Mahalaya Amavasya, also widely known as Ashwini Amavasya, Aswani Amavasya, Ashwin Amavasya, and Sarva Pitru Amavasya, is the most sacred and spiritually powerful Amavasya dedicated to ancestors (Pitru Devatas). This holy day marks the conclusion of Pitru Paksha and is considered the best time for donation, daan, seva, charity, Pitru Tarpan, and Shraddha rituals.
According to Hindu scriptures, charity performed on Mahalaya Amavasya directly reaches ancestors, granting them peace while blessing devotees with prosperity, protection, and spiritual upliftment.
The importance of Mahalaya Amavasya lies in its unparalleled power to offer peace to all ancestors, even if their individual shraddha tithi is unknown.
This is why Ashwini Amavasya donation is considered more powerful than charity done on any other Amavasya. The following donations are highly recommended on Mahalaya / Ashwini / Aswani Amavasya:
Anna Daan is regarded as the most auspicious charity on Mahalaya Amavasya (Ashwini / Aswani Amavasya). Offering food to the needy, saints, and temple devotees on this sacred day directly pleases the Pitru Devatas and grants Pitru Shanti.
According to scriptures, food donation performed for ancestors helps:
Anna Daan is especially powerful when performed on Sarva Pitru Amavasya, as its benefits reach all ancestors.
Gau Daan is one of the highest forms of charity in Sanatana Dharma. On Mahalaya Amavasya / Ashwini Amavasya, donating for cow feeding and cow protection is believed to remove ancestral obstacles (Pitru Dosha) and negative karmic influences. Benefits of Gau Daan on this sacred Amavasya include:
Supporting Gau Seva on this day is considered equivalent to performing multiple sacred rituals for ancestors.
Mahalaya Amavasya (Ashwini / Aswani Amavasya) is the most sacred opportunity to honor ancestors, cleanse ancestral karma, and support dharma through donation, daan, seva, and charity.
👉 Perform Pitru Seva on Mahalaya Amavasya and receive eternal blessings from your ancestors and the divine.
Charity performed on this sacred day yields Akshaya Punya (eternal merit).
Search queries like why donate on Mahalaya Amavasya and benefits of Ashwini Amavasya daan peak during this time.
Yes. Mahalaya Amavasya is also known as Ashwini or Aswani Amavasya in many regions.
Because charity and Tarpan performed on this day benefit all ancestors, known or unknown.
Anna Daan, Gau Daan, and Temple Pitru Seva are considered most auspicious.
The most auspicious time is sunrise to sunset, with morning hours being highly recommended for Pitru Seva, daan, and charity.