Trayodaśī
Trayodaśī · trayaḥ-daśī, “the thirteenth lunar day”
Kāma has other meanings too: see all meanings of Kāma. Caitra has other meanings too: see all meanings of Caitra. Vaiśākha has other meanings too: see all meanings of Vaiśākha.
Grammar: feminine noun, from trayodaśa (thirteen): “the thirteenth”.
Meaning: the thirteenth tithi (lunar day) of the śukla and the kṛshṇa paksha.
In the scriptures: in his teaching on śrāddha, Vyāsa tells the munis the fruit of śrāddha on each tithi. Śrāddha offered on trayodaśī brings increase of progeny, cattle wealth, medhā (intelligence), svātantrya (independence), pushṭi (nourishment), long life and aiśvarya: “there is no doubt in this.” On Bhādrapada śukla trayodaśī in Maghā nakshatra, and on the parva of the waning moon, śrāddha must be offered with pāyasa, and this is equal to the dakshiṇāyana-śrāddha.
The pitṛ-devatās sang with reference to King Aila: “Will one born in our line offer us, in the dakshiṇāyana, on trayodaśī in Maghā nakshatra, the meat of the khaḍga-mṛga from foot to head, leaving only the horns, with pāyasa mixed with honey and ghee?” So the pitṛs long eagerly (Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 220).
Related terms: Tithi · Śrāddha · Maghā · Pitṛ · Paksha
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 220