Darsh Amavasya दर्श अमावस्या
Any (general term) • Amavasya
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)
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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).
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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'.
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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.
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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.
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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
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