is the embodiment of unwavering devotion and selfless love (bhakti). She personifies patience, humility, and pure devotion, offering a divine example of love in its highest form. Though she endured the fires of separation from her beloved, Rādhā expected nothing in return for her suffering, never once allowing complaint to cloud her radiant spirit. 

Her love transcends all worldly limitations—an eternal, luminous bond that reflects the soul’s deepest yearning for union with the Divine. To contemplate Rādhā is to unveil the profound mystery of unconditional love that flows without expectation, where the highest act of devotion becomes the offering itself, and union with Kṛṣṇa is the soul’s ultimate fulfillment.

It is said that her birth star was Anurādhā (Sidereal Scorpio), directly opposite Rohiṇī (Taurus), the birth constellation of Kṛṣṇa. Anurādhā, is connected to Saturn (Śani), and holds within it Rādhāna Śakti—the divine power of worship and devotion. This nakṣatra illuminates the sacred connection between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, as its inherent energy channels perseverance, discipline, and devotion, which are also characteristics of Śani’s influence.

Saturn, as the planet of karma and time, often reflects Rādhā's steadfastness in love and devotion. The trials Rādhā endured through separation from Kṛṣṇa resonate deeply with the lessons of Saturn—endurance through hardship, the purification of desires, and the ultimate transcendence of material attachments. Just as Saturn’s slow and deliberate movement teaches patience and resilience, Rādhā’s love is a testament to the soul’s capacity to remain unwavering in devotion, even when faced with immense challenges. Her connection to Saturn symbolizes the transformative power of love that transcends suffering and unites the individual soul with the Divine.

The rituals of Rādhāṣṭamī begin with the ceremonial bathing of Śrī Rādhā’s idol (mūrti) in pañcāmṛta—a sacred blend of milk, ghee, honey, sugar, and yogurt. Following this, she is adorned in new attire and honored through a grand procession alongside Lord Kṛṣṇa. In Braj, her birthplace, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are traditionally dressed in garments made entirely of flowers, and, in a rare and auspicious display, Śrī Rādhā’s feet are uncovered for darśana, allowing devotees to behold them.

Many devotees fast on this day, immersing themselves in recounting the holy names, divine qualities, and pastimes of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. The festival concludes with a sacred feast (prasādam), honoring the divine presence of Rādhā and celebrating her transcendental love.

जय जय श्री राधे