Tarpan 

Tarpan is a priceless tradition of our Sanatan culture, which has been continuing since the Vedic period. Tarpan is also a medium to express reverence and gratitude towards our deities, sages, and ancestors. The meaning of Tarpan is offering of water, that is, Tarpan is the process of offering water to our ancestors, sages, deities, and Yamas. The purpose of this ritual is to express respect towards them, to wish for their satisfaction and peace. This act is considered extremely important for the satisfaction and peace of the forefathers. While performing Tarpan, one must have knowledge of some important aspects, which are as follows: - 

Specialty of Time in Tarpan: 

The time of Tarpan is very important, because when Tarpan is performed at the right time, the ancestors attain maximum satisfaction. The water offered during the first watch after sunrise is considered like nectar, which is the most beneficial for the ancestors. The water offered till one and a half watches reaches the ancestors in the form of milk, by which they are satisfied. After that, the water offered till three watches is accepted by the ancestors in the form of normal water. That is why it is extremely necessary to keep in mind the proper time of Tarpan, so that its full benefit can be attained. 

Tarpan Materials: Kusha grass (A special type of grass), Akshata (unbroken rice grains), barley, sesame seeds, water, sacred thread (if worn), a piece of cloth, and Paitee (Kusha ring). 

Preparation of the Performer of Tarpan: 

The performer of Tarpan should sit facing east on a seat made of Kusha grass and perform Achaman (sipping of water) three times. Before beginning Tarpan, holding water and Kusha in hand, one should first take the Sankalpa (vow). While taking the Sankalpa, the place, time, date, lineage (Gotra), and the names of the ancestors are mentioned while reciting the vow of Tarpan. 

Tarpan Sankalp: - 

Om adya brahmano dvitiyaparardha Shri Shvetavarahakalpe Shrivaivasvatamanvantare Jambudvipe Bharatkhandey Aryavartekdeshe

Kaliyuge Kaliprathamacharane Punyakshetre Amuksamvatsare Amukmase Amukpakshe Amuktithau Amukvasare

Amukgotrotpannah Amuksharmaaham devarshimanushyapitr tarpanam karishye. 

Tarpan Tirtha: 

During Tarpan, different parts of the hand are used, which are called Tarpan Tirtha. 

• Devatirtha: The fingertips, the place for offering water to the deities. 
• Kayatirtha: The root of the little finger, also known as Prajapatya. 
• Pitrutirtha: The space between the index finger and the thumb, from where water is offered to the ancestors. 

The process of wrapping three kusha grasses together and joining their tips and roots is called Motaka. Similarly, a group of three kusha grasses is called Trikusha. In the procedure of Tarpan, Pavitri (a ring made of kusha), Motaka, and Trikusha hold special importance, and all these are considered essential during Tarpan. 

Different Stages of Tarpan: 

1. Deva Tarpan: In this type of Tarpan, water is offered to the deities. The performer of Tarpan should become Savya (keeping the sacred thread on the left shoulder), sit facing east, and offer water while pronouncing the names of the deities. While offering water, one Anjali each should be given with Trikusha and Akshata after reciting each of the names mentioned below. 

Om Brahma Tripyatam । Om Vishnustripyatam । Om Rudrastripyatam । Om Prajapatistripyatam । Om Devastripyantam । Om Chhandansitripyantam । Om Rishayastripyantam । Om Vedastripyantam । Om Puranacharyastripyantam । Om Gandharvastripyantam । Om Itaracharyastripyantam । Om Samvatsarah Savayavastripyatam । Om Devyastripyantam । Om Apsarasahstripyantam । Om Devanugastripyantam । Om Nagastripyantam । Om Sagarastripyantam ।
Om Parvatastripyantam । Om Saritastripyantam । Om Manushyastripyantam । Om Yakshastripyantam । Om Rakshansi Tripyantam । Om Pishachastripyantam । Om Suparnastripyantam । Om Bhutani Tripyantam । Om Pashavastripyantam । Om Vanaspatayastripyantam । Om Aushadhayastripyantam । Om Bhutagramaschaturvidhastripyatam । 

2. Marichyadi (Rishi) Tarpan: For offering water to the Rishis, the performer of Tarpan should again become Savya (keeping the sacred thread on the left shoulder), sit facing east, and just as water is offered to the deities, in the same way, water with Akshata should be offered to the Rishis through the Deva Tirtha, one Anjali at a time, to the Marichyadi Rishis. While offering water to the Rishis, the following names should be recited continuously. 

Om Marichistripyatam । Om Atristripyatam । Om Angirah Tripyatam । Om Pulahastripyatam । Om Kratustripyatam । Om Prachetastripyatam । Om Vasisthastripyatam । Om Bhrigustripyatam । Om Naradastripyatam । 

3. Divya Manushya Tarpan: In this type of Tarpan, the sacred thread (Yajnopavita) should be worn in the Niviti manner, that is, like a garland, along with the Angocha (cloth). After this, facing the north direction, using the Kaya Tirtha, with Trikusha and barley (yava), two Anjalis of water should be offered to each while reciting the following names. 

Om Sanakastripyatam । Om Sanandanatripyatam । Om Sanatanatripyatam । Om Kapilatripyatam । Om Basukitripyatam । Om Vodhutripyatam । Om Panchashikharastripyatam । 

4. Pitra Tarpan: This is the most important stage of Tarpan. In this, the performer should become Apasavya (placing the sacred thread on the right shoulder), face the south direction, and offer water to the ancestors. In this process, the performer, facing south and bending the left knee (if possible), should take the Motaka and offer three Anjalis of water with sesame seeds to each ancestor through the Pitru Tirtha, while reciting the following mantras. 

 

• Om kavyavadanlastripyatamidan jalam tasmai swadha tasmai swadha tasmai swadha. 
• Om somastripyatamidan jalam tasmai swadha tasmai swadha tasmai swadha. 
• Om yamastripyatamidan jalam tasmai swadha tasmai swadha tasmai swadha. 
• Om aryamastripyatamidan jalam tasmai swadha tasmai swadha tasmai swadha. 
• Om agnishvattaah pitarastripyantamidan jalam tebhyah swadha tebhyah swadha tebhyah swadha. 
• Om somapaah pitarastripyantamidan jalam tebhyah swadha tebhyah swadha tebhyah swadha. 
• Om barhishadah pitarastripyantamidan jalam tebhyah swadha tebhyah swadha tebhyah swadha. 

 

5. Yama Tarpan: For Yama Tarpan, the performer should again become Apasavya (placing the sacred thread on the right shoulder), face the south direction, and while bending the left knee (if possible), offer three Anjalis of water to each of the following fourteen Yamas, one by one, while reciting their names. 

Om Yamaya Namah । Om Dharamrajaya Namah । Om Mrityave Namah । Om Antakaya Namah । Om Vaivasvataya Namah । Om Kalaya Namah । Om Sarvabhutakshayaya Namah । Om Audumbaraya Namah । Om Dadhnaya Namah । Om Neelaya Namah । Om Parameshthine Namah । Om Vrikodaraya Namah । Om Chitraya Namah । Om Chitraguptaya Namah । 

6. Pitra Tarpan: This Tarpan is performed for one’s father, grandfather (paternal), great-grandfather (paternal), maternal grandfather, maternal great-grandfather, and elder maternal great-grandfather, all along with their spouses.

While performing this Tarpan, the performer should become Apasavya (placing the sacred thread on the right shoulder), face the south direction, and while bending the left knee, take sesame seeds and Motaka, and offer three Anjalis of water to the ancestors while reciting the following mantras. 

For Father: Om Vasurupah Amukagotrah Asmatpita Amukasharma Tripyatamidam jalam tasmai Swadha (3 times) 

For Grandfather (Baba): Om Rudrarupah Amukagotrah Asmatpitamahah Amukasharma Tripyatamidam jalam tasmai Swadha (3 times) 

For Great-Grandfather (Parbaba): Om Adityarupah Amukagotrah Asmatprapitamahah Amukasharma Tripyatamidam jalam tasmai Swadha (3 times) 

In the same manner, this is performed for the mother, grandmother (Pitamahi), great-grandmother (Prapitamahi), maternal grandfather and grandmother (Nana–Nani), maternal uncle and aunt (Mama–Mami), and other Sapinda relatives. 

The performer of Tarpan should become Apasavya (placing the sacred thread on the right shoulder), face the south direction, and while bending the left knee, take water and sesame seeds, and offer three Anjalis of water while reciting the following mantras: 

For Mother: Om Gayatrirupa Amukagotra Asmanmata Amuki Devi Tripyatamidam jalam tasyai Swadha (3 times) 

For Grandmother (Dadi): Om Savitrirupa Amukagotra Asmatpitamahi Amuki Devi Tripyatamidam jalam tasyai Swadha (3 times) 

For Great-Grandmother (Paradadi): Om Sarasvatirupa Amukagotra Asmatprapitamah Amuki Devi Tripyatamidam jalam tasyai Swadha (3 times) 

For Maternal Grandfather and Grandmother: Amukagotra Asmanmatamah Amukasharma Sapatnikah Tripyatamidam jalam tasmai Swadha (3 times) 

For Maternal Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother: Om Amukagotra Asmatpramatamah Amukasharma Sapatnikah Tripyatamidam jalam tasmai Swadha (3 times) 

For Elder Maternal Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother: Om Amukagotra Asmavriddhapramatamah Amukasharma Sapatnikah Tripyatamidam jalam tasmai Swadha (3 times) 

Tarpan for Other Sapinda Relatives: 

In the same sequence, offer three Anjalis of water to your uncle–aunt, brothers–sisters-in-law, sisters, maternal uncle–aunt, paternal aunt (Bua), paternal aunt’s sons, maternal aunt (Mausi), maternal aunt’s sons, and maternal uncle’s sons. The performer should become Apasavya (placing the sacred thread on the right shoulder), face the south direction, and bend the knee while offering. Along with this, perform Tarpan for father-in-law, mother-in-law, and Guru as per the prescribed method. 

If you wish to offer water to other Pitrs, deities, humans, or other beings, then sit Savya (placing the sacred thread on the left shoulder), face the east direction, and continuously recite the following mantra while offering water: 

Mantra:
Devasuraastatha yakshaa naagaa gandharvarakshasaah। Pishaachaah guhyakaah siddhaah kushmaandaastaravah khagaah॥
Jalecharaa bhoonilayaa vaayvaadhaaraashcha jantavah। Triptimete prayaantvaashu maddattenaambunaa khilaah॥ 

After this, offer water to those ancestors who were unintentionally left out during the Tarpan. 

For Pitrs who were missed by mistake: 

Facing the south direction, becoming Apasavya (sacred thread on the right shoulder), keep offering water while reciting the following mantra: 

Om aabrahmastambaparyantam devarshipitrimaanavaah। Tripyantu pitaraah sarve maatrimaataamahaadayah॥
Ateetakulakoteenaam saptadweepanivaasinaam। Aabrahmabhuvanaallokaadidamastu tilodakam॥
Ye’baandhavaa baandhavaa vaa ye’nyajanmani baandhavaah। Te triptimakhilaa yaantu yashchaasmato’bhivaanshchati॥

For those in the family who died childless or within the Gotra: 

Facing the south direction, becoming Apasavya (sacred thread on the right shoulder), squeeze water from the edge of the angochha (cloth) onto the left side of the earth while reciting the following shloka: 

Ye chaasmaakam kule jaataa aputraa gotrino mrtaah। Te grihnantu mayaa dattam vastranishpeedanodakam॥

For Bhishma Pitamah: 

While offering Tarpan to Bhishma Pitamah, sit Savya (sacred thread on the left shoulder), face the east direction, and with Motaka (bunch of Kusha grass), offer three Anjalis of water along with the following mantra: 

Mantra:

Vaiyaghrapadagotraaya saankrityapravaraaya cha। Aputraaya dadaamyetajjalam bheeshmaaya varmane॥

With this method, offer water with devotion to Bhishma Pitamah so that his soul may be satisfied and his blessings be received. 

Suryarghya Arpan Vidhi: 

While offering Arghya to Lord Surya, the performer should sit Savya (placing the sacred thread on the left shoulder) and face the east direction while standing. Take red flowers, fragrance, water, etc., and with full devotion and reverence, offer Arghya while reciting
the following mantra: 

Mantra:
Om ehi Surya sahastraansho, tejoraashe jagatpate। Anukampaya maam bhaktyaa grihanaarghyam divaakara॥“ 

By offering Arghya to Lord Surya in this way, one should seek His grace and blessings, so that His radiance and energy bring positivity and prosperity into life.