PITHRU YAGNA - THARPANA VIDHI

Ø THARPANA VIDHI

In the daily schedule (nithya karma) of a devout Hindu; Tharpana is one of the accepted modes of oblation performed to the deities; sages and pithrus that we generally come across during Brahma-Yagna.

Apart from giving tharpana during nithya karma; the maxims prescribe Pithru tharpana to be given on specific days which forms part and parcel of Pithru Yagna.

The ritual Tharpana should be performed only by those who are eligible.

An individual gets eligibility to perform Pithru tharpana only after getting inducted into the concept of Upanayana (Dvija) and after the death of father.

Pithru tharpana should always be performed with Thila (black sesame seeds) except during Brahma Yagna when it should be performed with water.

Tharpana should always be performed wearing Dharbha Pavithra.

In lieu of Dharbha Pavithra one can also use silver ring. Pavithra should be worn to the right hand ring finger. After completing the ritual Pavithra should be removed.

Pithru tharpana/Pinda pradhana should always be performed facing south direction with Yagnopaveetham in apasavya position.

Tharpana should not be given on the day of Ekaadasi aacharana.

Similarly, during the period of Asoucha also tharpana should not be given.

Water used for Aachamanam should not be used for giving tharpana.

Water from Kalasha paathra mixed with Thulasi/Nirmaalya Theertha should be used for giving Pithru tharpana.

On the day of Pithru Tharpana one should take only one time meal. Night meal should be avoided.

In case of Sraaddha Thithi including Mahalaya, meals should be avoided on the previous day night also.

Tharpana and/or Pinda Pradhana have to be done in the order as per the given list.

Tharpana and Pinda Pradhana should be performed only to the deceased and not to the living even though they figure in the eligible list.

Tharpana should not be given to the concerned Pithru till completion of one year after the death.

Ø ShanNavathi…

(Specified days/occasions for Pithru (Thila) tharpana)

Sacred texts prescribe Thila tharpana to be given to the Pithrus (forefathers) exclusively on 96 specific days in a year called ShanNavathi. They are…

14 Manvanthara days known as Manvaadi;

04 Yugaadi days (Krutha; Thretha; Dwapara; Kali Yuga);

12 Sankramana (Sun’s transit days);

12 Amaavaasya days (Darsha);

15 Mahalaya Paksha (during Bhaadrapada Maasa);

12 Vyatheepaatha Yoga days;

12 Vaidruthi Yoga days;

05 Poorvedyu days;

05 Ashtaka days;

05 Anvashtaka days;

It is said that by performing Shannavathi sraaddha, Pithrus gets pleased/satisfied for 2000 years.

Apart from the above one is required to perform Thila tharpana to forefathers during Parvakaala on the following days…

Uttaraayana;

Dakshinaayana;

Eclipse days (Solar/Lunar)

Ardhodaya and

Mahodaya and...

Whenever visit to any Theertha Kshethra;

On the day of Pithru/Maathru thithi (annual ceremony)

During Parvakaala; Mahalaya Pithru Paksha; visit to Theertha Kshethra; Thila tharpana should be given to Sarva Pithru (all eligible forefathers); on all other specified days’ tharpana should be given to Dwaadasa Pithru.

During Manvaadi, Yugaadi, Vyatheepaatha, Vaidhruthi, days tharpana is required to be given during Poorvaahnakaala;

on Sankramana, Eclipse, Uttarayana, Dakshinayana days during Parvakaala as mentioned in respective Panchanga.

on the days of Amaavaasya during aparaahnnakaala;

On the day of Pithru/Maathru thithi (annual ceremony) Thila tharpana should be given only to the concerned Varga Thraya and not to the all.

If any of the above mentioned Shannavathi (96) days coincide with the days of Parvadina; Tharpana need not be given twice as later one (Parvakaala) supersedes former in ascending order of

Amaavaasya;

Uttaraayana/Dakshinaayana;

Eclipse (Surya/Chandra Grahana),

Mahodaya/Ardhodhaya;

in order of importance.

Logic is on a single day tharpana should not be given more than once.

If any of the above mentioned 96 days (excluding Amaavaasya; Poorvedyu; Ashtaka; Anvashtaka) + Uttarayana/Dakshinayana falls on Ekaadasi day, tharpana should not be performed. Instead, Pavamana-Sooktha/Pithru-Sooktha parayana should be made;

Strictly speaking during SankrunMahalaya (performing Paksha sraaddha for only one day during Paksha maasa) Tharpana is to be given on the next day. But, in practice it is being given on the same day when Sraaddha is performed.

In case of Theertha/Kshethra Sraaddha, Tharpana is given first and then Sraddha is performed. 

Ø Items required for Tharpana:

Pavithra (Dharbha/silver ring);

Water;

Panchapaatre;

Uddharne;

Kalasha;

Copper plate;

Black Sesame (Thila);

Thulasi;

Nirmaalya Theertha (if available);

List of forefathers (Sarva Pithru)

Ø Pithru Tharpana procedure:

Before performing Tharpana, proper Sankalpa sloka should be recited after performing Aachamana and Pranayama facing east.

Depending on the location, day, time and occasion Sankalpa sloka may differ slightly.

Ø Typical example of Sankalpa sloka (for Pithru Paksha)

Sri Govinda - Govinda!

Sri MahaVishnorAagnaaya,

Pravarthamanasya, Aadya Bramhane, Dwiteeya Parardhe,

Sri Swetha Varaaha Kalpe, Vaivaswatha Manvanthare,

Ashtaavimshatitamey Kaliyuge, Kali Prathama Charane,

Jambudweepe, Meror Dakshina Dhikkbhage,

Bhaaratavarshe; Bharatha Khande,

Bauddhavathare, Salivaahanasakhe,

Dandakaaranya Godaavaryah Dakshina theerey,

Raamakshethrey; …… Sannidhau; Asmin Varthamane,

Vyavahaarike, Chaandramaanena; …… Naama Samvatsare;

Dakshinaayane, Varsha Ruthau, Bhaadrapada Maase,

Krishna Pakshe; ……..Thithau; ………Vaasare,

Vishnu Nakshatre, Vishnu Yoge, Vishnu Karane;

evam guna visheshana visistayaam; Punya thithau;

Praacheenavithi (Yagnopaveetham in apasavya position)

Asmath;

Samastha Pithrunaam…

Akshaya Punya Lokaavaapthyartham

Kanyagathe Savithari Aashadyaadhi

PanchamahaApara Paksheshu Asmin

Pithru Pakshe SakrunMahalaya Sraaddhanga

Saddhyah Thila Tharpanam Karishye...

(Above one is an example for Mahaalaya Pithru Paksha Tharpana. For other occasions it may be modified suitably)

Ø Tharpana procedure…

Tharpana should be given with water + black Sesame (Thila) seeds.

Pithru tharpana should always be performed with the right hand.

Take black Thila in to the palm;

pour water from Kalasha with the help of Uddharani (spoon);

drop water along with Thila into the tharpana plate by chanting tharpana manthra so that water should fall from the space in between the index finger and the thumb by tilting the palm to the right side.

While performing Tharpana each Pithru has to be addressed with their name and Gothra.

If name and Gothra of forefathers are not known; they should be pronounced as...

Yagnappa (Male); and

Yagnamma (female);

Gothra to be pronounced as Kaasyapa Gothra.

Male Pithrus are addressed as Sarma and female Pithrus as Dhaam suffixing their names.

The word Asmath should be spelled before the name and Gothra after the name.

> For example:

in case of Father it should be pronounced as Asmath Pitharam; Yagnappa Sarmaanaam Kaasyapa Gothram and

in case of Mother as Asmath Maatharam; Yagnamma Dhaam Kaasyapa Gothraam.

In case of Dwaadasa Pithru; three generations should be addressed as Vasu, Rudra and Aaditya roopa and all others should be addressed as Vasu Roopa.

Ø Typical example of Tharpana sloka (Pithru Varga Thraya)

Asmath Pitharam; Yagnappa Sarmaanaam,

Kaasyapa Gothram, Vasu Roopam, ThadAntharyaami;

Bhaaratheeramana Mukhyapraanaanthargatha;

Pradyumnam; Swadhanamah

Tharpayami-Tharpayami–Tharpayami

Asmath Pithaamaham; Yagnappa Sarmaanaam,

Kaasyapa Gothram, Rudra Roopam; ThadAntharyaami; Bhaaratheeramana Mukhyapraanaanthargatha;

Sankarshanam; Swadhanamah

Tharpayami-Tharpayami–Tharpayami

Asmath Prapithaamaham; Yagnappa Sarmaanaam,

Kaasyapa Gothram, Aaditya Roopam; ThadAntharyaami; Bhaaratheeramana Mukhyapraanaanthargatha;

Vaasudevam Swadhanamah

Tharpayami-Tharpayami-Tharpayami

After completing Tharpana for all forefathers following sloka should be recited and give tharpana with all the remaining Thila.

Aabrahma stamba-paryantam devarsi pitr-manavah

trpayantu pitarah sarve matr-mata-mahadayah

atita-kula-kotinam sapta-dviipa-nivasinam

a-brahma bhuvanal lokadi-dam astu thilodakam.

Yekecha Asmath Kule Jaatha Aputhra GothrinoMruthah

They Gruhnanthu Mayadattham Soothranishpeedanodakam

[Reciting above sloka Yagnopaveetham should be dipped in Kalasha Paathra and then squeezed so that drops of water falls in Tharpana pathra]

Ø Samarpana…

Yasya smrithya cha naamokthya thapo yajna kriyadhishu

Nyunam sampoornatham yaathi sadhyo vande thamachyutham

Manthraheenam kriyaheenam bhakthiheenam Ramaapathey

Yathkrutham thu maya deva paripoornam thadhasthu mey

Anena Mayaa; Pithru Paksha SakrunMahaalaya

Sarva Pithru Thila Tharpanena;

SriMadhJanaardhana Vaasudevah Priyathaam

Preetho Varado Bhavathu; Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu

Kaayena vaacha manasendri yairvaa

Buddhyaatmanaa vaa prakrite swabhavath

Karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai

Naarayanayethi samarpayaami

Achyuthaaya namah-Anantaaya Namah-Govindaaya Namah!

Above procedure may also be followed for performing Pithru tharpana on other specified days as mentioned above by appropriately making alterations in Sankalpa manthra.

(Sloka manthras mentioned are as per Madhva sampradaya).