Shraddha Tithi Calculator
Find the Correct Annual Hindu Death Anniversary Date based on solar and lunar positions, following the sacred rules of Aparahna Tithi and Adhika Masa.
Enter Date of Death
Supports dates from 1900 to present year
Related Rituals & Services
Vedic offerings and pilgrim support at Pithapuram
Pinda Pradanam
Ancestral rice ball offerings at the holy Pada Gaya Sarovar.
Shraddha Karma
Full annual death anniversary rites guided by verified Vedic priests.
Narayana Bali Puja
Special remedial ritual for souls who experienced untimely demises.
Tarpanam
Water and black sesame seed offerings for ancestral line purification.
Mahalaya Shraddha
Sacred rituals performed during the auspicious Pitru Paksha period.
Aslesha Bali Puja
Remedial sarpa shanti puja performed at Kukkuteswara Temple.
Nakshatra Shanti Puja
Astro-Vedic rituals to resolve birth star and planetary blockages.
Online / Remote Rituals
Participate live via interactive video stream from anywhere globally.
Room Booking
Premium satrams and room bookings near the temple complex.
Pithapuram Taxi Service
Safe, timely pickups and dropoffs from airports and rail stations.
Temple Tour Packages
Custom guided tours to Kukkuteswara and nearby spiritual sites.
Understanding Shraddha Tithi Calculations
What is Shraddha Tithi?
Shraddha Tithi represents the exact lunar phase (waxing or waning day) on which an individual passed away. Unlike standard solar dates, it aligns with cosmic alignments that directly correspond to spiritual transmissions in ancestral lines during Shraddha Karma rituals.
Tithi vs English Date
An English day stays fixed to a 24-hour cycle. A Hindu Tithi is dynamic, lasting between 19 and 26 hours. Because of the difference between the solar cycle (365 days) and the lunar cycle (354 days), the corresponding English date shifts by roughly 11 days every year.
Aparahna Kaala Importance
The Shastras divide daylight into five parts. The third part—Aparahna (midday to afternoon)—is strictly allocated for ancestral offerings. If a death Tithi touches the afternoon on consecutive days, specific overlap calculations determine the correct date for Pinda Pradanam.
Adhika Masa Rules (అధిక మాసం) & Shastric Guidelines
An Adhika Masa is an intercalary month added to the calendar to keep lunar months aligned with solar seasons. If an ancestor passes away during a normal lunar month (Nija Masa), the annual Shraddha is omitted during any subsequent Adhika Masa occurrences, as it is considered an extra void month for regular anniversary rituals.
However, if the death itself occurs during an Adhika Masa, the annual ritual is performed in the Adhika Masa of subsequent years. For the first year immediately after death, special transitional rules apply under the guidance of our local pandits. If you are experiencing persistent family obstacles or wish to seek ancestral relief, you can learn about the remedies for Pitru Dosha on our blog.
Learn More About Shraddha
Shastric reference manuals and guidebooks
What is Shraddha Tithi?
How Annual Shraddha Date is Calculated
Difference Between English Date & Tithi
Aparahna Kala Explained
Adhika Masa Rules
Pitru Paksha Guide
Mahalaya Shraddha
When to Perform Pinda Pradanam
Common Shraddha Mistakes
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarified by Sanskrit pandits of Pithapuram
1. What is Shraddha?
Shraddha is a dynamic annual ritual dedicated to paying homage to deceased parents and ancestors. It involves performing Shraddha Karma or Pinda Pradanam (offering rice balls) and water with prayers, guided by Vedic mantras. It is considered a moral duty of a family member (Karta).
2. What is Taddinam?
Taddinam is the traditional Telugu term for the annual death anniversary ritual. In Tamil culture, it is referred to as Shrāddham, and in Northern India as Shradh. The spiritual objective across regions remains identical: honoring ancestor lineages.
3. How is the Annual Shraddha date calculated?
The date is determined by checking the moon position (Tithi), the lunar half (Paksha), and the lunar month (Masa) of death. Upcoming dates are mapped against standard Panchang algorithms to locate when that exact Tithi coincides with the afternoon (Aparahna).
4. Can I use the English Gregorian calendar date to find the Tithi?
Yes, but only as a starting reference. The system takes your ancestor\'s English date of death, cross-checks it against historical ephemeris to isolate the lunar Tithi, and maps that Tithi to locate corresponding Gregorian dates in future years.
5. Can women perform Shraddha?
According to Shastric codes, if there are no male descendants (sons, grandsons, or nephews) in a lineage, a daughter or a spouse has the authority to request a priest to perform the ritual on behalf of the deceased.
6. Can NRIs perform Shraddha remotely?
Yes. Under our remote puja services, NRI family members can join via live video call, take the Sankalpam with their family names, and observe the priest coordinate the complete offerings at Padagaya Pithapuram in real-time. Please contact us via our Contact page for bookings.
7. What is Aparahna?
Aparahna Kaala represents the third part of the daylight cycle, typically in the afternoon. Shastras state that offerings to the dead must be made during this period to ensure the spiritual energies match the receptivity of the Pitrus.
8. What is Adhika Masa?
Adhika Masa is an extra lunar month added to the calendar roughly every 32.5 months to keep lunar years aligned with solar seasons. Annual Shraddha is generally omitted in Adhika Masa unless the ancestor passed away during a historical Adhika Masa.
9. What if the exact time of death is unknown?
If the time is unknown, our local priests calculate based on a default mid-day status. If the entire date of death is unknown, standard scriptures recommend performing the ritual on the Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya Amavasya) of the Bhadrapada month.
10. Why does the annual date change every year?
A lunar year has 354 days, while a solar year has 365 days. The 11-day gap causes the lunar Tithi to shift backwards on the Gregorian calendar every year, until an Adhika Masa resets the cycle.
11. Why is Pithapuram called Padagaya?
Pithapuram is home to the sacred Pada Gaya Sarovar. According to the Puranas, the demon Gayasura's feet rested in Pithapuram while his head was in Gaya (Bihar), making both locations highly sacred for ancestral energy release. Learn more About Padagaya spiritual history.
12. What is Pitru Paksha?
Pitru Paksha is a 16-day lunar period during the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, dedicated specifically to honoring all ancestors. Performing Shraddha on any day during this fortnight is considered extremely auspicious.
13. What is Narayana Bali Puja?
Narayana Bali is a special ritual performed for individuals who met with an unnatural, accidental, or untimely death. It assists in releasing earth-bound energies and ensuring peaceful transition of the soul.
14. What is Tarpanam?
Tarpanam is a simplified ancestral offering involving black sesame seeds and water. It is performed on monthly new moon days (Amavasya) to keep the ancestral lines clean and active.
15. What is Pitru Dosha?
Pitru Dosha is a karmic imbalance in a native's birth chart caused by unresolved ancestral blockages or unperformed family rites. It is remedied by conducting Shraddha or Narayana Bali rituals at Padagaya.
16. What happens if I miss the annual Shraddha?
If missed, it is advised to perform a repentance Tarpanam on the immediate next new moon day or organize a comprehensive Pinda Pradanam during the Pitru Paksha period.
17. Can we perform Shraddha on Ekadashi?
Yes. The Tithi of death takes precedence over the fasting rules of Ekadashi. Specific alternative offerings are sometimes arranged depending on family tradition.
18. What is the role of the Karta?
The Karta is the primary ritual performer (usually the eldest son) who takes the sacred oath (Sankalpam) and executes the offerings under priestly guidance.
19. What is Samvatsaram?
Samvatsaram is a 60-year cycle in the Hindu calendar. Each year in this cycle has a distinct Sanskrit name which is recited during the ritual Sankalpam to mark the cosmic epoch.
20. What is Dakshina Kashi?
Pithapuram is revered as Dakshina Kashi (the Varanasi of the South) because of the holy presence of the Kukkuteswara Temple and the sacred Pada Gaya Sarovar within its bounds.
21. Can NRIs perform the rituals in person?
Yes. We assist with Room Booking, Taxi Service, temple tour arrangements, and matching you with custom priests who speak English, Telugu, Hindi, or Tamil.
22. What items are required for the ritual?
All ritual materials (rice flour, sesame seeds, darbha grass, milk, honey, flowers, and vessels) are provided directly by our temple coordinator so the family doesn\'t need to carry anything.
23. Are the priests certified?
Yes, all our pandits are verified traditional scholars who have graduated from recognized Veda Pathashalas and are highly trained in Smartha and Apastamba Sutra traditions.
24. What are the timings of the temple?
The Pada Gaya temple and sarovar are open for rituals from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM on all days. Morning hours are highly recommended for the Sankalpam.
25. Is there a charge for using this online calculator?
No, this calculator is a free community service provided on our Home page to help devotees find their correct ancestral dates without manual errors.
26. How do I get to Pithapuram?
Pithapuram is well-connected by rail. The nearest airport is Rajahmundry (65 km) and Visakhapatnam (140 km). We provide taxi services to fetch you from these junctions.
27. What if there is a birth in the family on the Shraddha day?
In case of birth or death pollution (Sutak/Asaucham), the active family member cannot perform the ritual. Devotees consult our pandits to find an alternative date or request a proxy priest to do simple offerings.
28. Can we perform Shraddha on behalf of friends or gurus?
Yes. Dharma Shastras allow performing rites for gurus, friends, or even childless relatives with specific Sankalpams to grant peace to their souls.
29. Can NRIs receive the Prasad?
For online and remote pujas, dry sacred items (Prasad, Akshatalu, and holy threads) can be couriered to international locations upon request. You can also view our latest Blog updates.
30. How do I book a ritual on the calculator output?
Once you calculate your next Shraddha date, click the "Book Shraddha" or "Book Pinda Pradanam" button to load the booking details directly into our verified booking portal.