Pitru dosha are supposed to be the shadows we carry through generations in a family. It is a purely astrological concept and is not necessarily validated by spiritual experience. The prescribed rituals hardly work and more often than not keep strengthening our faith in these things, thereby making it worse. Rather, one should grow conscious of the spiritual elements in oneself, nourish the spiritual side of the personality, grow spiritually conscious and turn towards the Divine with complete faith in the Grace. That can and does dissolve everything if one has the required patience and the trust and confidence in the Divine Grace.
That, after all, is the story of Bhagirath, who carries the burden of the wrongdoings of his ancestors. It is by turning towards and invoking the purifying force of the Divine Grace that he helps the ancestors and gets rid of their karmic baggage. To invoke the Divine Grace is the great secret, the greatest secret.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
