Sankalpa Shraddham is a ritual performed as part of the Pinda Shraddham, a Hindu ceremony dedicated to honoring deceased ancestors and seeking their blessings. Sankalpa refers to a vow or resolution, and in the context of Shraddham, it signifies the intention to perform the ritual with utmost devotion and respect for the departed souls.
The Pinda Shraddham involves the offering of rice balls (pinda) to the ancestors, which symbolizes nourishment for their souls in the afterlife. Sankalpa Shraddham is performed at the beginning of this ritual, where the person conducting the ceremony, often a priest or family elder, mentally prepares and vows to perform the ritual correctly for the benefit of the deceased.
The ritual includes chanting of mantras, prayers, and the offering of sacred items into the fire to ensure the peaceful rest of the ancestors and to seek their blessings for the well-being and prosperity of the family. It is performed on specific days like the Pitru Paksha.
