Pitra Puja Vidhi: Pitru Tarpan, Shradh And Puja at Home

Pitru Paksha is a sacred period dedicated to remembering and honoring departed ancestors. Pitra Puja is one of the traditional Hindu practices performed to honor departed ancestors.

Depending on the occasion, these practices may include Shradh, Tarpan, Pind Daan, prayers, food offerings, charity, and other family-specific rituals.

*Note: Pitra Puja Vidhi can vary according to regional customs, family traditions, and the type of Shradh being performed. A simple Pitru Tarpan at home is not the same as a complete Shradh ceremony performed with a priest. However, both practices are centered around remembering one's ancestors and performing traditional rituals according to one's family and beliefs.

When Is Pitra Puja Performed?

Pitra Puja can be performed on different occasions depending on the purpose and family tradition.

One of the most important periods for ancestral worship is Pitru Paksha, also known as Mahalaya Paksha. It is traditionally a period of fifteen lunar days during which families perform Shradh and other rituals to honor their ancestors.

During Pitru Paksha, Shradh is generally performed according to the Hindu lunar Tithi associated with the ancestor's death. If the death Tithi is unknown, Sarva Pitru Amavasya, also known as Mahalaya Amavasya, is traditionally considered an important day for ancestral observances.

Shradh can also be performed on an annual death anniversary or on other days prescribed by family tradition.

Pitra Puja Vidhi: How to Perform Puja at Home

A simple Pitra Puja at home can be performed as a devotional act of remembrance. However, detailed Shradh rituals may involve specific mantras, Tithi rules, offerings, and procedures that vary by tradition.

For a basic home observance:

1. Clean Yourself and the Puja Space

Take a bath and wear clean clothes. Clean the area where the ritual will be performed and keep the surroundings peaceful.

2. Arrange the Required Samagri

Keep the items required for the ritual ready before beginning. These may include water, black sesame seeds, Kusha grass, rice, flowers, a diya, incense, and other items prescribed by your family tradition.

3. Remember the Ancestors

Sit calmly and remember the departed members of your family. You may mentally recall their names, relationship to you, and memories associated with them.

4. Perform Pitru Tarpan

Offer Tarpan according to the method followed by your family or priest. Water and traditionally prescribed ingredients are offered while remembering the ancestors. The detailed Pitru Tarpan Vidhi is given below.

5. Make the Food Offering

Prepare simple food according to your family's Shradh tradition and make the prescribed offering.

6. Complete the Prayer

Conclude the ritual with prayers for the ancestors and the well-being of the family. Charity or other traditional acts of service may also be performed according to family custom.

For a formal Shradh Pooja at home, especially when Pind Daan or a Tithi-specific ritual is involved, it is advisable to follow the prescribed procedure with guidance from a knowledgeable priest.

Pitru Tarpan Vidhi

Pitru Tarpan is one of the traditional practices associated with ancestral worship. Tarpan refers to making an offering of water to the Pitrs, or departed ancestors.

Traditional Shradh descriptions mention Tarpan offerings made with water along with ingredients such as black sesame seeds (Til), barley, Kusha grass, and flour. The ingredients and procedure may vary according to the ritual and family tradition.

How to Perform Pitru Tarpan at Home

For a simple home observance, the general process is:

Take a bath and wear clean clothes.
Clean the place where Tarpan will be performed.
Keep water, black sesame seeds, Kusha grass, and other required materials ready.
Remember the ancestors for whom the Tarpan is being performed.
Prepare the Tarpan offering according to your family tradition.
Recite the prescribed Pitru mantras or prayers or AArti.
Make the water offerings using the traditional method.
Conclude with a prayer for the ancestors and the well-being of the family.

The detailed method of offering Tarpan, including the direction, seating posture, position of the sacred thread (Janeu), use of Kusha grass, mantras, and number of offerings, can differ according to regional and family traditions.

Pitru Tarpan Vidhi: Mantras and Procedure

A traditional Pitru Tarpan Vidhi can involve several stages, including Sankalpa, Dev Tarpan, Rishi Tarpan, Pitru Tarpan, Yama Tarpan, and offerings for one's ancestors. The exact sequence, mantras, number of offerings, and ritual procedure may vary according to family tradition and regional practice.

1. Sankalpa for Pitru Tarpan

Before beginning the Tarpan, a Sankalpa may be made by stating the purpose of the ritual and remembering one's family and ancestors.

A traditional Sankalpa may be expressed as:

“मैं आज ........ (माता का नाम) नामक माता तथा ..... (पिता का नाम) नामक पिता का ....... (अपना नाम) नामक पुत्र, अपने समस्त कुल-गोत्र के पितरों की प्रसन्नता और उनका आशीर्वाद प्राप्त करने के लिए तथा धर्म, अर्थ, काम और मोक्ष की प्राप्ति के लिए अपने घर में देव, ऋषि, मनुष्य और पितृ तर्पण करने का संकल्प करता हूँ।”

The names and details in the Sankalpa should be changed according to the person performing the ritual and the intended ancestors.

2. Dev and Rishi Invocation Mantra

Before the Tarpan, some traditional procedures include invoking the deities and sages:

ब्रह्मादयः सुराः सर्वे ऋषयः सनकादयः।
आगच्छन्तु महाभागा ब्रह्माण्डोदरवर्तिनः।।

This invocation is traditionally used to invite the deities and sages associated with the ritual.

3. Dev Tarpan Mantras

In a traditional Dev Tarpan, offerings of water may be made while reciting the following names and saying “तृप्यताम्”, meaning “may they be satisfied,” after each invocation:

ॐ ब्रह्मा तृप्यताम्।
ॐ विष्णुस्तृप्यताम्।
ॐ रुद्रस्तृप्यताम्।
ॐ प्रजापतिस्तृप्यताम्।
ॐ देवास्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ छन्दांसि तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ ऋषयस्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ पुराणाचार्यास्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ गन्धर्वास्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ इतराचार्यास्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ देव्यस्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ अप्सरसस्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ देवानुगास्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ नागास्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ सागरास्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ पर्वतास्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ सरितस्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ मनुष्यास्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ यक्षास्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ रक्षांसि तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ पिशाचास्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ भूतानि तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ पशवस्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ वनस्पतयस्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ ओषधयस्तृप्यन्ताम्।
ॐ भूतग्रामश्चतुर्विधस्तृप्यताम्।

The exact list and sequence may differ between ritual traditions.

4. Rishi Tarpan Mantras

Rishi Tarpan may be performed by offering water while remembering the traditional sages:

ॐ मरीचिस्तृप्यताम्।
ॐ अत्रिस्तृप्यताम्।
ॐ अङ्गिरास्तृप्यताम्।
ॐ पुलस्त्यस्तृप्यताम्।
ॐ पुलहस्तृप्यताम्।
ॐ क्रतुरस्तृप्यताम्।
ॐ वसिष्ठस्तृप्यताम्।
ॐ प्रचेतास्तृप्यताम्।
ॐ भृगुस्तृप्यताम्।
ॐ नारदस्तृप्यताम्।

5. Pitru Tarpan : Step By Step Guide

In traditional Pitru Tarpan rituals, the person performing the Tarpan sits facing south, as this direction is traditionally considered the direction of the ancestors.

If you wear a sacred thread (Janeu), keep it in the Apasavya position, with the thread resting over your right shoulder and under your left arm. You may also place a clean cloth over your right shoulder.

Sit with the left knee touching the ground. Keep the vessel used for the Tarpan offering ready and add black sesame seeds (Til) to the water according to the prescribed ritual.

Take a few blades of Kusha grass, fold them in the middle, and hold them between the thumb and index finger of your right hand, keeping the root and tip together.

Offer the water through the Pitru Tirtha, the space between the thumb and index finger of your right hand.

As you recite each prescribed mantra, offer the water three times for that mantra.

If you are using water mixed with black sesame seeds, the mantra may include the words “Satilam Jalam.” If Ganga water is used, “Gangajalam” may be used instead, according to the ritual tradition being followed.

Pitru Tarpan Mantras

The following mantras are traditionally recited while making the water offerings. The wording may vary slightly among ritual traditions and sources.

ॐ कव्यवाडनलस्तृप्यताम् इदं सतिलं जलं तस्मै स्वधा नमः ॥

ॐ सोमस्तृप्यताम् इदं सतिलं जलं तस्मै स्वधा नमः ॥

ॐ यमस्तृप्यताम् इदं सतिलं जलं तस्मै स्वधा नमः ॥

ॐ अर्यमा तृप्यताम् इदं सतिलं जलं तस्मै स्वधा नमः ॥

ॐ अग्निष्वात्ताः पितरस्तृप्यन्ताम् इदं सतिलं जलं तेभ्यः स्वधा नमः ॥

ॐ सोमपाः पितरस्तृप्यन्ताम् इदं सतिलं जलं तेभ्यः स्वधा नमः ॥

ॐ बर्हिषदः पितरस्तृप्यन्ताम् इदं सतिलं जलं तेभ्यः स्वधा नमः ॥

Repeat the water offering three times for each mantra according to the method described here.

The exact wording of the mantras, ingredients used with the water, number of offerings, and sequence of the ritual may vary according to regional customs, family traditions, and the particular Shradh or Tarpan procedure being followed.

For those performing Pitru Tarpanam for the first time, guidance from a knowledgeable priest can help ensure that the ritual is performed according to the relevant family or regional tradition.

6. Yama Tarpan Mantras

Some traditional Tarpan procedures include offerings to the fourteen forms or names associated with Yama:

ॐ यमाय नमः।
ॐ धर्मराजाय नमः।
ॐ मृत्यवे नमः।
ॐ अन्तकाय नमः।
ॐ वैवस्वताय नमः।
ॐ कालाय नमः।
ॐ सर्वभूतक्षयाय नमः।
ॐ औदुम्बराय नमः।
ॐ दध्नाय नमः।
ॐ नीलाय नमः।
ॐ परमेष्ठिने नमः।
ॐ वृकोदराय नमः।
ॐ चित्राय नमः।
ॐ चित्रगुप्ताय नमः।

According to the traditional procedure, each invocation may be accompanied by the prescribed water offering.

7. Mantras for Tarpan to Personal Ancestors

Before offering Tarpan to one's own ancestors, a traditional invocation may be made:

“मेरे समस्त पितृगण आएँ और जलांजलि ग्रहण करें।”

The names and Gotra of the ancestors may then be remembered while making the prescribed offerings.

For example, a Tarpan for one's father may be recited as:

मम पिता तृप्यताम् इदं गङ्गाजलं तस्मै स्वधा।

For one's grandfather:

मम पितामहः तृप्यताम् इदं गङ्गाजलं तस्मै स्वधा।

For one's great-grandfather:

मम प्रपितामहः तृप्यताम् इदं गङ्गाजलं तस्मै स्वधा।

For one's mother:

मम माता तृप्यताम् इदं गङ्गाजलं तस्यै स्वधा।

For one's grandmother:

मम पितामही तृप्यताम् इदं गङ्गाजलं तस्यै स्वधा।

The same traditional format may be adapted for other ancestors and departed relatives according to the prescribed ritual.

8. Tarpan for Maternal Ancestors

Traditional procedures may also include the maternal lineage.

For example:

For maternal grandfather:

मम मातामहः तृप्यताम् इदं गङ्गाजलं तस्मै स्वधा।

For maternal great-grandfather:

मम प्रमातामहः तृप्यताम् इदं गङ्गाजलं तस्मै स्वधा।

For maternal grandmother:

मम मातामही तृप्यताम् इदं गङ्गाजलं तस्यै स्वधा।

The names and Gotra of the ancestors may be included according to the family tradition.

9. Prayer for Other Departed Souls and Beings

Some traditional Tarpan procedures conclude with prayers for departed relatives, ancestors without descendants performing their rites, and other beings.

One such traditional prayer is:

येऽबान्धवा बान्धवा वा येऽन्यजन्मनि बान्धवाः।
ते तृप्तिमखिला यान्तु यश्चास्मत्तोऽभिवाञ्छति॥

Another traditional prayer is:

ये मे कुले लुप्तपिण्डाः पुत्रदारविवर्जिताः।
तेषां हि दत्तमक्षय्यमिदमस्तु॥

These prayers express the intention that the offering should reach those departed souls for whom the ritual is being performed.

Important Note About Tarpan Mantras

The mantras above represent a traditional form of Tarpan described in the source material. They should not be treated as a single universally applicable procedure for every Hindu family.

The direction faced, position of the Yajnopavita, use and placement of Kusha, hand position, number of Anjalis, names included, and sequence of mantras may vary according to regional customs, family tradition, Sampradaya, Tithi, and the type of Shradh being performed.

If you are performing a complete Pitru Tarpan or Shradh ceremony for the first time, it is advisable to follow the procedure prescribed by a knowledgeable priest or your family tradition rather than combining instructions from different ritual traditions.

Most importantly, if you’re performing Pitru Tarpanam for the first time, seeking help from a professional astrologer from Astroyogi would be a much better option.

Shradh Vidhi: How to Perform Shradh

Shradh Vidhi refers to the broader ritual performed to honor departed ancestors. Unlike Tarpan, which specifically refers to a water offering, Shradh can include several different components.

Traditional Shradh rituals may include:

Vishwadeva Sthapana
Sankalpa
Pind Daan
Pitru Tarpan
Food offerings
Feeding Brahmins
Dakshina
Charity and other prescribed acts

The exact Shradh Karm Vidhi depends on the type of Shradh, the Tithi, regional practice, and family tradition. A formal ceremony should therefore follow the appropriate traditional procedure rather than a generic home checklist.