Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 153
गजच्छाया तदा ज्ञेया श्राद्धे ह्यत्यंतपुण्यदा । एकस्मिन्वासरे तिस्रस्तिथयः स्यात्तिथिक्षयः ॥ १५३ ॥
gajacchāyā tadā jñeyā śrāddhe hyatyaṃtapuṇyadā | ekasminvāsare tisrastithayaḥ syāttithikṣayaḥ || 153 ||
Nesse tempo, deve-se reconhecer o período auspicioso chamado “gaja-chāyā” (sombra do elefante); na execução do śrāddha ele é de mérito extraordinário. Quando, num só dia, ocorrem três tithis, isso é chamado tithi-kṣaya, a “perda de um tithi”.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-Dharma context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It links śrāddha’s spiritual efficacy to correct kāla (ritual timing), teaching that recognizing special time-markers like gajacchāyā and understanding tithi-kṣaya safeguards the rite’s intended merit for the Pitṛs.
Though focused on śrāddha, it supports bhakti through disciplined dharma: careful observance and sincerity in offerings to ancestors is presented as a sacred duty that harmonizes one’s life with cosmic order, a foundation for steady devotional practice.
Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/astronomy): it defines tithi-kṣaya (when three tithis occur in one day) and indicates the need to identify specific auspicious time windows (like gajacchāyā) for śrāddha performance.