Shraddha Karma

Narayan Bali Puja

Narayan Bali is a necessary ritual performed to relieve the soul of a person who underwent an abnormal or untimely death.

When Is Narayan Bali Needed?

Narayan Bali Puja is described in the Garuda Purana and is performed in cases of unnatural death, including accident, fall or injury, suicide, death by animal, snake or epidemic, or any sudden or untimely death in the family line. Nag Bali is often performed alongside it, to address the sin of harming a snake, knowingly or unknowingly.

How the Ritual Is Performed

Five learned Brahmins are invited for the ritual, which typically takes about 3.5 hours and follows ten traditional steps — including invoking the departed soul, performing the funeral rite on a symbolic dummy body, and concluding with the pyre that liberates the soul toward its final destination.

Gokarna carries a 1,300-year tradition of Vedic scholars and priests performing Narayan Bali, Kaal Sarp Dosh Puja, Maha Mrityunjaya Homam, Pind Pradhan, and Tripindi Shraddha, going back to the Brahmin families first settled here by King Mayooravarma.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should Narayan Bali be performed?

As soon as possible after an unnatural death occurs, or once Pitru Dosha is identified in a horoscope. It can also be performed during Pitru Paksha.

Do I need to be physically present?

Yes, this ritual requires the family's presence at the temple. We assist with travel planning and nearby accommodation.

What's the difference between Narayan Bali and Moksha Narayana Bali?

Moksha Narayana Bali is an extended form of the ritual performed for complete liberation of the soul. Ask us on WhatsApp which is right for your family's situation.

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