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Bhadrapada Purnima 2026: Why Sages' Tarpan Precedes Ancestors' and Maharishi Agastya's Link.
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News18•26-09-2026, 12:39
Bhadrapada Purnima 2026: Why Sages' Tarpan Precedes Ancestors' and Maharishi Agastya's Link.
- •Pitru Paksha, a 16-day period for ancestral rites, begins on Bhadrapada Purnima, where Tarpan and Pind Daan are performed for the peace of ancestors' souls.
- •Before ancestral Tarpan, there is a tradition of performing Tarpan for sages, particularly on Bhadrapada Purnima, linked to Maharishi Agastya, to express gratitude to those who paved the way for knowledge and Dharma.
- •According to the Brahma Purana, humans should worship ancestors before deities, and sages before ancestors; Pitru Paksha Tarpan begins with the worship and Tarpan of Rishi Agastya.
- •The Vana Parva of the Mahabharata narrates how Maharishi Agastya vanquished the demons Atapi and Vatapi, who preyed on sages, an event that occurred on Bhadrapada Purnima.
- •Besides Agastya Muni, Tarpan is also performed for other great sages like the Saptarishis, Vashistha, Jamadagni, Vishwamitra, Bharadwaj, Gautama, and Kashyapa, as their blessings are considered essential for complete Pitru Tarpan.
Key Questions Answered
According to the Brahma Purana and Hindu traditions, humans should remember the sages before their ancestors. Performing Rishi Tarpan first frees individuals from the debt to the sages and ensures that ancestor Tarpan is successfully completed without hindrance.
On Bhadrapada Purnima, Maharishi Agastya defeated the cruel demon brothers Atapi and Vatapi, who had been killing sages. Following the end of these demons, a tradition began of performing Tarpan in the name of Agastya Muni and his wife Lopamudra on the first day of Pitru Paksha.
In 2026, Pitru Paksha begins with Rishi Tarpan on Bhadrapada Purnima and the first Shraddha on Sunday, September 27, and concludes on Saturday, October 10, with Sarvapitru Amavasya.
