Aadi Amavasya is the Amavasya (New Moon Day) that falls in the Tamil month of Aadi (mid-Jul to mid-Aug). Aadi Amavasya is one of the three most powerful New Moon days to offer Tarpanam (ancestral rituals) to honor your ancestors and receive their highly-influential blessings.

The month of Aadi is considered highly auspicious when divine forces bless the earth with grace. Offering Tarpanam rituals for your ancestors on Aadi Amavasya is said to help their souls attain Moksha (salvation), which directly affects your well-being due to the symbiotic soul connection you share with them. After being liberated, it is said they become a “Pitru,” or an exalted ancestral being capable of bestowing very powerful blessings on you. On Aadi Amavasya, it is believed your ancestors visit the earth plane with a high potential to be liberated through the right offerings.

Every year, during the month of Aadi, the Sun starts its movement towards the south, which is called ‘Dakshinayana’ (Dakshin means south, and Ayana means travel). Since this is the first New Moon day during this period, it is regarded as the more powerful day for performing Tarpanam rituals.

However, 2019 Aadi Amavasya, occurring on July 31, is predicted to be extra powerful. This is because the Moon will be in its own sign, Cancer, where the planet of Divine grace, Jupiter, is exalted. In addition, the Moon will be under the influence of the star “Pushya,” which is considered the most auspicious of all 27 stars, or nakshatras. These two factors, combined with the Sun’s movement, give this particular Aadi Amavasya even more potency to produce positive results.

According to the great Hindu epic, Mahabharata, every human soul owes the Trinity Lords – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - three major debts. One of them is called “Pitru Rin,” or the debt to ancestors. This is owed to Lord Brahma, and it is said to be cleared by performing Tarpanam rituals for ancestors.

It is always ideal to perform these rituals on natural water bodies (sea, pond, river or lake). Taking a holy dip in sacred water sources is considered ideal in order to cleanse oneself of impurities, before commencing the Tarpanam ritual. A large number of people usually gather at tarpanam performing powerspots like the Agni Theertham in Rameshwaram, South India, to perform the rituals for their ancestors. Other sacred spots include Triveni Sangamam in Kanyakumari and various holy Ghats on the banks of River Cauvery.

It is recommended to observe complete or partial fast on this day to mark your devotion towards your ancestors, and remain sensitive to their presence.

Performing Tarpanam rituals to your ancestors on Aadi Amavasya is said to bestow the following blessings:

• Help liberate the souls of your departed ancestors
• Relieve you from negative ancestral karma
• Gift you with prosperity and authentic happiness
• Bless your entire generation with health, wealth and prosperity
• Grant success in all endeavors
• Provide relief from debts and destruction of enemies