What is Masikam (Monthly Shraddham)?
In the first year after death, the departed soul is believed to travel towards the realm of the ancestors (pitru loka), and the monthly offerings support it on that journey. The masikams are performed on the tithi of death in each lunar month.
The rite includes the sankalpa, tarpanam with sesame and water, pinda pradanam as per family custom, feeding a brahmin or giving swayampakam (uncooked food) and dakshina.
The story of Masikam (Monthly Shraddham)
About this puja
Masika is the monthly shraddha done on the death tithi in each of the twelve months of the first year after a death, to sustain the departed on their onward journey. With the extra rites of the first year there are sixteen in all (shodasha masika), completed before the first annual ceremony.
Why families book it
- Nourishment and peace for the departed
- The family's duty in the first year fulfilled
- Pitru dosha avoided
Good times to do it
- On the death tithi, every month of the first year
What the pandit does
- Sankalpa
- Ekoddishta shraddha (for one person)
- Pinda pradana
- Tila tarpana
- Dana and dakshina
Benefits and best time for Masikam (Monthly Shraddham)
Benefits
- Fulfils the family’s duty to the departed in the first year
- Peace for the departed soul (sadgati)
- Blessings of the ancestors for the family
- The correct tithi each month, without the family having to work it out
When to perform
- Every lunar month on the tithi of passing, during the first year
- The pandit gives the date of each masikam from the panchang
- Late morning (kutapa kaal), the time prescribed for shraddha
Masikam (Monthly Shraddham) vidhi (step by step)
- 1Sankalpa with the name and gotra of the departed
- 2Tarpanam with black sesame and water
- 3Pinda pradanam as per the family’s custom
- 4Brahmana bhojanam or swayampakam
- 5Dakshina and prayers for the departed
Masikam (Monthly Shraddham) samagri list
- Black sesame seeds
- Darbha grass
- Rice, ghee and honey for pindas
- Swayampakam (raw rice, dal, vegetables)
- Banana leaves
Your pandit confirms the exact list after booking, so your family can arrange everything in time.
Masikam (Monthly Shraddham) across India’s traditions
Tamil tradition
Tamil families observe the masikams with the oonamasikam on the 27th day and the special masikams before the first year ends.
Telugu tradition
Telugu families observe masikam monthly, ending with the Samvatsarikam (Abdikam) after a year.
Kannada tradition
In Karnataka the masika shraddha is done monthly with pinda pradana, followed by the varshika (first annual).
Book Masikam (Monthly Shraddham) in your city
Telangana
Andhra Pradesh
- Visakhapatnam
- Vijayawada
- Guntur
- Tirupati
- Nellore
- Kurnool
- Kadapa
- Anantapur
- Rajahmundry
- Kakinada
- Eluru
- Ongole
- Srikakulam
- Vizianagaram
- Chittoor
Karnataka
- Bengaluru
- Mysuru
- Mangaluru
- Hubballi
- Belagavi
- Udupi
- Tumakuru
- Doddaballapur
- Ramanagara
- Chikkaballapur
- Kolar
- Mandya
- Hassan
- Chikkamagaluru
- Shivamogga
- Davanagere
- Chitradurga
- Ballari
- Hosapete
- Koppal
- Raichur
- Kalaburagi
- Bidar
- Yadgir
- Vijayapura
- Bagalkot
- Gadag
- Haveri
- Karwar
- Madikeri
- Chamarajanagar
- Puttur
Tamil Nadu
Kerala
Maharashtra
Delhi NCR
Uttar Pradesh (Delhi NCR)
Haryana (Delhi NCR)
Rajasthan
Uttar Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Chandigarh (Punjab & Haryana)
Bihar
Gujarat
West Bengal
Odisha
Goa
Himachal Pradesh
Puducherry
Why book Masikam (Monthly Shraddham) with Stuti Mandir
Verified pandits
Every pandit’s profile is reviewed and approved by Stuti Mandir before they can take bookings. See their languages and experience before you choose.
Price shown upfront
Dakshina, fees and taxes are itemised before you pay, so there is no haggling on the day.
Live pandit tracking
Follow your pandit on a live map from the moment they start their journey, just like a delivery app.
OTP-verified pooja
You confirm the pandit’s arrival and the pooja’s completion with one-time codes.
Your language, your tradition
Choose a pandit who speaks your language and follows your family’s customs.
Samagri made easy
Your pandit shares the full samagri list after booking, so your family has everything ready.
Talk to a pandit about Masikam (Monthly Shraddham)
Not sure of the date or what to prepare? A verified pandit calls you to fix the muhurat and plan the masikam (monthly shraddham) — from ₹301.
How to book Masikam (Monthly Shraddham)
- 1
Choose Masikam (Monthly Shraddham) and a verified pandit — compare their languages, experience and price.
- 2
Pick a date and time slot and add any muhurtham preference.
- 3
Pay securely online (UPI, cards or net banking) — the full bill is shown before you pay.
- 4
On the day, track your pandit live, confirm their arrival with an OTP, and share the completion code once the pooja is done.
Questions devotees ask us
How much does Masikam (Monthly Shraddham) cost?
On Stuti Mandir, Masikam (Monthly Shraddham) starts from ₹2,100 as pandit dakshina for 1 pandit. The final price depends on your city, the pandit you choose, samagri and express booking, and is shown in full before you pay.
How long does Masikam (Monthly Shraddham) take?
About 1.5 to 2 hours, performed by 1 pandit.
How many masikams are performed?
Traditionally twelve in the first year, plus the oonamasikam and the special masikams some communities observe; the pandit follows your family’s tradition.
How is the date of each masikam found?
From the tithi of death in each lunar month. The pandit works it out from the panchang and tells you the dates in advance.
Who performs the masikam?
Usually the son or the one who performed the last rites; the pandit guides every step.
Can I book a pandit who speaks my language for Masikam (Monthly Shraddham)?
Yes. Stuti Mandir has Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali and Odia-speaking pandits, depending on the city; each pandit’s languages are shown on their profile.
In which cities can I book Masikam (Monthly Shraddham)?
Masikam (Monthly Shraddham) can be booked in 85 cities including Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Khammam and Visakhapatnam. Choose your city below for local details.