Tarpan (Water Offering)
तर्पण
Offering water to ancestors for their satisfaction and peace.
About This Ritual
Tarpan is the ritual of offering water to ancestors, gods, and sages. The
word comes from "Trupti" meaning satisfaction. Through Tarpan, devotees provide symbolic
nourishment to their departed ancestors.
The ritual involves standing in water (ideally a sacred river or tank), facing south (the
direction of Yama, the god of death), and offering water mixed with sesame seeds, barley,
and kusha grass while reciting specific mantras naming the ancestors.
Three types of Tarpan are performed:
1. Deva Tarpan - offerings to gods
2. Rishi Tarpan - offerings to sages
3. Pitru Tarpan - offerings to ancestors
The water is offered using the right palm and fingers in specific configurations depending
on whether it's for gods, sages, or ancestors.
तर्पण काले तिल, जौ और कुश घास मिश्रित जल पूर्वजों को अर्पित करने का अनुष्ठान है। यह दक्षिण दिशा (पूर्वजों से जुड़ी दिशा) की ओर मुख करके किया जाता है।
अनुष्ठान में पवित्र जल अर्पित करते समय तीन पीढ़ियों के पूर्वजों के नाम और गोत्र का उच्चारण किया जाता है। पितृ पक्ष के दौरान प्रतिदिन और अमावस्या तथा पुण्यतिथि जैसे महत्वपूर्ण अवसरों पर तर्पण किया जाता है।
Significance
Tarpan is based on the belief that ancestors in the Pitru Loka (realm of
ancestors) depend on offerings from their descendants for sustenance. The water offered with
devotion is believed to reach them as nourishment and give them satisfaction.
Regular Tarpan is believed to:
- Please ancestors and receive their blessings
- Remove obstacles in life
- Mitigate Pitra Dosha
- Bring harmony and prosperity to the family
Gallery
