Every year during Mahalaya, the beginning of Devi Paksha, marks the end of the 16 days of the Shradh. During the 16 days the men in the family pay respect(sraddha) to their ancestors. On the last day we have Sarva Pitru Amavasya. In this day we pay pay respect to our ancestors by offering Tarpan.
Who can offer Tarpan?
A son has to perform tarpan for his ancestors after 1 year has passed his fathers sraddha(death), but in case the son is not present or unable to offer due to any reason a widow can offer tarpan to her husband and his ancestors.
Whom to offer Tarpan?
Tarpan is performed for people who have passed away. Tarpan is mainly performed for Pitrutrayi(Trio of Fathers) as beyond the trio is considered to be liberated. Tarpan is performed by offering ganga jal and til to father(Pita), grand father(Pitamaha), great grand father(Propitamaha), mother. Tarpan may be also offered to grand mother, great grand mother and in the name of all ancestors who have not been liberated. It may be also offered in the name of those who souls who have no son and wife to perform their tarpan. It can also be offered to Sages and Gods as a daily ritual but here we will be learning about Tarpan for Pitrutrayi and mother.
Though there are many ways we can offer Tarpan, I will share a very simple and minimal process and ask for blessings of our ancestors.
To perform Tarpan, we will need the following items:
1. Water
2. Ganga Jal
3. Black Til (Black Sesame)
4. Unprocessed Cow milk
5. Kusha (Dry halfa grass)
6. Durba (Grass twigs)
In a vessel mix water, ganga jal, til and cow milk. You may also add chandan paste and rice but only til and ganga jal is important. The quantity should be enough so that you can provide each of your ancestors you want to offer 3 times. In another vessel keep some ganga jal only for purification.
Purification:
Sit facing South. Immerse a kusha in ganga jal and purify the place by sprinkling ganga jal with the kusha in the place, also on your head with the purification mantra.
Om vishnu om vishnu om vishnu
om apavitrah pavitro vā
sarvāvasthāṁ gato api vā
yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ
sa bahya abhyantaraṁ śuciḥ
namo śuciḥ namo śuciḥ namo śuciḥ
It means: Om, anyone pure or impure, under any conditions, is purified outwardly and inwardly by remembering pundarikaksha(another name for vishnu).
Ganesha:
Once the place is purified repeat Om Ganeshaye Namah 3 times and ask him mentally to help you complete the Tarpan successfully.
Invoke the spirits of your ancestors:
Repeating the mantra once ask your ancestors to come and offer them ganga jal.
Om Aagachchantu Me Pitar Emam Grihanantu Jalaanjalim.
If you have kosha kushi you can add durba, haritaki, tulsi, genda flower, ganga jal and drop it facing south.
Things to know:
For Brahmins who are having holy thread, there are 3 ways to wear it. Savya, Apasavya and Nivit. Savya is worn from the left shoulder and is worn when invoking gods, Apasavya from right while invoking ancestors and Nivit from the neck when invoking sages. Here we are invoking ancestors so we need to wear the holy thread from the right.
Tarpan for Father:
Tarpan to ancestors is done facing south. Hold a kusha in your hand perpendicularly to your fingers passing in between your thumb and hold it with the thumb so that it stays in place. Pour a spoon of the mix on your right and hand palm and repeat the mantra.
AmukGotrah AsmatPita AmukDevaSharma Vasuroopastripyatamidam Teelodakam Tasmey Swadha Namah, Tasmey Swadha Namah, Tasmey Swadha Namah.
AmukGotrah: Replace with your Gotra, for example "Sandilya Gotrashya"
AmukDevaSharma: Replace with your Father's name, for example Prasanta Deva Sharmana
The complete mantra should be:
Sandilya Gotrashya AsmatPita Prasanta Deva Sharmana Vasuroopastripyatamidam Teelodakam Tasmey Swadha Namah, Tasmey Swadha Namah, Tasmey Swadha Namah.
After completion of the mantra slant your hand towards the right so that the tarpan mix flows out from between the thumb and the index finger. This is called Pitrutirtha.
Repeat the process 3 times.
Tarpan for Grand Father and Great Grand Father:
Replace AsmatPita with Asmatpitamah / Asmatpropitamah
Replace Vasuroopastripyatamidam with Rudraroopastripyatamidam (for grandfather only)
Replace AmukSharma with Grand Father’s Name
For example:
Sandilya Gotrashya AsmatPitamaha Gopal Chandra Deva Sharmana Rudraroopastripyatamidam Teelodakam Tasmey Swadha Namah, Tasmey Swadha Namah, Tasmey Swadha Namah.
Repeat the process 3 times for each.
Sandilya Gotrashya AsmatPropitamaha Makhan lal Deva Sharmana Vasuroopastripyatamidam Teelodakam Tasmey Swadha Namah, Tasmey Swadha Namah, Tasmey Swadha Namah.
Repeat the process 3 times.
Tarpan for Mother:
The mantra is
AmukGotraa Asmnamata AmukiDevi Gayatriroopa Tripyatamidam Teelodakam Tasmey Swadha Namah, Tasmey Swadha Namah, Tasmey Swadha Namah.
AmukGotraa: Your Gotra
AmukiDevi: Your mother's name followed by devi.
Repeat the process 3 times.
Most Important:
In case you are not comfortable with the Sanskrit mantras, you can say in your native language.
"I offer sesame and water for the happiness and liberation of my father <his name> tasmey swadha namah".
Here is a simple process explained in hindi:
Tarpan for Mother:
The mantra is
AmukGotraa Asmnamata AmukiDevi Gayatriroopa Tripyatamidam Teelodakam Tasmey Swadha Namah, Tasmey Swadha Namah, Tasmey Swadha Namah.
AmukGotraa: Your Gotra
AmukiDevi: Your mother's name followed by devi.
Repeat the process 3 times.
Most Important:
In case you are not comfortable with the Sanskrit mantras, you can say in your native language.
"I offer sesame and water for the happiness and liberation of my father <his name> tasmey swadha namah".
Here is a simple process explained in hindi:
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