Varshik Shradh | Varshika Shraddha at Rameswaram
Varshik Shradh, also known as the annual Shraddha, is a Hindu ritual performed on the death anniversary of deceased relative. It's a time to honor and remember ancestors, typically involving offerings and rituals believed to appease their spirits.
Shraddha (श्राद्ध्) is a faithful offering to the departed. Conscious beings in forefathers (Read as: Atma or soul) go to higher realms of existence. We need to remember them and offer our prayers and food to them. Shraddha Karma or Shradh is performed every year on the day of death of the parent as per the Hindu Panchangam date. Hence, this is also called Samvatsarabdika or Varshabdika. Shradh Vidhi is generally performed at home or in Punya Kshetras. This generally referred as the ‘Annual Death Anniversary’ and is also known as Annual Shraddha ceremony. The yearly death anniversary ritual has many names like Mritaanna Shraddha, Mrtanna Samvatsarik Sraddha, Samvatsarik Shraddha (or simply Samvatsarikam) or Paarvana Shraddha. It is addressed as “Srardham or Shrardham” in Tamil. Generally Varshika Shraddha is referred as taddinam (తద్దినమ్) in Telugu. It is in general called as Shraddha Tithi or simply ‘Tithi’. In the North India, this is also called Brahman Bhoj or Brahmana Bhojanam.
Why is Shraddha Performed?
Hindu sanatan dharma prescribes a set of rituals to be followed in life. Shraddha Karma or Shradh Puja are among these.
According to ancient Hindu Shastras, men or women are indebted to three forms of debts knowns as ‘Devaruna’, ‘Rishiruna’ and ‘Pitruruna’. Amongst these ‘runas’, clearing of ‘Pitruruna’ (ancestral debt) is important because we are indebted to parents or ancestors since we get this physical body only through them and we enjoy all material benefits through this body.
Hence, performing Shraddha is said to help us get the Ashirvaadam or benevolence of the departed Pitru Devathas.
Varshika Shraddha / Barsi Ceremony
‘Pitruruna’ can be cleared by performing Varshika Shraddha (known as Barsi Ceremony) or yearly death ceremony which falls on the Thithi, as per the Hindu Panchangam on which the parent deceased. On that particular Chandramaana (lunar calendar) ‘Tithi’, Varshik Shraddha ceremony is carried out.
During this ritual, the Devatas (VASU, RUDRA AND ADITYA) are invoked and Pitrus are reached through them. Pitruruna ceremony and rituals carried by surviving son or sons on the ‘Shraddha Thithi’ is known as Varshika Shraddha.
Carrying out Varshika shraddha in ‘Teertha Kshetras’ (holy places) has been considered highly meritorious as mentioned in Puranas. Important Teertha Kshetras are Gaya-Prayagraj, Gokarna, Hardwar, Kashi (Varanasi), Rameswaram-Sethukarai, Srirangapatna, Trimbakeshwar and many more.
Varshika Shraddha in Rameswaram Kshetra
Rameswaram situated in Tamil Nadu State is also a popular Mukti Sthal for the Hindus performing ancestral rites (ceremonies) like Varshik Shraddh (Barsi shradh), Masik Shraddhas, Mahalaya Amavasya Tarpanams or Mahalaya Pitru Paksha Shradh, Pind daan, Pitru Paksha Shradh at Rameswaram, Pitru-Tarpanam and many other Shradh karmas. Dhanushkodi at Rameshwaram is also a place where Asthi Visarjan (last rites) is performed. Rameswaram is considered a sacred place to perform these rites, with mythology suggesting Lord Rama himself performed them there.
Varshika Shraddha @ Rameswaram
| Packages | Puja Includes |
| Hiranya Shraddh | 2 Brahmins. Without Homam, Ganapati puja, 2 banana leaves with vegetables & groceries Daanam with Dakshina. |
| Shraddha without Homam | 4 Purohits, Ganapati puja, 3 banana leaves with vegetables & groceries Daanam, Pindam and visarjanam |
| Shraddha with 4 Purohits | 4 Purohits, Ganapati puja, 3 banana leaves with vegetables & groceries Daanam, Pindam, Navagraha Homam and visarjanam |
| Shraddha with 8 Purohits | 8 Purohits, Ganapati puja, 3 banana leaves with vegetables & groceries Daanam, Pindam, Navagraha Homam and visarjanam |
Varshik Shradh at Rameswaram-Setukarai
Book and Perform Varshik Shradh at Rameswaram-Setukarai with Vedic and Experienced Pandits, Purohits and Vadhyars from Astropuja in Rameswaram and Sethu Karai Kshetras.
Shradh Vidhi | Important steps in Shraddh
Shraddh performed can be broadly divided into four steps.
- Vishwadeva Sthapana
Devatas – Vasu, Rudra, Aditya and Pitrus are invoked through Mantras with Brahmins. Through the process of consulting a professional priest and all the procedures are performed with materials to perform the ritual. - Feeding of Brahmins
Food is offered to Brahmins in gratitude. - Pind Daan
Food is offered to the Pitrus that has been prepared of rice, barley, cow milk, honey, ghee, sugar and many more. This is either fed to cow or offered in waterbodies like lakes, river or sea. - Tarpanam
Tarpanam or Tarpan is offering water along with sesame seeds, barley, kusha grass and white flours.
Annual Subscription Service
We offer Annual subscription service to have the Varshika Shraddha and Pitru Paksha performed every year in the name of your parent(s) or ancestors in your absence at any of the holy ‘Kshetras’ across India. The ritual will be performed as per ‘Vedic’ practices by one of our qualified purohits along with an offering of food and ‘dakshina’ to eligible brahmins. Contact our customer support for enquiries on this service.
Shradh Places
Astropuja offers many Shradh or Srardham places, Shraddha Bhavan or Pandits for performing Varshika Shraddha at your homes. You can call our Support Team for booking at Shradh places in Metro Cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Cochin, Delhi, Gurugram, Gaya, Gokarna, raneshwaram, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Mysuru, Nashik-Trimbakeshwar, Srirangapatna, Udupi, Vishakhapatnam and many more.