View source for Tarpana

{{short description|Offering in Vedic practice}}
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 {{more citations needed|date=October 2021}}
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[[File:Tarpan - Jagannath Ghat - Kolkata 2012-10-15 0622.JPG|thumb|The ''Tarpan'' (Offering holy water to the manes) is being done at the Jagannath Ghat, [[Kolkata]], at end of the Pitru Paksha.|alt= Tarpan is being done at the Jagannath Ghat, Kolkata.]]
'''''Tarpana''''' or '''{{IAST|Tarpaṇa}}''' ({{langx|sa|तर्पण}}, {{langx|bn|তর্পণ}}, {{langx|kn|ತರ್ಪಣ}}, {{langx|ta|தர்ப்பணம்}}) is a term in the [[Hinduism|Vedic practice]] that refers to an offering made to divine entities. It refers to the act of offering as well as the substance used in the offering.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/tarpana|title=Tarpaṇa &#124; Encyclopedia.com|website=encyclopedia.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803102142197;jsessionid=F1CEF998E171D4DA420E687D2AFA209C | title=Tarpaṇa }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780198610250.001.0001/acref-9780198610250-e-2447 | isbn=978-0-19-861025-0 | title=A Dictionary of Hinduism | chapter=Tarpaṇa | date=January 2009 | publisher=Oxford University Press }}</ref> ''Tilatarpana'' ({{lang|sa|तिलतर्पण}}, {{lang|bn|তিলতর্পণ}}, {{lang|kn|ತಿಲತರ್ಪಣ}}, {{lang|ta|திலதர்பணம்}}) is a specific form of ''tarpana'' involving [[libation]]s offered to the ''[[pitri]]'' (deceased ancestors) using water and sesame seeds during ''[[Pitru Paksha]]'' or as a death rite.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indian Hindu devotee performs "Tarpan"|publisher=Hindustan Times|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/photos-news/Photos-India/Mahalaya2010/Article4-609581.aspx|date=Oct 2010|access-date=2013-09-30|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215091147/http://www.hindustantimes.com/photos-news/Photos-India/Mahalaya2010/Article4-609581.aspx|archive-date=2014-12-15}}</ref>

[[File:Kosha Kushi (Double Spoon).jpg|thumb|''Kosha Kushi'' ({{langx|bn|কোশা-কুশী}}; {{lit|Double Spoon}}) is used for puja. This Kosha Kushi is made of pure copper. Kosha Kushi is used for offering holy water to God and Goddess and also used for shradh tarpan puja. Kosha Kushi is an important ritual item used in the Tantric worship of the Divine Mother.]]
''Tarpana'' is a form of ''arghya'' (an offering). It is offered to all [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] as well as the [[Navagraha]]s whenever [[mantra|mulamantra]] is recited as [[japa]].

== Instances of welcome ''tarpana'' ==
For ''[[devi]]s'':
* for [[Lakshmi]], “{{lang|sa|आर्द्रां ज्वलंतीम् तृप्ताम् तर्पयन्तीम्}}” {{Transliteration|sa|Ārdrāṁ jvalantīm tr̥ptām tarpayantīm}} ([[Śrī Sūkta]] 4), "One who is satisfied and who satisfies those who offer Her Tarpana"{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}
* for [[Tripura Sundari]], “{{lang|sa|बिंदु तर्पण संतुष्टाम् पूर्वजा त्रिपुराम्बिका}}” {{Transliteration|sa|bindu tarpaṇa santuṣṭām pūrvajā tripurāmbikā}} (''[[Lalita Sahasranama]]'' 178, 974), "One who is satisfied by just a single drop of Tarpana"{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

[[Cow's milk]] (raw, unheated, and unpasteurized), [[water]], [[sugar]], [[saffron]], [[cardamom]], [[Borneo camphor|borneo-camphor]], etc. are mixed and used as the offering.

One ''tarpana'' (or ''arghya'') is offered for the recitation of every ten ''mulamantra''s and one for part thereof.

{{Hinduism}}

== ''Tilatarpana'' ==
''Tilatarpana'' is the ''tarpana'' (or ''arghya'') offered to ''[[pitrs]]'' (departed ancestors) by male descendants who do not have a living father. This is offered at the first annual ''[[Śrāddha|shraddha]]'' (death anniversary) and during subsequent annual shraddhas, ''[[amavasya]]s'' (new moon days), ''sankramana''s (solar ingresses), eclipses, and during visits to selected holy places of pilgrimage.

=== Offering ''tilatarpana'' ===
* Black ''tila'' (gingelly) seeds, used along with water as the offering.
* The ''[[yagnopavita]]'' (sacred thread) is to be worn in the opposing position (i.e., on the right shoulder, which is termed as {{IAST|prāchīnāvīti}}, {{lang|sa|प्राचीनावीति}} or ''apsabhya'' in Sanskrit).
* A ''pavitra'' (ring) made of ''[[Kusha grass|kusha]]'' grass should be worn on the ring finger of the right hand and ''kusha'' grasses in left fingers horizontally called ''tekusha''.

== Posture of hand ==
The hand while offering ''tarpana'' varies for offerings made to ''devas'' (Gods, Goddesses and Navagrahas), ''rishis'' (sages) and ''pitrus'' (departed ancestors).
:(a) For ''[[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]]'', the offering is made to flow over the eight fingers of both hands adjoined together other than the thumb known as ''dev tirtha''
:(b) For ''[[rishi]]s'', the offering is made to flow between both palms adjoined, the tarpan dripping between both palms known as ''rishi tirtha''
:(c) For ''[[Pitrs|pitrus]]'', the offering is made to flow over the left side of the left palm and the thumb of the left hand known as ''pitru tirtha,'' the ''janeu'' or ''yagnopavita'' resting on right shoulder falling to left side on the hip. This is known as ''upsavya'' as the ''[[yajnopavita|yagnopavita]]'' is resting on the left side so the ''pitru tarpan'' should be offered with the left hand. This is the reason to circumambulate the deceased anti-clockwise. The left hand should be used for ''pind danam''. In all other rituals apart from ''pitru shraddha,'' the use of the right hand is compulsory.

== Gingelly ==
Gingelly is different than sesame, which is from a large tree; gingelly is a small seed that stores energy and hence is considered a favorite of all [[Deva (Hinduism)|''Devas'']], ''[[Shani]]'' (Saturn) and ''pitrus''. [[Ganesha|Lord Ganesha]] is commonly offered ''pancha-kajjaya'', a delicacy made using sesame. [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]] is worshipped with sesame seeds (''tilakshata''). For [[Vishnu|Lord Vishnu]], [[Brahma|Lord Brahma]], [[Laxmi|Goddess Laxmi]] and [[Saraswati|Goddess Saraswati]], gingelly seeds are used in their favorite eatables. It is used as a ''homa dravya'' (an ingredient in the fire offerings) in many [[Havanam|''havans'']] and [[Homa (ritual)|''homas'']]. Therefore, ''tila'' (gingelly) and ''tilatarpana'' should not be dismissed as inauspicious.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

== Reasons for offering ''tarpana'' ==
It is believed that one's ''[[pitri|pitrs]]'' eagerly await ''tarpana''. If no offering is made, they return to their places disappointed, and the descendant misses their blessings that he would have received, if he had performed his filial duties. ''Kosha Kushi''  is an important ritual item used in the Tantric worship of the Divine Mother and represents the ''yoni'' and womb of the Goddess, as well as the astral body within the physical body and the [[Microcosm–macrocosm analogy|microcosm]] within the [[macrocosm]].

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin}}
* ''Tarpana Vidhi Vidhana'', authored by Sri Gunjur Ramachandra Sastry, published by Srinidhi Prakashana, Bangalore 560053 INDIA
* [https://ia904709.us.archive.org/18/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.92892/2015.92892.The-Sacred-Books-Of-The-Hindus.pdf The Sacred Books of the Hindus, Chapter 4, pg 21]
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.scribd.com/doc/115629188/Tarpana-Sanskrit|Tarpana Sanskrit] {{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}
* [http://www.vedicastrologer.org/tarpana/ Detailed Tarpana Vidhi (Tharpana/Tarpan Vidhi) Procedure in Sanskrit and various other Indian languages]
* [https://brahminrituals.blogspot.com/2013/08/tharpana-manthras-iyers.html Iyer mantras]
* [https://www.shastras.com/mantras-and-rituals/bodhayana-darsa-tharpanam/ Bodhayana tarpanam mantras]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iJnmks0wxg Yajurveda apastambha sutra tarpanam]

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[[Category:Rituals in Hindu worship]]
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