Abasthamba Soothra Yajur Veda Pithru Tharppana
Mantram. (TharpaNa Mantra)
Common to Vadakalai
Iyenghar, Thenkalai Iyengar & for Iyer
Introduction
to Tharpanam (Oblations to the manes)
Click
Here for TharpaNa Mantram in Sanskrit (PDF)
Tharpanam
means "That offering which satisfies". But what we mean by the word
Tharpanam is the offering of water mixed with gingili to the manes. (Dead
ancestors). Though we have several ancestors, this offering is addressed to
three generations of father, grandfather and great grandfather along with their
wives in our family and maternal grandfather, his father and grandfather along
with their wives in our mother's birth family. Only those whose father is dead
are eligible to do Tharpanam. If maternal grandfather is alive Tharpanam should
not be done for his family but restricted to our family.
This offering is said to give Punya Bhala to generations.
All
the manes are supposed by our religion to live in the Pithru loka for some time
and either be reborn as any being or go to lokas like deva loka, Vaikunta etc or
even attain salvation by getting mixed with god. The pithru loka is populated by
three group of pithru devas viz, Vasu, Rudra and Adhithya. These devas receive
our oblations and make it reach to our manes wherever they are and in whichever
form they are. The pithru loka is supposed to be on the unseen side of the moon.
This portion gets exposed to sun on the new moon days. It is according to our
concept lunchtime for the people populating the pithru loka. These pithrus,
since they have left the world are solely dependent on only their progeny to
feed them. This feeding is done through Tharpanam. It is believed that if
Tharpanam is not done out Pithru devas will curse us so that we may not have
male descendents to offer tharpanam to us.
There are several types of tharpanams: -
1.Gunda
(kuzhi) tharpanam- the tharpanam that is done in the first ten days of death.
2.Brahma
yagna tharpanam-This is the oblation supposed to be done daily to the devas,
rishis and pithrus, alongwith daily Sandhyavandanam prayer..
3.Parheni
tharpanam- this is the tharpanam, which is supposed to be done on the next day
after annual sraddha. This at present is being done after sraddha on the same
day, because the priest does not have time to come the next day. Here the
tharpanam is offered only to ones pithru varga (paternal side)
4
The regular tharpanam, which is supposed to be done on all amavasyas. Four Month
beginnings viz mesha, karkidaga, thula and makara and eclipses. Our ancient
scripts advise us to perform tharpanam on 96 days in a year but this is not
being done nowadays.
Several
Poorva Acharyas have codified the method of tharpanam. Some of them are
Apasthambha, Bodhayana; Drahyayana what is given below is the manthras and
method of the Apasthambha sutra.of Yajur Veda. There are slight differences in
the sankalpam among Iyers and Iyengars.The version followed by both groups of
Sri Vaishnavas viz Thenkalai and Vadakalai are given here. It is understood that
the tharpanam for Rig Vedis is almost similar but that for Sama Vedis it is
different. There are also differences brought about by local practice and family
tradition. People are advised to follow their traditions strictly. They have
precedence over what is written down here. For example some people do avahanams of Pithrus on two Bugnams known
as koorchas. Some on one /Bugnam/koorcha and some on spread darbhams.
There
are several rules regarding tharpanam though many of them are not being followed
by most of the people. They are: -
1.On
the day of Tharpanam, till tharpanam is completed we are not supposed to
drink/eat anything.
2.On
the day of tharpanam, the daily rituals like Sandhya vandhana have to be first
performed. Then before tharpanam one more bath has to be taken.
3.Wet
cloth should not be worn during tharpanam nor is it right to wear cloth which
was washed a day before and dried. The cloth has to be made wet the same day and
dried. Pure white silk cloth can also be worn, but wearing this silk cloth you
should not have eaten any food. If wet cloth is not dry, it should be seven
times shaken dry in wind before wearing it.
4.Except
the tharpanam during eclipse all other tharpanams are to be done after 12 noon.
Considering the difficulty, our lawgivers have agreed that it can be done after
8.30 AM.
5.As
mentioned earlier nothing should be eaten or drunk before performance of
Tharpanam.
6.Oblations
should be done with hand full of water and not drops or spoon full of water.
7.The
water should be poured out using the space between the thumb and the four
fingers.
8.Every
time a pinch of black till (Gingili) has to be taken. Care should be taken not to take it
using the thumb and the index finger.
(Joining Index finger with Thumb is considered as Rakshasa Mudra or the sign of
demons).
9.Pithru
tharpanam should always be done with poonal hanging from the right shoulder to
the left side of the body.
10.The
pavithram for pithru tharpanam should be made out of three durbha and the
koorcham should be made of 5 or 3 durbham leaves.
11.We
should preferably sit on seat made of durbha (durbhasanam) while doing tharpanam
and in its absence put few durbhas on the place we are going to sit,
12.Silver
vessels are prescribed for used during tharpanam. If not available copper
vessels can be used. Under no circumstance should steel or other metal vessels
are to be used.
13.Tharpanam
should be done facing east or south. It is believed that it either should be
done in our homes or in public holy places like shore of the river, sea active
you happen to do it in the place belonging to some one else. We are supposed to
compensate the owner of the property.
14.If
Amavasya and the first of the month in which tharpanam has to be performed comes
on the same day, then tharpanam for the sankramanam (first of the month) should
be done.
Tharpanam
1.Perform Achamanam
Take
minute quantities of water (just sufficient to soak one grain of black gram)
three times in the right hand and take it with the following manthra.
1.Om
Achyuthaya Nama 2,Om Ananthaya Nama 3.Om Govindaya Nama
Then
Touch
with thumb both cheeks saying kesavaaya Nama: - Narayanaaya Nama: (In
each case...to touch the right side first and then left)
Touch
with ring finger both eyes saying Madhavaya Nama: - Govindaya Nama:
Touch
with little finger both ears saying Trivikramaya Nama: - Vamanaya Nama:
Touch
with the middle finger both shoulders saying Sreedharaya Nama: - Hrishikesaya
Nama:
Touch
with all fingers the belly button saying Padmanabhaya Nama:
Touch
with all fingers the head saying Damodaraya Nama:
A: For Sri Vaaishnavas of Vada
Kalai
2.Do
Pranayamam.
Hold
both Nostrils with Thumb and the little and third finger of the hands and recite
the following Manthra: -
Om
Bhoo
Om
Bhuva
Ogum
Suva
Om
Maha
Om
Jana
Om
Thapa
Ogum
Sathyam
Om
Tatsa vithur varenyam Bargo devasya dhi mahi dhiyo yona prachodayath
Om
Apa
Jyothj
rasa
Amrutham
brahma
Bhoorbuvasuvarom
Touch
the ears three times saying
Om,
Om, Om
3.
And then chant the following manthras: -
1.Sriman
venkata nadarya kavi dargika kesari
Vedanthacharya varyo me sanni datham sada hruthi
2.Gurubhya
tad gurubyascha namo vaga made mahe,
Vruni mahe cha tatrath yow dampathi jagatham pathi
3.Swasesha
bhoodeth mayaa sweeyai sarva parichadai,
Vidahthum preethamath manam deva prakramade swayam
4.Shuklam
baradaram vishnum sasi varnam chadur bhjam
Prasanna
vadanam dyayeth sarva vigno upa santhaye
5.Yasyad viratha vakthradhya parishadya para satham,
Vignam nignanthi vishvaksenam tham asraye.
B: For Sri Vaishnavas of Then
Kalai
Do
Pranayamam.
Hold
both Nostrils with Thumb and the little and third finger of the hands and recite
the following Manthra: -
Om
Bhoo
Om
Bhuva
Ogum
Suva
Om
Maha
Om
Jana
Om
Thapa
Ogum
Sathyam
Om
Tatsa vithur varenyam Bargo devasya dhi mahi dhiyo yona prachodayath
Om
Apa
Jyothj
rasa
Amrutham
brahma
Bhoorbuvasuvarom
Touch
the ears three times saying
Hari
Om
3.
Then Chant the following manthras: -
1.Shuklam
baradaram vishnum sasi varnam chadur bhjam
Prasanna vadanam dyayeth sarva vigno upa santhaye
2.Yasyad
viratha vakthradhya parishadya para satham,
Vignam nignanthi vishvaksenam tham asraye
FOLLOWING
MANTRAS ARE COMMON TO THENKALAI AND VADAKALAI.
Adya
Sri Bhagavatha maha purushasya Vishnor Agnaya pravarthamanasya Adhya Brahmana
Dweethiya parardhe Swetha Varaha kalpe Vaivaswatha manvanthare ashta vimsathi
thame kali yuge prathame padhe, jambu dweepe, Bharatha varshe, Bharatha Khande,
Mero Dakshine Parswe, Sakabdhe asmin varthamane vyvaharike Prabhavadeenam
sashtya samvatsaranam madhye (name
of the year)
Nama samvatsare, (dakshina. /uttara
ayane, (name
of the season) rithou, (name of the month
in Sanskrit) mase, (Krishna/shukla)
pakshe ,
Adhya (Name
of the thidhi-moon phase) Punya
thithou (name of the day in Sanskrit)vasra
yukthayam (name
of the star in Sanskrit) nakshatra
yukthayam Shubha
yoga -Shubha karana, Evam guna
viseshana visishtayam asyam
(Name of the thidhi)
Punya thithou,
(Change the position of poonal from left shoulder to right shoulder (LEFT
MODE))
(Your Gothram) Gothranam
(Names of father, grand father, great grand father)
Sarmanam, Vasu-Rudra-adithya swaroopanam asmad Pithru -Pithamaha-Pithru
Pithamahanam, (your Gothram) Gothraa (Names
of mother. Grand mother, great grand mother)
Namnee, Vasu-Rudra-Adithya swaroopa Asmad Mathru-pithamahi-Prapithamahischa,
(Your maternal grand father's gothram) gothraanam
(names of maternal grand father,
his father and his grand father) Sarmanam vasu -rudra -adithya
swaroopanam asmad mathamaha, mathru pithamaha, mathru prapithamahanam, (Your
maternal grand father's gothram) gothraa
(Names of maternal
grand mother, maternal great grand mother, Grand mother of maternal grand
father) Namnee, vasu-rudra -adithya swaroopa
asmad mathamahi-mathru pithamahi, mathru
prapithamahinam Ubhaya
vamsa pithrunaam akshayya thripthyartham
amavasya
punya kale
Thila tharpanam karishye.
(Throw away the Durbha (only) held round the fingers along with Pavithram.
Change position of poonal to the left shoulder (usual mode), touch water with
finger, change position of poonal to right shoulder (left mode))
Arrangement of Koorcham (Bugnam)
East
North
South
West
(You're sitting west side and facing East)
5.Avahanam for pithru varga (Fathers side)
Wear the poonal in the left mode, take little ellu (black gingelly)
and along with water keep on the Bugnam meant for Pithru varga while chanting
the following manthras: -
1.Aayatha
pithara somya gambhirai padhibhi poorvai prajamasmabhyam dadhatho rayim cha
deergayuthwam cha satha saaradam cha.
2.Om
bhorbuvaswarom
3,Asmin
koorche (Your
Gothra) gothran (Father's,
grand father's and great grand father's name)
sarmana vasu Rudra adithya swaroopan asmad pithru-pithamaha-pithrupithamahaan (Your
Gothra) gothraa (Names
of mother, grand mother, great grand mother)
namnee vasu Rudra adithya swaroopa asmad mathru,
pithamahi-pithrupithamahischa dyayami avahayami.
6.Asanam for pithru vargam
Chanting the manthra below place gingelly on the koorcha
1.Sakrudacchinnam
barhirurnna mrudhu,
Syonam
pithrubhyasthwa baramyaham
Asmin
taseedanthu me pithara somyaa,
Pithamahaa
prapithamahaaschaanugai saha.
2.Pithru-pithamaha,
pithru pithamahanam mathru
-pithamahi -prapithamahinaam cha idam asanam, thiladhi sakalaradhanai
swarchidham
7.Avahanam for mathamaha varga (maternal grand fathers
side)
Wearing
the poonal in the left mode, take little ellu (black gingelly) and along with
water keep on the Koorcha meant for mathru varga while chanting the following
manthras: -
1.Aayatha
mathu pithara somya gambhirai padhibhi poorvai prajamasmabhyam dadhatho rayim
cha deergayathwam cha satha saaradam cha.
2.Om
bhorbuvaswarom
3,Asmin
koorche (Maternal grand father's gothra)
gothran (Names of maternal grand father, maternal great grand father and grand father of maternal grand
father) sarmana vasu Rudra adithya swaroopan asmad mathamaha-mathru
pithamaha-mathru prapithamaha (maternal grand father's
gothra) gothraa (Names
of maternal grand mother, maternal great grand mother, grand mother of maternal
grand father) namnee vasu Rudra adithya swaroopa asmad mathamahi-mathru
pithamahi-mathru prapithamahischa dyayami avahayami.
8.Asanam
for mathru vargam
Chanting the manthra below place gingelly on the mathru varga koorcha
1.Sakrudacchinnam
barhirurnna mrudhu,
Syonam
pithrubhyasthwa baramyaham
Asmin
taseedanthu me pithara somyaa,
Pithamahaa
prapithamahaaschaanugai saha.
2.Mathamaha-mathru
pithamaha-mathru prapitha mahaanaam, Mathamahi-mathru pithamahi-mathru
prapithamahischa idam asanam, thiladhi sakalaradhanai swarchidham
9.Pithru varga tharpanam
Offer
tharpanam with hand full of water mixed with black ellu on the koorcham for
Pithru vargam after each manthra
a.
Pithru tharpanam (Oblation to father)
1.Udheerathamvara uthparasa,
Unmadhyama pithara somyasa
Asum ya eeyuravyaka ruthagna
Sthene avanthu pitharo harveshu,
(/Fill
in Your
gothram) Gothran (Father's name),
Sarmana vasu roopan mama pithrun swadha
namastharpayami.
2.Angeeraso Na pitharo navagwa,
Adharvano byagava somyaasa,
Thesham vayugum sumathou yagniyanaa mapi
Badre soumanase syama
(Your
gothram) Gothraan (Father's name),
Sarmana vasu roopan mama pithrun swadha Nama
tharpayami.
3.Aa yaanthu Na pithara somyaso Agni
Shwatha
prathibhir deva yanai
Asmin yagne swadhaya maadhayanthwadhi bruvantha
they avanthasman,
(Your Gothram)
gothraan (Fathers
name),
Sarmana vasu roopan mama pithrun swadha Nama
tharpayami.
b. Pithamaha tharpanam
(oblation to grand father)
1.Oorjam
vahanthiramrutham grutham paya keelalam
Parisrutham swadha sdha tharpatatha me
pithroon,
(Your gothram) Gothraan
(Grand fathers name),
Sarmana Rudra roopan mama
pithaamahaan swadha Nama tharpayami.
2.Pithrubhya swaadhavibhya swadha
Nama
Pithamahebhya swadhavibhya swadha
Nama
Prapithamahebhya swadhavibhya swadha Nama
(Your
gothram) Gothraan (Grand
father's name),
Sarmana Rudra roopan mama pitha mahaan swadha Nama
tharpayami.
3.Ye cheha pitharo ye cha neha,
Yagscha vidmayagm u cha Na
pravidma,
Agne thaan veththa yadi the jathaveda
Sthaya praththagm swadhaya madanthu
(Your gothram)
Gothraan (Grand
father's name)
'
Sarmana rudra roopan mama pithamahaan swadha
namastharpayami
c.
Prapithamaha tharpanam (oblations to great grand father)
a. Madhu vaathaa ruthaayathe madhu ksharanthi
sindhava
Maadweer Na santhwashadhi
(Your
Gothram) Gothraan (Great
grand father's name),
Sarmana adithya roopaan mama prapithamahan swadha
Nama tharpayami.
b. Madhu nakthamuthoshasi madu math parthivagam
Raja madhu dhourasthu Na pitha
(Your
gothram) Gothraan
(great grand father's name),
Sarmana adithya roopan mama prapithamahaan swadha
Nama tharpayami
c. Madhumanno vanaspathir madhu magma asthu
soorya,
Maadweer gavo bavanthu Na
(Your gothra) Gothraan (great
grand father's name),
Sarmana adhithya roopan mama prapithamahaan swadha
Nama tharpayami.
d. Mathru tharpanam(Oblations
to mother)
1.
(Your gothra) Gothraa (mother's
name)
Namnee vasu roopa mama mathu swadha namastharpayami
2. (Your
Gothra) Gothraa (Mother's name)
Namnee vasu roopa mama mathu swadha namastharpayami
3. (Your Gothra)
(Gothraa (Mother's
name)
Namnee vasu roopa mama mathu swadha namastharpayami
e. Pithamahi tharpanam(oblations
to paternal grand mother)
1. (Your Gothra)
Gothraa (Grand mother's name)
Namnee Rudra roopa mama pithamahi swadha
namastharpayami
2. (Your Gothra)
Gothraa (Grand mother's name)
Namnee Rudra roopa mama pithamahi swadha
namastharpayami
3. (Your gothra)
Gothraa (Grand
mother's name)
Namnee Rudra roopa mama pithamahi swadha
namastharpayami
f. Prapithamahi tharpanam(Oblations
to paternal great grand mother)
1. (Your Gothra).
Gothraa (Great
grand mother's name)
Namnee adithya roopa mama prapithamahi swadha
namastharpayami
2. (Your Gothra)
Gothraa (Great
Grand mother's name)
Namnee adithya roopa mama prapithamahi swadha
namastharpayami
3. (Your Gothra)
Gothraa (Great
Grand mother's name)
Namnee adithya roopa mama prapithamahi swadha
namastharpayami
10.jnaatha jnatha pithru varge tharpanam Oblation
to unknown manes of paternal sides)
a. Jnaatha jnatha pithroon swadha Nama tharpayami
b. Jnaatha jnatha pithroon swadha Nama tharpayami
c. Jnaatha jnatha pithroon swadha Nama tharpayami
Oorjam vahantheeramrutham grutham paya keelalam parisrutham swadha stha
tharpayatha me pithroon trupyatha thrupyatha thrupyatha.
11.Mathamaha varga tharpanam
(oblations to ancestors of maternal grand father)
Offer
tharpanam with hand full of water mixed with black ellu on the koorcham for
Pithru vargam after each manthra
a. Matha maha tharpanam
(Oblation to maternal grand father)
1.Udheerathamvara uthparasa,
Unmadhyama pithara somyasa
Asum ya eeyuravyaka ruthagna
Sthene avanthu pitharo harveshu
(Maternal grand father's Gothra)
gothran (Maternal grand father's name),
Sarmana vasu roopan mama matha mahaan swadha
namastharpayami.
2.Angeeraso Na pitharo navagwa,
Adharvano byagava somyaasa,
Thesham vayugum sumathou yagniyanaa mapi
Badre soumanase syama
(Maternal grand father's Gothra)
gothran (Maternal grand father's name)
Sarmana vasu roopan mama matha mahaan swadha Nama
tharpayami.
3.Aa yaanthu Na pithara somyaso Agni
Shwatha prathibhir deva yanai
Asmin yagne swadhaya madhayanthwadhi bruvantha the
avanthasman,
(Maternal
grand father's Gothra) gothran (Maternal grand
father's name), sarmana vasu roopan mama matha mahaan swadha namas
tharpayami.
b. Mathru pitha maha
tharpanam (oblation to grand father of mother)
1.Oorjam
vahanthiramrutham grutham paya keelalam
Parisrutham swadha sdha tharpayatha me
pithroon,
(Maternal
grand father's Gothra) gothran (Maternal great
grand father's name)
Sarmana Rudra roopan mama mathu pithaamahaan swadha
namas tharpayami.
2.Pithrubhya swaadhavibhya swadha nama
Pithamahebhya swadhavibhya swadha nama
Prapithamahebhya swadhavibhya swadha nama
(Maternal grand father's Gothra)
gothran (Maternal great grand father's name)
Sarmana Rudra roopan mama mathu pitha mahaan swadha
namas tharpayami.
3.Ye cheha pitharo ye cha neha,
Yagscha vidmayagm u cha na
pravidma,
Agne thaan veththa yadi the jathaveda
Sthaya praththagm swadhaya madanthu
(Maternal grand father's Gothra)
gothran (Maternal great grand father's name)
Sarmana rudra
roopan mama mathu pithamahaan swadha namastharpayami
c.
Mathu Prapithamaha tharpanam(oblations to great grand father of mother)
1.Madhu vaathaa ruthaayathe
madhu ksharanthi sindhava
maadweer na santhwashadhi
(Maternal grand father's Gothra)
gothran (Maternal grand father's grand father'sname)
Sarmana adithya
roopaan mama mathu prapithamahan swadha namas tharpayami.
2.Madhu nakthamuthoshasi madu math parthivagam
raja madhu dhourasthu na pitha
(Maternal grand father's Gothra)
gothran (Maternal grand father's grand father'sname)
Sarmana adithya roopan mama mathu prapithamahaan
swadha namas tharpayami
3.Madhumanno vanaspathir madhu magma asthu
soorya,
Maadweer gavo bavanthu na
(Maternal
grand father's Gothra) gothran (Maternal grand
father's grand father'sname)
Sarmana adhithya roopan mama mathu prapithamahaan
swadha namas tharpayami.
d.Mathamahi tharpanam(Oblations
to maternal grand mother)
1.(Maternal grand father's
gothra) gothraa (Maternal grand mother's name)
Namnee vasu roopa mama mathamahi swadha
namastharpayami
2. .(Maternal grand
father's gothra) gothraa (Maternal grand
mother's name)
Namnee vasu roopa mama mathamahi swadha
namastharpayami
3. .(Maternal grand
father's gothra) gothraa (Maternal grand
mother's name)
Namnee vasu roopa mama mathamahi swadha
namastharpayami
e.Mathru Pithamahi tharpanam(Oblations
to grand mother of mother)
1.(Maternal grand father's
gothra) gothraa (Maternal great grand mother's
name)
Namnee Rudra roopa mama mathu pithamahi
swadha namastharpayami
2. .(Maternal grand
father's gothra) gothraa (Maternal great grand
mother's name)
Namnee Rudra roopa mama mathu pithamahi
swadha namastharpayami
3. .(Maternal grand
father's gothra) gothraa (Maternal grand
mother's name)
Namnee Rudra roopa mama mathu pithamahi
swadha namastharpayami
f. Mathu Prapithamahi
tharpanam(Oblations to great grand
mother of mother)
1. .(Maternal grand
father's gothra) gothraa (Maternal grand
father's grand mother's name)
Namnee adithya roopa
mama mathu prapithamahi swadha
namastharpayami
2. .(Maternal grand
father's gothra) gothraa (Maternal grand
father's grand mother's name)
. .
Namnee adithya roopa
mama mathu prapithamahi swadha
namastharpayami
3. .(Maternal grand
father's gothra) gothraa (Maternal grand
father's grand mother's name)
. .
Namnee adithya roopa
mama mathu prapithamahi swadha
namastharpayami
12.jnaatha jnatha matha
maha varga tharpanam (Oblation to unknown manes of
maternal grand father side)
a.Jnaatha jnatha mathu pithroon swadha namas
tharpayami
b. Jnaatha jnatha mathu pithroon swadha namas
tharpayami
c. Jnaatha jnatha mathu pithroon swadha namas
tharpayami
Oorjam vahantheeramratham grutham paya keelalam parisrutham swadha
stha tharpayatha me mathu pithroon trupyatha thrupyatha thrupyatha.
13.pradhakshinam
Change
poonal to usual pattern from left shoulder
(Chant and rotate in the same
place clock wise)
Devathabhya pithrubhyascha maha yogibhya
eva cha
Nama swaadhai swaahayai nithyameva namo nama.
Some versions ask us to chant this
Manthra for Pradakshinam
Namo va pitharo rasaya ,
Namo va pithara
sushmaya,
Namo va pitharo
jeevaya,
Namo
va pitharo swadhayai.
Namo va pitharo
manyave,
Namo va pitharo
ghoraya,
Pitharo namo vo ya ethasmin
lokestha,
Yushmagusthe nuye asmin
loke,
Manthenu ya ethasmin
lokesya,
Yuyyanthesham vasishta
bhooyastha,
Asmin loke ahanthesham vasishto bhooyasam.
14.Namaskaram (salutations)
Change poonal to the left side pattern from right
shoulder
Recite with folded hands
Pithru-Pithamaha-Prapthamahebhyo nama
Mathru -pitha mahi -prapithamahebhyo nama
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Prabhandam Part - 1