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 |
