Ancient Hindu Rituals  

Blessings For Your Ancestors

*“Tarpaṇa (Sanskrit: तर्पण, Kannada: ತರ್ಪಣ) is a term in the Vedic practice which refers to an offering made to divine entities. It refers to the act of the offering as well as the substance used in the offering itself. Tilatarpana (तिलतर्पण, ತಿಲತರ್ಪಣ) is a different but associated term that is sometimes confused with Tarpana. Tilatarpana is a specific form of Tarpana involving libations offered to the Pitrs (deceased ancestors) using water and sesame seeds during Pitru Paksha or as a death rite.^[1]

(i) Tarpana means Arghya, an offering. It is offered to all devas as well as the Navagrahas whenever mulamantra is recited as japa. (ii) Instances of welcome Tarpana are:

(a) for Lakshmi, “आर्द्रां ज्वलंतीम् तृप्ताम् तर्पयन्तीम् “ Ārdrāṁ jvalantīm tr̥ptām tarpayantīm (Śrī Sūkta 4), “One who is satisfied and who satisfies those who offer Her Tarpana”^{[citation needed]}

(b) for Tripura Sundari, “बिंदु तर्पण संतुष्टाम् पूर्वजा त्रिपुराम्बिका” bindu tarpaṇa santuṣṭām pūrvajā tripurāmbikā (Lalita Sahasranama 178, 974), “One who is satisfied by just a single drop of Tarpana”^{[citation needed]}

(iii) Cow’s milk (raw, unheated, and unpasteurized), water, sugar, saffron, cardamom, borneo-camphor, etc. are mixed and used as the offering according to the requirements.

(iv) One Tarpana (or Arghya) is offered for the recitation of every ten moolamantras and one for part thereof.

Tilatarpana

(i) Tilatarpana is the Tarpana (or Arghya) offered to Pitrus (departed ancestors) by male descendants who do not have a living father.

(ii) This is offered at the first annual shraddha (death anniversary) and during subsequent annual shraddhas, amavasyas (new moon days), sankramanas (solar ingresses), eclipses, and during visits to selected holy places of pilgrimage.

(iii) Method of offering Tilatarpana:

(a) Black til seeds (black sesame or gingelly seeds) are used along with water as the offering.

(b) The yagnopavita (sacred thread) is to be worn in the opposing position (i.e., on the right shoulder, which is termed as prAchInAvIti, प्राचीनावीति in Sanskrit).

(c) A pavitra (ring) made of grass should be worn on the ring finger of the right hand.”

*The Information above is from  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarpana

Dr. Pillai

Tarpanam Helps Ancestors Part 1 of 2: Blessing Ceremony Helps Your
Ancestors Find Peace

Tarpanam Ceremony Part 2 of 2: Give Peace & Love For The Soul: Help Ancestors
Cross Over Into Light