Thithi Devasam (Annual Shraddha) at Home

The rite

Thithi Devasam—also called devasam or pinda dhanam—is the annual shraddha performed on the lunar day (tithi) when a parent or elder passed away. Cooked rice balls (pindas) and water are offered to pitrus, followed by feeding brahmins or symbolic dana as the family permits. Malayali and Tamil households in Bengaluru often use the word devasam for this full anniversary rite. Pandit Mrityunjay Sharma conducts the ceremony at your home with mantras in the order your elders expect. A detailed samagri and food list is shared on WhatsApp beforehand.

Time at the house: Typically 2.5–4 hours including pinda and meal hospitality

Pandit Mrityunjay Sharma does this at the house in Bengaluru. The fee is not printed on this page. It is sent on WhatsApp with the material list.

Why families book it

Families book devasam when the tithi approaches and they want the pinda pradana done correctly, when the previous year’s shraddha was missed due to travel, or when a new generation takes over as kartā after a parent’s passing. Having a pandit at home avoids last-minute confusion about pinda count and sankalpa.

Devasam is obligation and love toward pitrus, not insurance against future hardship. Outcomes in health, career, or family life are not promised on this page.

Devasam at home suits families who want cooked pindas fresh from their own kitchen rather than catered hall meals, especially when dietary rules must be strict. The pandit coordinates with you on how many pindas and which visarjan method your Malayali or Tamil elders follow, so cousins watching online from other cities still see authentic steps. Travel within the Bengaluru region is arranged when you message your locality.

When families ask

• Annual death tithi for mother, father, or grandparent
• First-year tithi after completing initial antyesti rites
• When merging two pitru tithis on one day with priest approval
• Replacement shraddha if last year was skipped (with guidance)
• Special tithi during Karkidaka or Pitru Paksha
• When elders want pinda dhanam at home instead of a hall
• After varushabdikam planning includes yearly devasam setup

Short vidhi

1. Sankalpa naming departed and living kartā gotra
2. Vishnu or vaishvadeva worship opening
3. Pinda preparation from cooked rice, ghee, and black sesame
4. Pinda pradana to pitrus with mantra and darbha
5. Tarpanam and homa if included in your sampradaya
6. Brahmin bhojan or hiranya dana per family scale
7. Pinda visarjan or placement as directed
8. Ashirvada and meal guidance for participants

The pandit confirms the order on WhatsApp before the visit.

Samagri

• Cooked plain rice and ghee for pindas
• Black sesame and barley if used
• Darbha grass
• Panchapatra set
• New clothes or dhoti for kartā
• Banana leaves and plantains
• Vegetarian meal ingredients for priest meal
• Fruits, coconut, betel
• Flowers and lamp
• Rice flour or urad for some pinda traditions
• Silver or brass vessels
• Charity items (rice, clothes) if dana is planned
• Ganga jal
• List of pitru names and exact tithi

The exact list for your day is sent on WhatsApp. This page does not sell a kit and does not say materials are included in a fee.

Questions

What is pinda dhanam in devasam?

Pindas are rice-ball offerings representing the ancestral body. They are offered with mantras then given to water, cows, or crows per tradition. The pandit explains your family’s visarjan method.

Must we feed brahmins on the same day?

Many traditions include at least one priest meal or dakshina. Scale can be modest at home; discuss on WhatsApp.

Can devasam be combined for both parents?

If tithis differ, they are usually separate. Same tithi couples may be honoured together; confirm with the pandit.

Is non-veg allowed in the house that day?

Families normally cook only vegetarian food until shraddha completes. Follow elder guidance strictly.

What if tithi falls at night?

Lunar tithi timing is checked on a panchang for Bengaluru. Sometimes the rite is morning of the tithi or next applicable window.

Do you help with cooking pindas?

Family cooks plain rice; the pandit supervises pinda shaping and mantra timing. Instructions go on WhatsApp.

Is devasam only for Malayalis?

The name is regional; the shraddha structure is shared across many Hindu lines. Pandit Sharma serves North Indian and South Indian households in Bengaluru.