Tarpana

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 (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 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 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 Devas, Shani (Saturn) and pitrus. Ganesha is commonly offered pancha-kajjaya, a delicacy made using sesame. Shiva is worshipped with sesame seeds (tilakshata). For Vishnu, Brahma, Laxmi and 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.