Tarpana for Devas, Rishis and Pitris

 

When to Perform Tarpana : Everyday / every week / every fortnight / every month.

Location: Not in the living area where people may sleep. Front yard / back yard / balcony / terrace

Best Days: Amavasya (new Moon) day / Eclipse day / Vyatipata yoga day / Sankranthi (solar ingress) day / Pitri paksha. At those times, tarpana can be performed inside one’s house also.

Restrictions: Tarpana with water containing sesame seeds (which is needed for pitris) should not be performed:

1.             on a Sunday that has saptami tithi (7th day of the lunar fortnight),

2.             on a Friday that has a nanda tithi (1st, 6th and 11th tithis of the lunar fortnights),

3.             on a Sunday with Moon in Bharani, Krittika or Magha nakshatra, and,

4.             on one’s birthday.

On these days, tarpanas not requiring water with sesame seed can be performed, but not the ones requiring water with sesame seeds.

Materials Needed

One needs the following materials:

1.        Water pot made ideally of gold, silver, copper, bronze, brass or panchalohas (five metals). It should ideally not be made of iron, steel or clay.

2.       Some akshatas made by mixing uncooked plain white (or brown) rice grains with turmeric powder and a drop of ghee (clarified butter) or an oil. In the absence of turmeric powder, just plain rice grains can be used as akshatas.

3.           Black sesame seeds. If you cannot get them, use white or brown sesame seeds as a substitute. If you cannot get any of them, use akshatas (see (2) above) instead of sesame seeds.

4.         A ring made of darbha, known as pavitram, is to be worn on the right hand ring finger during the ritual. If that is not available, it is acceptable to wear any ring made of any gemstone or gold or silver. So wear some ring on the right hand ring finger. If that is not possible, proceed without it.

 

Sankalpam (vow)

While sitting cross-legged, the empty left-hand palm is placed on the right knee with the palm facing up. Some akshatas are taken in the right hand, it is closed and the closed fist of the right hand is placed on the left palm with the palm of the closed right fist facing down (towards the left hand palm).

Sankalpa (vow) means “on this auspicious day and auspicious time, I shall perform tarpana to Devas, Rishis and Pitris to the best of my ability”. After reciting it, the akshatas are dropped on the ground in front of one.

om adya subha dine subha muhurte devarsipitrprityartham devarsipitrtarpanam yathasakti karisye

Deva Tarpana

Direction: Sit facing East

Knee Position: Right knee should be in contact with the ground

Water: while saying the following mantras, release the water from the tips of the four fingers, i.e. from the area marked as “1” in the picture.

Put some akshatas in the water pot, hold the water pot on the right hand palm, cover it with the left hand palm and say the following to request the presence of gods, rishis etc in that water pot. It means “may Brahma etc gods and Kashyapa etc sages, may all the great ones who live in the stomach of the cosmic egg of creation come here”.

brahmaadayah surah sarve rsayah kasyapadayah | agacchantu mahabhaga brahmandodaravartinah

Now say the following mantras once each. Pour some water with the left hand into the open right palm,

om brahma trpyatam

om Visnuh trpyatam

om rudrah trpyatam

om prajapatih trpyatam

om devah trpyatam

om devyah trpyatam

om vasavah trpyatam

om rudrah trpyatam

om adityah trpyatam

om chandamsi trpyatam

om vedah trpyatam

om rsayah trpyatam

om gandharvah trpyatam

om apsarasah trpyatam

om devanugah trpyatam

om nagah trpyatam

om sagarah trpyatam

om parvatah trpyatam

om saritah trpyatam

om manusyah trpyatam

om yaksah trpyatam

om raksamsi trpyatam

om pisacah trpyatam

om suparnah trpyatam

om bhutani trpyatam

om pasavah trpyatam

om vanaspatayah trpyatam

om osadhayah trpyatam

Rishi Tarpana

Direction: Sit facing East

Knee Position: Right knee should be in contact with the ground

Water: while saying the following mantras, release the water from the tips of the four fingers, i.e. from the area marked as “1” in the picture.

om kasyapah trpyatam

om atrih trpyatam

om vasisthah trpyatam

om visvamitrah trpyatam

om gautamah trpyatam

om bharadvajah trpyatam

om jamadagnih trpyatam

om angirah trpyatam

om kutsah trpyatam

om bhrguh trpyatam

Divya Manushya Tarpana

Direction: Sit facing North

Knee Position: Sit without touching either knee to the ground, i.e. with raised knees

Sacred thread: wear it like a necklace, change its position without removing it from the body.

Water: while saying the following mantras, leave water from the area below the base of the little finger of the right hand, i.e. the area marked as “2” in the picture.

om sanakah trpyatam

om sanakah trpyatam

om sanandah trpyatam

om sanandah trpyatam

om sanatanah trpyatam

om sanatanah trpyatam

om sanatkumarah trpyatam

om sanatkumarah trpyatam

om kapilah trpyatam

om kapilah trpyatam

om asurih trpyatam

om asurih trpyatam

om vodhuh trpyatam

om vodhuh trpyatam

om pancasikhah trpyatam

om pancasikhah trpyatam

Divya Pitri Tarpana

Direction: Sit facing South

Knee Position: Left knee should be in contact with the ground

Sacred thread: wear it now above the shoulder on the right and below the shoulder (i.e. at the hip level) on the left, change its position without removing it from the body.

Water: while saying the following mantras, leave water from the area below the base of the index finger, i.e. from the area marked as “3” in the picture. Three offerings are made with each mantra now.

om agnih trpatam idam satilam jalam tasmai svadha namah ||1||

tasmai svadha namah ||2||

tasmai svadha namah ||3||

om somah trpatam idam satilam jalam tasmai svadha namah ||1||

tasmai svadha namah ||2||

tasmai svadha namah ||3||

om yamah trpatam idam satilam jalam tasmai svadha namah ||1||

tasmai svadha namah ||2||

tasmai svadha namah ||3||

om aryama trpatam idam satilam jalam tasmai svadha namah ||1||

tasmai svadha namah ||2||

tasmai svadha namah ||3||

Next 3 mantras are for all the manes that were burnt by fire or carried by water or elevated beings that just left the body.

om agnisu attah pitarah trpyantam idam satilam jalam tebhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

om somapah pitarah trpyantam idam satilam jalam tebhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

om barhisadah pitarah trpyantam idam satilam jalam tebhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

Yama Tarpana

Direction: Sit facing South

Knee Position: Left knee should be in contact with the ground

Sacred thread: wear it now above the shoulder on the right and below the shoulder (i.e. at the hip level) on the left, change its position without removing it from the body.

Water: while saying the following mantras, leave water from the area below the base of the index finger, i.e. from the area marked as “3” in the picture. Three offerings are made with each mantra now.

These are offerings to Lord Yama, who is the keeper of dharma and judge of people’s karmas.

om yamaya namah | om yamaya namah | om yamaya namah

om dharmarajaya namah | om dharmarajaya namah | om dharmarajaya namah

om mrtyave namah | om mrtyave namah  | om mrtyave namah

om antakaya namah | om antakaya namah | om antakaya namah

om vaivasvataya namah | om vaivasvataya namah | om vaivasvataya namah

om kalaya namah | om kalaya namah | om kalaya namah

om sarvabhutaknayaya namah | om sarvabhutaknayaya namah | om sarvabhutaknayaya namah

om audumbaraya namah | om audumbaraya namah | om audumbaraya namah

om dadhnaya namah | om dadhnaya namah | om dadhnaya namah

om måtyave namah | om måtyave namah | om måtyave namah

om nilaya namah | om nilaya namah | om nilaya namah

om paramesthine namah | om paramesthine namah | om paramesthine namah

om vrkodaraya namah | om vrkodaraya namah | om vrkodaraya namah

om citraya namah | om citraya namah | om citraya namah

om citraguptaya namah | om citraguptaya namah | om citraguptaya namah

Pitri Tarpana

Direction: Sit facing South

Knee Position: Left knee should be in contact with the ground

Sacred thread: wear it now above the shoulder on the right and below the shoulder (i.e. at the hip level) on the left, change its position without removing it from the body.

First place the water pot in front of you, bow to it and say the following. This means “may my ancestors come here and accept my water oblations”.

om agacchantu me pitarah imam grhnantu jalanjalim

Water: while saying the following mantras, leave water from the area below the base of the index finger, i.e. from the area marked as “3” in the picture. Three offerings are made with each mantra now.

To beings who played the role of father in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu pitarah tapyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tebhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of father’s father in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu pitamahah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tebhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of father’s father’s father in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu prapitamahah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tebhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of mother in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu matarah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tabhyah svadha namah ||2||

tabhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of father’s mother in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu pitamahyah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of father’s father’s mother in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu prapitamahyah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of wife in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu patnyah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of husband in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu patayah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of son in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu putrah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of daughter in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu kanyah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of step-mother in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu sapatnamatarah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of mother’s father in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu matamahah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of mother’s father’s father in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu pramatamahah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of mother’s father’s father’s father in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu vrddhapramatamahah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of mother’s mother in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu matamahyah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of mother’s father’s mother in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu pramatamahyah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of mother’s father’s father’s mother in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu vrddhapramatamahyah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of brother in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu bhratarah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of sister in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu bhaginyah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of father’s brother in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu pitrvyah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of mother’s brother in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu matulah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of step-brother in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu sapatnabhratarah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of step-sister in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu sapatnabhaginyah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of father’s sister in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu pitrbhaginyah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of mother’s sister in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu matrbhaginyah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of father-in-law in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu svasurah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of mother-in-law in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu svasurapatnyah idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of guru in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu guravah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of guru’s wife in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu gurupatnyah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of sishya in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu sisyah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of friend in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu sakhah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of dear one in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu apatajanah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

To beings who played the role of one born in the same lineage in various lives to you:

mama sarvajanmesu svakulajatah trpyantam idam tilodakam svadhayibhyah tabhyah svadha namah ||1||

tebhyah svadha namah ||2||

tebhyah svadha namah ||3||

Conclusion

While releasing water continuously in the style previously mentioned, recite the following verses.

narakesu samastesu yatanasu ca ye sthitah|

tesam apyayanayaitaddiyate salilam maya||

ye'bandhava bandhavasca ye'nyajanmani bandhavah|

te trptimakhila yantu yascasmatto'bhivanchati||

ye me kule luptapindah putra dara vivarjitah|

tesam hi dattamaksayyamidamastu tilodakam||

abrahmastambaparyantam devarsipitåmanavah|

trpyantu pitarah sarve matr matamahadayah||

atitakulakotinam saptadvipanivasinam|

abrahmabhuvanallokadidamastu tilodakam||

Now throw away the remaining water in the pot, clean it and take fresh water in it.

Direction: Sit facing East

Knee Position: Left knee should be in contact with the ground

Sacred thread: wear it now above the shoulder on the left and below the shoulder (i.e. at the hip level) on the right, change its position without removing it from the body.

Water: while saying the following, offer fresh water through the region marked as “1” in the picture (tips of fingers) to gods, like in Deva tarpana described earlier.

om suryaya namah|

om brahmane namah|

om agnaye namah|

om prthivyai namah|

om varunaya namah|

om visnave namah|

Say the following and think that you have surrendered the doership of the just finished action to the Lord. Now you should try to completely abandon the thought that “you” did it.

anena yathasaktikrtena devarsipitr tarpanakhyena karmana bhagavan pitrsvarupi janardana vasudevah priyatam na mama |

om tat sat |

om sarvam sri krsnarpanamastu |

om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu |

om sarve janah sukhino bhavantu |

om santih santih santih |