Pitra Paksha: Truths of Existence

From a satsang with Pt. Umadutt Maharaj, Spiritual Leader, SWAHA Bhakti Jyoti Mandali

The sacred period of Pitra Paksha (September 8 to 21, 2025) is a time for deep consideration of the eternal truths of existence and the duties we owe both to our ancestors and to our own souls. Every day, we are called to perform Rishi Yajna: to study the scriptures and engage with divine wisdom. For in those eternal teachings lie the guidance to live righteously and purposefully.

Shri Krishna Bhagavan declares in the Bhagavad Gita: “There was never a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor these kings; nor will there be a time when we shall cease to be.” He explains that the soul within us is never born, nor does it ever die. It is eternal, primeval and indestructible. The body may perish, but the atma remains untouched, ever present, everlasting.

In the earthly realm, karma is both created and worked out. Therefore, life becomes the sacred arena in which we strive, evolve and cleanse ourselves through action.

We often say that we are at the feet of Krishna Bhagavan, meaning that we affirm that we dwell in prosperity, unity, blessedness and spiritual elevation. For the Lord’s presence is not distant or abstract, but the very foundation of a meaningful life.

Yet, death is certain for all who are born, and rebirth inevitable for those who die. As the Bhagwat Mahapuran tells us, the soul continues its journey, moving onward beyond the circle of birth and death. What matters most, then, is how we live between these two points, birth and death. When our actions align with dharma, we do not incur sin. Instead, we live a life of purity, prosperity and peace.

Pitra Paksha reminds us of the impermanence of material life. None can escape death, and no one carries material wealth beyond the mortal coil. At the appointed hour, when Lord Yama arrives, the thread of our lifespan unravels before our very eyes. It is said that Chitragupta, the memory of our own deeds, flashes within our consciousness, and we see clearly the life we have lived.

The wise never forget that everything external: wealth, possessions, status, is temporary. What endures is only spiritual merit and devotion. Thus, we are called to transform material wealth into spiritual wealth through sadhana and self-effort. These spiritual practices are not offerings to God for His sake; rather, they are opportunities for our own spiritual advancement.

We must not allow laziness or ignorance to delay our efforts. Each step of sacrifice and devotion lifts us higher upon the spiritual ladder, closer to the Divine. In this realization, we come to see that all around us is fleeting, but God alone is eternal.

The lotus flower teaches us this truth. It blossoms in the mud yet remains untouched, radiant and pure. So too must we live in the world, rising above its mire while embodying spiritual perfection. This elevation can only be attained through self-effort and practice.

Therefore, whenever occasions for naimittik karma, that is, special religious observances, arise, we must utilise them wholeheartedly. These are divine opportunities extended to us so that we may rise above the temporary and fix our sights upon the eternal.

During the period of Pitra Paksha, as we honour our ancestors and reflect on the eternal journey of the soul, let us renew our commitment to spiritual living, transforming every act into a step toward liberation and every breath into an offering of devotion.