# Significance of Feeding Crows During Pitru Paksha, Rituals and Religious Beliefs Explained > Observed from the Bhadrapada full moon to the Ashwin new moon, feeding crows during Pitru Paksha is believed to satisfy ancestors and alleviate astrological afflictions like Pitru Dosha and Kaal Sarp Dosha. **Type:** article · **Category:** Spirituality · **Published:** 2026-09-30 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/spirituality/pitru-paksha-men-kauve-ko-bhojana-karane-ki-vaidika-manyataen-janen-shraddha-men-kaka-bali-ka-dharmika-mahatva-40531 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Pitru Paksha, Shraddha, Kak Bali, Pitru Dosha, Kaal Sarp Dosha, Garuda Purana, Shani Dev, Hindu Rituals The annual period beginning on the full moon of the Bhadrapada month and continuing until the new moon of the Ashwin month is solemnly observed as Pitru Paksha or Shraddha. During this sacred timeframe, individuals express deep gratitude, reverence, and devotion to their deceased ancestors by performing rituals on their respective death anniversaries. According to religious traditions, conducting these rites eases Pitru Dosha and helps liberate souls. A central practice involves offering portions of the prepared ceremonial meal to five living entities: cows, dogs, ants, deities, and crows. Many believe that departed ancestors visit the terrestrial realm taking the guise of these beings to partake in the offerings. ## The Crow as a Messenger of Yama in Sacred Scriptures According to ancient religious texts, including the Garuda Purana, the crow is identified as an emissary of Yamaraja. It is widely held that during Pitru Paksha, departed ancestors manifest in the form of crows to accept offerings presented by their descendants. Scripture suggests that food consumed by a crow directly reaches the souls of the ancestors, bringing them tranquility and gratification. Feeding these birds is also believed to bring favor from Yamaraja. ## The Tale of Lord Rama, Mother Sita, and Jayanta The tradition of offering food to crows traces back to a legendary incident involving Jayanta, the son of the deity Indra. According to the legend, Jayanta assumed the form of a crow, descended to Earth, and pecked at the foot of Mother Sita, causing it to bleed. Upon witnessing this, Lord Rama launched a sanctified blade of grass as an arrow, which damaged one of the crow's eyes. In immense panic, Jayanta fled across the three realms seeking refuge, but found no shelter anywhere. Ultimately, he returned, surrendered, and begged for mercy at the feet of Lord Rama and Mother Sita. The merciful Lord pardoned Jayanta and granted a boon stipulating that food offered to crows during Pitru Paksha would reach the spirits of ancestors directly. This divine blessing established the lasting tradition of feeding crows during memorial rites. ## Remedies for Pitru Dosha and Kaal Sarp Dosha From an astrological perspective, feeding crows throughout Pitru Paksha helps pacify planetary afflictions, notably Pitru Dosha and Kaal Sarp Dosha in one's birth chart. The satisfaction of the ancestors is said to bestow blessings of happiness, holistic prosperity, and good health upon the entire lineage. The act of serving food to crows follows a structured tradition. A ceremonial preparation featuring urad dal, cooked rice, and jaggery is made. This mixture is reverently placed at the designated offering or tarpan spot and then served to the crows. ## The Connection Between Crows and Shani Dev In Hindu astrology, the crow is uniquely linked to Shani Dev. Traditional texts describe the bird as the divine mount of the planetary deity Shani. Consequently, providing food to crows is considered an effective astrological measure to appease Shani and mitigate adverse planetary influences, making it customary to feed crows on Saturdays as well. ## What this means for you Feeding crows during Pitru Paksha is an essential religious obligation that guides home rituals and astrological remedies. - **Daily Ritual Practice:** Families observing Shraddha between the Bhadrapada full moon and the Ashwin new moon prepare a distinct food portion for crows. A mix of cooked rice, urad dal, and jaggery must be placed at the offering spot before concluding the rites. - **Astrological Remedies:** People seeking relief from Pitru Dosha or Kaal Sarp Dosha in their horoscopes can actively follow this tradition. It serves as a personal ritual aimed at bringing peace of mind and familial harmony. - **Family Observances:** The tradition encourages generations to maintain cultural values of reverence and gratitude toward departed forebears. Offerings are routinely placed on rooftops or open clearings during memorial days. - **Saturday Observance:** Devotees looking to mitigate unfavorable planetary alignments associated with Saturn frequently extend this feeding ritual to Saturdays. It reinforces steady spiritual discipline within the household. ## Why this happened The practice of feeding crows during Pitru Paksha is rooted in scriptural injunctions, mythological boons, and astrological traditions. These scriptures describe the crow as an essential metaphysical link between the earthly plane and the realm of ancestors. - **Garuda Purana Mandate:** The Garuda Purana designates the crow as an emissary of Yamaraja. It states that departed souls visit the living realm in avian forms during this specific period to receive sustenance. - **Boon of Lord Rama:** Following the mythological event where Indra's son Jayanta harmed Mother Sita and later sought pardon, Lord Rama granted him a divine boon. This decree ensured that food fed to crows during ancestral rites would reach the forefathers directly. - **Astrological Pacification:** Vedic astrology connects the crow with Saturn and ancestral karma. Consequently, the act of serving food to crows is recommended to soothe astrological alignments such as Pitru Dosha and Kaal Sarp Dosha. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. What is the duration of Pitru Paksha? Pitru Paksha begins on the full moon of the Bhadrapada month and concludes on the new moon of the Ashwin month. ### 2. Whose messenger is the crow considered to be according to scriptures? According to the Garuda Purana and ancient scriptures, the crow is regarded as the messenger of Yamaraja. ### 3. What boon did Lord Rama grant to the crow? Lord Rama blessed Jayanta with a boon ensuring that food offered to crows during Pitru Paksha directly reaches the ancestors. ### 4. Which astrological afflictions are pacified by feeding crows? Feeding crows during this period is believed to alleviate Pitru Dosha and Kaal Sarp Dosha. ### 5. What specific food is prepared for the crow offering? A preparation of urad dal, cooked rice, and jaggery is prepared and placed at the designated ritual offering site. ### 6. Which planetary deity is associated with the crow? The crow is linked to Shani Dev as it is traditionally revered as his divine vehicle. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._