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Darsh Amavasya दर्श अमावस्या

Any (general term) Amavasya

Darsh Amavasya does not occur in 2026. Check the 2027 calendar.

Story — Significance of Darsh Amavasya

'Darsh' means 'sighting' — the moment when the new moon is sighted just after Amavasya marks the start of Shukla Paksha. Generic term for any Amavasya observed for ancestor worship.

Benefit

Ancestor satisfaction; resolution of pitru dosha symptoms (career obstacles, family discord, child-related issues)

Special Note

Most common form of monthly amavasya observance. Tarpan with til, water, and barley is the standard practice.

Vrat Vidhi (Procedure)

  1. 1

    Pre-Sunrise Bath

    Wake before sunrise. Take bath in a sacred river if possible (Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Kshipra, Narmada, Kaveri, Sindhu) — or add a few drops of Ganga jal to bath water. Wear clean white or black cloth (no bright colors).

  2. 2

    Tarpan to Ancestors

    Stand facing south (direction of Yama). Mix water with til (sesame), barley, white flowers. Recite ancestor names (paternal first 3 generations + maternal 3 generations) and pour water from joined palms saying: 'Ye [Name] gotra [Gotra] [father's name]ya nama tarpayami' (3 times each). Conclude with 'Sarva Pitribhyo Namah'.

  3. 3

    Pind Daan (if home shraddha)

    Make balls of cooked rice mixed with til, ghee, honey. Offer to ancestors invoking their names. Feed a Brahmin, a cow, a dog, and a crow before eating yourself.

  4. 4

    Donations

    Donate til (sesame), white cloth, rice, water pots, umbrella, footwear, gold (if affordable) — these are pitru-dana items. Donating to a learned Brahmin family is most meritorious.

  5. 5

    Day Observance

    Eat one satvik vegetarian meal (no onion-garlic, no meat). Avoid initiating new ventures, weddings, or grand purchases. Spend time in introspection, ancestor remembrance, and Shiva-Kali worship in the evening.

Mantras

Pitru Mantra
ॐ पितृगणाय विद्महे जगत् धारिणी धीमहि। तन्नो पितृ प्रचोदयात्॥
Om Pitra-ganaya Vidmahe Jagat Dharini Dhimahi. Tanno Pitrah Prachodayat.
Meaning: We meditate on the host of ancestors who sustain the world. May they inspire us.
Sarva Pitru Mantra
ॐ सर्वपितृभ्यो नमः
Om Sarva-pitribhyo Namah
Meaning: Salutations to all ancestors
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra (for Shiva worship)
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्। उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥
Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti-vardhanam. Urvarukamiva Bandhanaan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritaat.
Meaning: We worship the three-eyed Lord (Shiva), fragrant and nourishing. May He liberate us from death's bondage as a cucumber from its stem — for immortality, not death.

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