Vannakum,
I require your guidance regarding rituals to be performed for my late Mother, of Tamil descent, who was called to rest on the 09[SUP]th[/SUP] of June 2016 (the 27[SUP]th[/SUP] day of Vaikaasi Masam 2016), 5 days after the beginning of the New Moon Phase - Amavasya (White Moon Phase, the 22[SUP]nd[/SUP] day of Vaikaasi Masam 2016).
Country of residence: South Africa
City: Johannesburg
Time of death: 3am - 5am
Time Zone: GMT+2
Latitude: 26-15-05 S
Longitude: 28-10-27 E
We, the family were advised dissimilar dates by different Tamil Priests regarding the date for the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] Month Prayer. Due to the confusion and no fault of ours, I was most saddened when I discovered that we had unintentionally missed the actual Ritual/Prayer date, which would have been on the 7[SUP]th[/SUP] of August 2016 (23[SUP]rd[/SUP] day of Aadi Masam 2016).
Brief explanation of calculations noted below:
I was left with no choice but to commit to researching, understanding and empowering myself with knowledge, and gathering factual information pertaining to the exact Prayer/Ritual dates to be calculated according to One Moon Cycle, which is from the New Moon Phase to the Full Moon Phase of every month according to the 2016 -2017 Tamil Calendar. Taking into account Shukla Paksha, the phase that falls on either side of the Full Moon.
My calculations/method included; 1st Moon Cycle, (Count 5 days from the New Moon Cycle, and add further 5 days thereafter, (8[SUP]th[/SUP] Day Ceremony + 16[SUP]th[/SUP] Day Ceremony) and continued the count until the Full Moon Cycle, add further 5 days thereafter), and so on.
3[SUP]rd [/SUP]Moon Cycle:
(Calculation of 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] Month Prayer) – New Moon Phase 02[SUP]nd[/SUP] August 2016 (18[SUP]th[/SUP] day of Aadi Masam 2016), (Add 5 days from the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] day of the New Moon = 07[SUP]th[/SUP] of August). Culminating into the Full Moon Phase date as per the Calendar, 18[SUP]th[/SUP] of August 2016 (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] day of Aavani Masam 2016).
It is said if the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] Month Ritual for the departed Soul is not performed or forgotten, the Soul is regarded as 'LOST' or 'ROAMING', and due to this, the immediate family may be directly impacted. Therefore, it is recommended that we offer sacrifices and powerful prayers that will bring comfort and peace to the departed soul.
We have since been advised of a SPECIAL PRAYER FOR THE (ATHMA SANGATHI) PEACE AND LIBERATION FROM BONDAGE OF DEPARTED SOULS, to be performed every Month on the day of Amavasya - known as Pitru Tharpanam Amavasya.
I therefore, plead to you for guidance, as to the method of practice and requirements for the mentioned Prayer or Sacrifice that must be observed, and will result in our Late Mother's Soul to humbly depart this earth and guide her Athma into Lord Shiva's Abode and Pray she attains Shanti.
Nandri