Why crows are fed the shraddha meal during Pitru Paksha, and the tradition behind it
Feeding crows is held to be essential to the shraddha rites of Pitru Paksha, which began on September 26 and ends on October 10.
Shraddha and tarpan are performed for ancestors during Pitru Paksha. Food is prepared for the shraddha and offered to Brahmins. Five portions of this food are offered to different creatures and deities, a rite known as Panchbali shraddha.
Panchbali shraddha is offered to the cow, the dog, the crow, the deities and the ant. Of these, feeding the crow is considered especially significant. According to religious belief, a shraddha is not considered complete without feeding the crow.
This year Pitru Paksha began on September 26, when the Purnima shraddha was performed. It ends on October 10, the day of Sarvapitri Amavasya. Shraddha, tarpan and pind daan are considered important during this period. The question is why only the crow is fed, and not any other bird.
The answer lies in religious belief. Crows are fed along with Brahmins during Pitru Paksha. Crows are regarded as messengers of the ancestors. It is said that food given to crows during Pitru Paksha reaches the ancestors directly. It is also believed that during Pitru Paksha the ancestors accept the shraddha food in the form of crows. Another belief is that Yamraj once granted a boon to crows. Feeding crows is said to bring peace to the souls of ancestors.
The mythological story behind this is linked to a legend from the time of the Ramayana. According to it, Jayant, the son of Lord Indra, was once living on earth in the form of a crow. In that form, Jayant pecked Sita, and blood began to flow from her foot. Angered by this, Lord Ram struck the crow's eye with an arrow of grass.
Later the crow repented and begged forgiveness, and Lord Ram forgave it. Lord Ram granted crows a boon that food fed to them during Pitru Paksha would reach their ancestors directly. It is believed that the tradition of feeding crows began from then.
