Tarpan in Varanasi
What is Tarpan?
The term ‘trup’ refers to a person’s ability to please others. The basic word ‘Trup’ was used to create the term ‘Tarpan.’ Tarpan is the act of offering water to God, the Sages, the souls of ancestors, and human people and gratifying them with it.
The goal of Tarpan Poojan in Prayagraj is for God, departed ancestors’ spirits, and other entities whose names are uttered throughout the ritual to give blessings to us. Apart from the expectation of the pinḍa and offering of food to Brahmans by their descendants, the pitars also expect an offering of water from them.
Pitrupaksha 2024 Dates
In 2024, Pitrupaksha will commence on Friday, 29th September, and conclude with Mahalaya Amavasya on 14th October. Each day of this period is dedicated to performing Tarpan for different family members.
Here are the dates:
| Date | Name | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| September 17 | Purnima Shraddha | Bhadrapada, Shukla Purnima |
| September 18 | Pratipada Shraddha | Ashwina, Krishna Pratipada |
| September 18 | Dwitiya Shraddha | Ashwina, Krishna Dwitiya |
| September 19 | Tritiya Shraddha | Ashwina, Krishna Tritiya |
| September 20 | Chaturthi Shraddha | Ashwina, Krishna Chaturthi |
| September 20 | Maha Bharani | Ashwina, Bharani Nakshatra |
| September 21 | Panchami Shraddha | Ashwina, Krishna Panchami |
| September 22 | Shashthi Shraddha | Ashwina, Krishna Shashthi |
| September 23 | Saptami Shraddha | Ashwina, Krishna Saptami |
| September 24 | Ashtami Shraddha | Ashwina, Krishna Ashtami |
| September 25 | Navami Shraddha | Ashwina, Krishna Navami |
| September 26 | Dashami Shraddha | Ashwina, Krishna Dashami |
| September 27 | Ekadashi Shraddha | Ashwina, Krishna Ekadashi |
| September 28 | Dwadashi Shraddha | Ashwina, Krishna Dwadashi |
| September 29 | Trayodashi Shraddha | Ashwina, Krishna Trayodashi |
| September 29 | Magha Shraddha | Ashwina, Magha Nakshatra |
| September 30 | Chaturdashi Shraddha | Ashwina, Krishna Chaturdashi |
| October 1 | Sarva Pitru Amavasya | Ashwina, Krishna Amavasya |
Frequently Asked Questions:
How to perform tarpan?
‘Tarpan should be conducted along the riverbed,’ according to Bodhayan. When doing Tarpan beside the river, one should either stand in the river until the water level reaches the belly button, or sit on the riverbanks.
Tarpan for God and Sages should be done facing East, whereas Tarpan for the spirits of departed ancestors should be done facing South.
According to science, tarpan for God should be done after ‘Savya,’ tarpan for Sages should be performed after ‘Nivit,’ and tarpan for departed ancestors’ spirits should be performed after ‘Apasavya.’
Tarpan requires the use of a dried grass twig (darbha). Tarpan for God is done from the tip of the darbha, tarpan for Sages is done by folding the darbha in half, and tarpan for the spirits of departed ancestors is done from the tip and root of the two darbhas.
Water (tarpan) should be offered to deities with the tips of the fingers, whereas water should be offered to Sages with the base of the little finger and the third finger, and to the departed ancestors’ souls with the middle of the thumb and the first finger of the hand.
Tarpan should be done using one handful (anjali) of water for each god, two handfuls for Sages, and three handfuls for the spirits of departed ancestors. Three handfuls of water should be used for matrutrayi (mother, grandmother, and great grandmother), and one handful of water should be used for other female ancestors’ spirits.
(The term ‘anjali’ means ‘handful’ or ‘onjal’ in Hindi.) ‘Giving one fistful (anjali) of water for tarpan’, on the other hand, indicates that the tarpan should only be given once – Compiler)
Why to Perform Tarpan?
Pitru tarpan is the offering of water to the souls of departed ancestors (pitar). Pitrutarpan cannot be performed by a Jivatpitruk.
Apart from Pinda and food offerings to priests (Brahmins) from their descendants, the souls of the departed ancestors also seek water (udak) from them.
The souls of the deceased ancestors are not only satisfied and leave us when they perform tarpan, but they also bestow long life, radiance, superior intellect (brahmavarchaswa), wealth, success, and foodstuff (ability to digest the food consumed) on the host performing the tarpan, satiating him as well.
When to perform Tarpan?
Tarpan for God, Sages, and the spirits of departed ancestors should be conducted on a regular basis (daily). Tarpan is a daily practise that should be performed after a bath in the early morning. If doing Shraddha for the souls of departed ancestors on a regular basis is not practicable, one should at the very least conduct tarpan.
Pitru tarpan should be conducted the day after Parvan Shraddha is performed.