Chaturdashi Shradh — also known as Ghata Chaturdashi, Ghayala Chaturdashi, or Chaudas Shradh — is one of the most emotionally significant days in the entire Pitru Paksha fortnight. Unlike most other Shradh tithis, which simply correspond to the lunar day of an ancestor’s death, Chaturdashi Shradh carries a specific and deeply compassionate purpose: it is the dedicated day for honoring those who met akal mrityu — untimely, unnatural death. Ancestors who died in accidents, by weapons, through violence, in wars, by suicide, or through any sudden and traumatic circumstance are specifically remembered and offered peace on this day. In 2026, Chaturdashi Shradh falls on Friday, 9 October 2026 — the penultimate day of Pitru Paksha, just before the culminating Sarva Pitru Amavasya. For every family that has ever experienced the devastating shock of losing someone suddenly, this day is both a burden and a gift — the designated moment to release that soul toward peace.
What is Chaturdashi Shradh (Ghata Chaturdashi)?
The word Chaturdashi means “fourteen” in Sanskrit — the fourteenth lunar day. While Chaturdashi Tithi occurs twice every month (Shukla Chaturdashi and Krishna Chaturdashi), the Chaturdashi within Pitru Paksha — always Krishna Chaturdashi of the Ashwina month — is special because of its unique therapeutic purpose in the Hindu ritual calendar.
The name Ghata Chaturdashi (घात चतुर्दशी) is the most precise name for this observance. Ghata means “struck,” “killed,” or “slain” — derived from the Sanskrit root meaning to strike or slay. This name explicitly signals that this is the Shradh for those who were struck down — by violence, accident, weapon, or sudden circumstance. Other names used for this same observance include:
- Ghayala Chaturdashi — “Ghayala” means “wounded” or “injured”; this name emphasizes those who suffered physical trauma before death
- Chaudas Shradh — the common Hindi name, “chaudas” being the regional form of “fourteen”
- Shastra Mrityu Shradh — sometimes used in Sanskrit texts to specifically reference those killed by weapons (shastra = weapon)
The Hindu scriptures and the Dharmashastra tradition recognize that souls who depart through sudden, violent, or unnatural means face specific challenges in their post-death journey. Unlike those who die peacefully after a full life — who generally transition smoothly — souls that experience traumatic death may carry a residue of shock, confusion, or unresolved attachment. Chaturdashi Shradh is the tradition’s compassionate response: a dedicated ritual window specifically calibrated to reach these souls, comfort them, and help them release the trauma of their passing.
If a deceased person does not fall into the category of unnatural death, the Dharmasindhu states that their Chaturdashi Shradh is typically subsumed under the Amavasya Shradh — so those without an ancestor in this category need not perform a separate Chaturdashi Shradh, as Sarva Pitru Amavasya covers all souls.
Chaturdashi Shradh 2026 Date and Muhurat
In 2026, Pitru Paksha runs from Saturday, 26 September to Saturday, 10 October. Chaturdashi Shradh — the fourteenth day of the fortnight, and the second-to-last day — falls on Friday, 9 October 2026. The very next day, October 10, is Sarva Pitru Amavasya, the grand concluding day.
As with all Pitru Paksha Shradhas, Chaturdashi Shradh is performed during Aparahna Kala — the afternoon period. The auspicious Muhurats within Aparahna are:
- Kutup Muhurat: Approximately 11:36 AM to 12:24 PM (solar time — verify from DrikPanchang for Prayagraj, October 9, 2026)
- Rohina Muhurat: Approximately 12:24 PM to 1:12 PM
It is particularly important for Chaturdashi Shradh that the Tarpan be performed while maintaining a state of inner stillness and peace. The ritual objective — bringing peace to a traumatically departed soul — requires the performer to approach the ritual with emotional composure and a clear intention of love and release, rather than with the raw pain of grief. This does not mean suppressing emotion, but rather channeling it into the ritual acts with focused devotion.
For families who cannot come to Prayagraj and will perform the rite at home, the same timing applies — Aparahna Kala — but performing Tarpan at the nearest flowing water (river or stream) is strongly recommended over performing it indoors.
Who Should Perform Chaturdashi Shradh?
Chaturdashi Shradh is specifically intended for families that have experienced any of the following types of loss among their ancestors or relatives:
- Death by accident: Road accidents, industrial accidents, drowning, falls, or any unintentional traumatic death
- Death by violence: Murder, assault, war casualties, armed conflict, or any form of violent ending
- Death by weapons: Including firearms, bladed weapons, and in modern context, any instrument used as a weapon
- Suicide: The tradition recognizes that those who die by their own hand may be in a state of particular confusion and pain in the post-death realm, and Chaturdashi Shradh is specifically mentioned in the Dharmashastra as appropriate for them — not as a judgment but as a compassionate offering
- Sudden, unexpected death: Cardiac arrest, stroke, or any other sudden death where the person had no opportunity to prepare spiritually for their passing
- Death in childbirth: Women who died during childbirth are also included in some traditions under the Chaturdashi Shradh category, as their death was both sudden and occurred in a state of great physical and emotional intensity
The Dharmasindhu clarifies an important point: if the person who died through unnatural means does not have a specific Pitru Paksha tithi when a dedicated Shradh is being performed for them, Chaturdashi is the default. However, if the family already knows the death tithi (for example, a person who died by accident on Panchami Tithi), they can perform both the tithi-specific Shradh (on Panchami Shradh day) and the Chaturdashi Shradh to fully address both the tithi connection and the akal mrityu condition.
The performer of Chaturdashi Shradh follows the same eligibility hierarchy as other Shradha: eldest son first, then other male relatives, then daughters and their sons. For a departed spouse or sibling who died by suicide or violence, the living spouse or a sibling is fully eligible to perform this Shradh.
Rituals and Procedures for Chaturdashi Shradh
The ritual procedure for Chaturdashi Shradh follows the standard Pitru Paksha Shradh framework with specific mantra variations and emotional focus points appropriate for souls who died unnatural deaths:
Morning Preparation: The performer bathes before sunrise and maintains silence and inner peace in the early hours. The day should begin with prayer and a conscious mental preparation: holding the image of the departed person with love, acknowledging the manner of their passing, and setting the clear intention to offer them peace and liberation through the ritual. Wearing white or light-colored clothing, the performer avoids all worldly engagement until the ritual is complete.
Sankalp: The Sankalp for Chaturdashi Shradh specifically names the departed person, their mode of death (akal mrityu — untimely death), and the intention to perform Ghata Chaturdashi Shradh for their peace. The Sankalp also references that if there are multiple such ancestors who died through unnatural means, all their names are included in a single comprehensive offering.
Pind Daan: The pindas for Chaturdashi Shradh are prepared in the standard manner — rice or barley balls with sesame seeds, honey, and ghee — but offered with a specific prayer for the release of trauma and the attainment of peace. The mantra recited during this Pind Daan includes specific references to shanti (peace) and mukti (liberation) for the soul that departed under traumatic circumstances.
Tarpan: Water with black sesame seeds and kusha grass is offered three times per ancestor. For Chaturdashi Shradh, some pandits recommend adding a drop of milk to the Tarpan water — representing nurturing and healing — alongside the standard sesame and barley. The name and circumstances of the departed are held in the mind during the water offering, with the prayer that the water reaches and soothes the departed soul in whatever realm it currently dwells.
Special Havan (Optional): Some families performing Chaturdashi Shradh at Prayagraj choose to add a small Shanti Havan (peace fire ritual) specifically for the akal mrityu soul. The Mrityunjaya Mantra — Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam, Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Mamritat — is recited during the Havan, invoking Shiva’s power to release the soul from the bondage of its violent ending.
Brahmin Bhojan and Dakshina: The sattvic meal for Brahmins is prepared and offered in the standard manner. For Chaturdashi Shradh, the food can include the departed person’s favorite foods (as long as they are sattvic) in an expression of personal love and remembrance.
Scriptural Basis for Chaturdashi Shradh
The scriptural foundation for Chaturdashi Shradh as the dedicated day for akal mrityu (untimely death) souls is found across multiple Puranic and Dharmashastra sources. The Garuda Purana, the authoritative text on death and the afterlife, dedicates significant space to the condition of souls who die traumatically. It describes them as being in a state of heightened confusion and attachment — still expecting to inhabit the body that was so suddenly taken from them. The ritual offerings of Chaturdashi Shradh, the Garuda Purana states, create a channel of light and nourishment that reaches these souls specifically and helps them begin the process of accepting their death and moving forward.
The Dharmasindhu of Kashinath Upadhyaya explicitly states: “Akalamritana chaturdashyam shradham kuryat visheshtatah” — meaning “For those who died untimely, Shradh should be performed especially on Chaturdashi.” This instruction is clear and unambiguous. The text goes further to say that this Shradh should be performed regardless of the actual tithi of the person’s death — the Chaturdashi is the designated healing day for all akal mrityu deaths.
The Chaturdashi connection to Lord Shiva is also relevant. The dark fortnight Chaturdashi of every month is Shivratri — the monthly night of Shiva. Shiva as Mahakala (the great time-lord) and as Mrityunjaya (the conqueror of death) has particular authority over souls in transitional states, especially those whose death was sudden and unexpected. Performing Chaturdashi Shradh under Shiva’s cosmic umbrella adds the dimension of divine compassion and transformative power to the ancestral offering.
Do’s and Don’ts for Chaturdashi Shradh
Do’s:
- Approach the ritual with a deliberate inner state of peace and compassion — this is a healing Shradh
- Include the Mrityunjaya Mantra in your ritual — ask your pandit to lead 108 recitations
- Clearly state in the Sankalp that this is Ghata Chaturdashi Shradh for an ancestor who died through akal mrityu
- Include the departed person’s name and the general nature of their death (accident, violence, etc.) in the Sankalp
- Perform Tarpan at a flowing water body — do not use stagnant water
- Invite Brahmins and offer them prasad with prayers for the departed’s liberation
- Light a ghee lamp in the evening and recite the Mrityunjaya Mantra for the departed’s peace
Don’ts:
- Do not perform the ritual while in a state of anger or unresolved conflict with the departed person
- Do not consume non-sattvic food on this day
- Do not perform Shradh after sunset
- Do not use iron utensils for the ritual
- Do not discuss the circumstances of the death in an angry or blaming manner on this day — this is a day for release and peace, not for relitigating grief
Perform Chaturdashi Shradh with Prayag Pandits
For families carrying the weight of a sudden, violent, or traumatic loss, the Chaturdashi Shradh at Prayag’s Triveni Sangam offers something rare: a moment of spiritual closure and healing within the framework of an ancient tradition that has always understood the particular suffering of those left behind by sudden loss.
Our pandits at Prayag Pandits understand the emotional landscape of Chaturdashi Shradh. We have performed this rite many times for families who have experienced accidents, sudden deaths, and other traumatic losses. We approach this Shradh with the technical precision it requires and the human sensitivity it deserves. At Triveni Sangam — where the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati meet in sacred confluence — the ritual’s reach is amplified by the power of the location, one of the most spiritually charged spots on earth.
The ancient texts declare that Pind Daan at Prayag liberates 21 generations of ancestors. For a soul stuck in the trauma of akal mrityu, this liberation is not just deeply meaningful — it may be the specific intervention that allows them to move forward. Read about why Prayagraj holds this unique position in our articles on Triveni Sangam: The Land of Moksha and the Deep Significance of Pind Daan.
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Related Shradh Tithis in Pitru Paksha 2026
Chaturdashi Shradh on October 9 is preceded by Trayodashi Shradh (October 8 — for ancestors who died on Trayodashi and for departed children) and followed directly by the most important day of the entire fortnight: Sarva Pitru Amavasya on October 10 — the universal day for all ancestors. Earlier in the Pitru Paksha sequence, Ekadashi Shradh falls on October 6 and Dwadashi Shradh on October 7. For a complete understanding of the Pitru Paksha framework, visit our Complete Pitrupaksha Ritual Guide. For the core ritual procedure, read How to Perform Pind Daan and our guide to understanding Pind Daan and the Ancestors’ Debt.