What is Panchak Nivaran puja and when should it be done?

Panchak Nivaran puja is a specific Vedic ritual performed to neutralize the harmful effects of a death that occurred during Panchak kaal (the 2.5-day period when Moon transits through the last five nakshatras). It should be done BEFORE or DURING the cremation for maximum efficacy, though it can also be performed after cremation if the family did not know about Panchak at the time. The puja involves a qualified Brahmin performing sankalpa in the name of the deceased, preparing five kusha grass effigies (putlas), reciting specific mantras from the Garuda Purana and Yajurveda, placing the effigies on the pyre, and performing havan with specific samidha (fire offerings). The puja typically takes 2-3 hours. After cremation, follow-up rites include 11-day Mahamrityunjaya jap, Navagraha shanti, and a dedicated Pind Daan for the deceased at Prayagraj, Gaya, or Varanasi. Panchak Nivaran can also be performed as a preventive measure during Pitrupaksha for ancestors who died during Panchak in previous years. Prayag Pandits provides complete Panchak Nivaran services including the cremation-time puja, follow-up jap, and Pind Daan at sacred tirthas.