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Tarpana or Tarpaṇa (Template:Lang-sa, Template:Lang-bn, Template:Lang-kn, Template:Lang-ta) is a term in the 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.^[1]^[2]^[3] Tilatarpana (तिलतर्पण, তিলতর্পণ, ತಿಲತರ್ಪಣ, திலதர்பணம்) is a specific form of tarpana involving libations offered to the pitri (deceased ancestors) using water and sesame seeds during Pitru Paksha or as a death rite.^[4]

Tarpana is a form of arghya (an offering). It is offered to all devas as well as the Navagrahas whenever mulamantra is recited as japa.

Instances of welcome tarpana

For devis:
- 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]}
- 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]}
Cow's milk (raw, unheated, and unpasteurized), water, sugar, saffron, cardamom, borneo-camphor, etc. are mixed and used as the offering.
One tarpana (or arghya) is offered for the recitation of every ten mulamantras and one for part thereof.

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 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.

Offering tilatarpana

Black tila seeds (gingelly seeds which are black and white are eaten with jaggery on makar sankrati usually on January 14/15 in north India, but only black gingelly is used in tarpana), 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 prāchīnāvīti, प्राचीनावीति or apsabhya in Sanskrit).
A pavitra (ring) made of 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 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 rishis, the offering is made to flow between both palms adjoined, the tarpan dripping between both palms known as rishi tirtha

(c) For 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 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 not to be confused with sesame, which is from a large tree; gingelly is a small seed that stores energy and hence is considered a favorite of all Devas, Shani (Saturn) and pitrus. Lord Ganesha is commonly offered pancha-kajjaya, a delicacy made using sesame. Lord Shiva is worshipped with sesame seeds (tilakshata). For Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, Goddess Laxmi and 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 havans and homas. Therefore, tila (gingelly) and tilatarpana should not be dismissed as inauspicious.

Reasons for offering tarpana

It is believed that one's 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 within the macrocosm.

References

^ "Tarpaṇa | Encyclopedia.com". encyclopedia.com.
^ "Tarpaṇa".
^ "Tarpaṇa". A Dictionary of Hinduism. Oxford University Press. January 2009. ISBN 978-0-19-861025-0.
^ "Indian Hindu devotee performs "Tarpan"". Hindustan Times. Oct 2010. Archived from the original on 2014-12-15. Retrieved 2013-09-30.

Bibliography

Tarpana Vidhi Vidhana, authored by Sri Gunjur Ramachandra Sastry, published by Srinidhi Prakashana, Bangalore 560053 INDIA
The Sacred Books of the Hindus, Chapter 4, pg 21

External links

[1] "Tarpaṇa | Encyclopedia.com". encyclopedia.com.

[2] "Tarpaṇa".

[3] "Tarpaṇa". A Dictionary of Hinduism. Oxford University Press. January 2009. ISBN 978-0-19-861025-0.

[4] "Indian Hindu devotee performs "Tarpan"". Hindustan Times. Oct 2010. Archived from the original on 2014-12-15. Retrieved 2013-09-30.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 [[File:Kosha Kushi (Double Spoon).jpg|thumb|''Kosha Kushi'' ({{lang-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 mula[[mantra]] is recited as [[japa]].
+''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 ''[[devi|devis]]'':
 ** for [[Lakshmi]], “{{lang|sa|आर्द्रां ज्वलंतीम् तृप्ताम् तर्पयन्तीम्}}” {{transl|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}}” {{transl|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}}
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 == ''Tilatarpana'' ==
-''Tilatarpana'' is the ''tarpana'' (or ''arghya'') offered to ''pitri''s (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.
+''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|amavasyas]]'' (new moon days), ''sankramana''s (solar ingresses), eclipses, and during visits to selected holy places of pilgrimage.
 === Offering ''tilatarpana'' ===
-* Black ''tila'' seeds (gingelly seeds which are black and white which is eaten with [[jaggery]] on ''makar sankrati'' usually on January 14/15 in north India, but only black gingelly is used in ''tarpana'', used along with water as the offering.
+* Black ''tila'' seeds (gingelly seeds which are black and white are eaten with [[jaggery]] on ''makar sankrati'' usually on January 14/15 in north India, but only black gingelly is used in ''tarpana)'', 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).
+* 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 ''kush'' grass should be worn on the ring finger of the right hand and ''kush'' grasses in left fingers horizontally called ''tekusha''.
+* 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 ''devas'', the offering is made to flow over the eight fingers of both hands adjoined together other than the thumb known as ''dev tirtha''
+:(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 ''rishis'', the offering is made to flow between both palms adjoined tarpan dripping between both palms known as ''rishi tirtha''
+:(b) For ''[[Rishi|rishis]]'', the offering is made to flow between both palms adjoined, the tarpan dripping between both palms known as ''rishi tirtha''
-:(c) For ''pitris'', the offering is made to flow over the left side of the left palm and the thumb of the left hand.known as ''pitra tirtha''.the ''janew'' or ''yajnopavita'' resting on right shoulder falling to left side on the hip. This is known as ''upsavya''.as the ''[[yajnopavita]]'' is resting on the left side so the ''pitra tarpanj'' 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 ''pitras shradha,'' the use of the right hand is compulsory.
+:(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 ==
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 == Reasons for offering ''tarpana'' ==
-It is believed that one's ''[[pitri]]''s 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]].
+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 ==

v t e Death in Hinduism
Goal	Moksha Svarga
Rituals	Antyesti: Shmashana and Cremation ghats Burial in Hinduism Ngaben Pinda Post-Antyesti rituals: Niravapanjali Tarpana Rasam Pagri Pind Sammelan or Terahvin* Ancestor worship: Pitr Pitru Paksha Śrāddha Jathera or Dhok Samadhi
Other related	Bhuta Karma Loka Reincarnation Samskara Vaitarani Yama Hindu genealogy registers
See also	History Denominations Sampradaya Parampara Philosophy Texts Dharmic religions

v t e 16 Hindu Saṃskāras (rites of passage)
Pre-natal	Garbhādhāna Puṁsavana Sīmantonnayana
Childhood	Jātakarman Nāmakaraṇa Niṣkramaṇa Annaprāśana Cūḍākaraṇa Karṇavedha
Educational	Vidyārambha Upanayana Vedārāmbha Keśānta Samāvartana
Marriage	Vivāha
Last	Antyeṣṭi
Related topics	Nishekam Pumsavana Simantonayana

v t e Hindu cosmology
Space	Loka Brahmaloka Vaikuntha Kailasha Manidvipa Goloka Svarga Patala Naraka Aṇḍa Hiranyagarbha
Time	Life of Brahma Kalpa of Brahma Manvantara of Manu (age of mankind) Yuga / Cycle Satya Yuga Treta Yuga Dvapara Yuga Kali Yuga Pralaya (dissolution) Samudra Manthana
Literature	Nasadiya Sukta Brahmanda Purana Vishnu Purana
Related	List of numbers in Hindu scriptures

v t e Hindu deities and texts
Gods	Trimurti Brahma Vishnu Shiva Agni Ashvins Chandra Dattatreya Ganesha Hanuman Indra Kama Kartikeya Krishna Kubera Rama Shasta Surya Varuna Vayu Vishvakarma Yama more
Goddesses	Tridevi Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati Aditi Bhumi Chhaya Durga Ganga Shachi Kali Mahadevi Mahavidya Matangi Matrikas Radha Rati Rohini Rukmini Sanjna Sati Shakti Shashthi Sita more
Other deities	Apsaras Asuras Daitya Danava Devata Dikpāla Gandharvas Gana Kuladevatas Gramadevatas Rakshasas Vahanas Yakshas / Yakshini
Texts (list)	Vedas Rig Sama Yajur Atharva Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita Yoga Sutras of Patanjali more
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