Determination of Lunar Days

...with a single rice-ball Pindaa ritual ball made of cooked rice and sesame seeds offered to ancestors. Even when kings have taken up [this duty], it must be performed. Also, in the Agni Purana: During the Anvashtaka rites rituals performed on the days following the eighth day of the dark fortnight and in times of prosperity, or at the holy site of Gaya, the offerings result in inexhaustible merit. Here, the maternal ancestral rite Matru-Shraddha is referred to by the name Tapta literally "heated" or "ardent," likely referring to a specific intensity of the ritual, according to local custom.

Now, according to Hemadri a famous 13th-century scholar of ritual law, the rite of sapindana Sapindakathe ritual that transitions a deceased soul from a 'ghost' (preta) to an 'ancestor' (pitru) must be performed for the deceased. Regarding the mother’s ancestral rite, one should feed the Brahmins; it is stated by the sage Shatatapa that the offerings should be given to women whose husbands are still living Suvasinis. For a renunciant Sannyasia person who has renounced worldly life to seek spiritual liberation, the son should perform the annual rites according to the rules. During the Great Forefather Fortnight Mahalaya, the rite for a sannyasi should be performed on the twelfth lunar day original: "Dvadashyam" in the communal style Parvana.

Regarding the Rite on Magha Trayodashi

Now, the ancestral rite on the 13th day in the Magha constellation:
First, this should be performed in the fifth fortnight after the full moon of the month of Ashadha usually falling in late September, during the specific astronomical alignment known as the "Elephant's Shadow" Gajachhayaa rare and highly auspicious alignment of the sun, moon, and certain constellations thought to provide immense merit to ancestors. When the Magha constellation falls on the 13th lunar day, the rite should be performed with honey and milk-rice original: "Payasena".

Currently, there is a question: Should the rite for deceased sannyasi parents be performed separately by the sons? The right to perform these separately exists only during the Magha constellation; otherwise, there is no right to separate rites without specific cause. According to the text Prithvi Chandrodaya, this rule also applies to sannyasis. However, on this 13th day, one should not offer the funeral rice-ball Pinda-nirvapana for the father specifically if the son has living offspring. It is stated in the Nagara Khanda a section of the Skanda Purana quoted in Hemadri: "The rite on Magha Trayodashi is prescribed for those without sons. If a man with sons performs it, his lineage will perish."

Rama 12

Regarding the fourteenth lunar day Chaturdashi: On the twelfth day, the soul is released. For those who were killed by weapons or died a violent death original: "Vishannanam", or even for sannyasis who died at home, the ancestral rite is performed specifically on the fourteenth day of the ghost-fortnight Preta-paksha. This offering to the ancestors becomes inexhaustible.

Among these twelve [days], one should not worry about the specific lunar day, the constellation, or the day of the week. According to the Nirnaya Deepika: "Even on the specific anniversary of the father's death, the Mahalaya rite should be performed." From the time the Sun enters the sign of Virgo original: "Kanya" in the fifth fortnight after Ashadha, as long as the Sun stays there, the ancestors remain satisfied for the whole year. As the text Nagara Khanda says: "The lunar day that occurs on the death anniversary should be honored with effort during the Fortnight of the Ancestors." According to Yajnavalkya an ancient sage and lawgiver, one should avoid the 14th day, except for those killed by weapons. This refers to the rules for the fortnight starting from the ninth day.

Regarding the prohibition mentioned before: if the anniversary rite is missed, or for those who died on the full moon, it is stated in the Smrityarthasara: One should not perform the rice-ball offering Pinda-dana or the ritual bath during the first half of the day of certain eclipses or lunar transitions. However, there is an exception according to the sage Brihaspati: Even during the year of mourning for the deceased, one may perform the ancestral sacrifice during Mahalaya, specifically between the constellations of Mrigashirsha and Bharani. At the site of Gaya, or on the anniversary of the parents' death, the rice-ball offering Pinda-nirvapana should always be performed after giving charity.

For sannyasis, the rite is specifically enjoined on the twelfth day Dvadashi. Even if one only has vegetables original: "shakena" to offer, it must be done. This is particularly for those in the third and fourth stages of life—ascetics Yatis, forest-dwellers Vanaprasthas, and celibate students Brahmacharis.

Until the Sun moves from Virgo to Libra, the path to the city of the dead remains open for the ancestors to return. Once the Sun enters Scorpio, the ancestors, along with the gods, sigh in disappointment and return to their realm, leaving behind a terrible curse if they were not honored. Therefore, this rite should be performed with water and food; even in times of great distress, one should never omit the anniversary rite, the Sapindana, the Gaya rite, or the Mahalaya rite, as stated in the Smriti Darpana.