Summary meaning in English of various manthras used in tharpanam
By
P.R.Ramachander
(I for one believe
that when we do a ritual , we should understand , what we are doing.AS I
told you in the introduction of
Tharpanam, It is an important ritual
addressed to our forefathers .)
1.Aachamanam
This is a preliminary
purification ceremony. Gods Achutha, Anantha and Govinda are saluted and then
the self is purified by chanting the twelve names of Vishnu.
2.Ganapathi dyanam (this is not done by Vaishnavites)
This is a prayer to the God
Ganapathi who is supposed to remove all obstacles on our way in performance of
any rite, in this case, “Tharpanam”
Dressed in white thou art,
Oh, all pervading one,
And glowing with the colour of moon.
With four arms, thou art, Vishnu.
I meditate on thine ever-smiling face,
And pray, “ Remove all obstacles on my way”.
3.Pranayamam
This manthra is a guide to a
breathing exercise as also a prayer. While chanting Om bhoo,Om Bhuva, Ogum
Suva, Om Maha, om jana, om thapa, ogum satyam we are supposed to keep the left
nostril closed and inhale through the right nostril. While chanting, “Om tat sa
vithur varenyam bargo devasya dhee mahi, dhi yo yona prachothayad”, we are
supposed to close both nostrils and hold the breath. After this the left
nostril is opened and air exhaled till the end of the manthra.
Hindus believed that that there were six holy
worlds above the earth. These along with earth are remembered in the first
part. These worlds are bhooloka, bhuvarloka, suvarloka, maharloka, janaloka,
thapaloka and satya loka. The second part is the famous Gayathri manthram. It
means
“I meditate on that savitha (the sun or the enlightenment
within ourselves) which helps us in our though process, that god which is within
me and that all engulfing power.”
Or
“ I meditate on the most holy shining aspect of that God,
who helps in brightening our thought process.”
Then the third part means “ Om is water, it is the light, it
is the earth which gives the food, it is the air which supports life, and it is
the ether which is spread all around .It is also the holy seven worlds.”
By touching the nose the hands are
supposed to get polluted and this is removed by touching the ears thrice.
4.Sankalpam
This is a preliminary rite in every Vedic
action. We tell why we are doing what we do and we also tell, what we are going
to do every time. In some cases like the tharpanam we also tell when we are
doing it and where.
To attain the grace of God, through
destruction of sins committed by me, praying the lord of all worlds,
1.I pray god Lakshmi pathi and mention below the
auspicious hour, day, star, moon phase, my knowledge base and the strength of
God and salute the feets of Lord Vishnu.
2.Whether one is in pure or impure state or
whatever state one is in, just by remembering Pundarikaksha that is Lord
Vishnu, I get cleaned both outside and inside.
3.There is no doubt that the sins committed
either by mind, or words or by action go away by remembering the names of Lord
Rama.Rama. Rama
4.The moon phase, the day, the star, the yoga and the
happenings are all Lord Vishnu and thus the whole world is filled with Lord
Vishnu.Govinda, Govinda, Govinda.
5.In the second ionic division of lord Brahma who
acted according to the wishes of the prime God Lord Vishnu, In the great period
of the white Varaha, in the extended reign of Vaivasvatha manu, in the 28th time
period which is the first step of Kali yuga,
At the Indian sub continent of the Indian
continent of the great Jambu island, In the south of the Meru mountain, In the
year of the saka
timeperiod starting with the year Prabhava, in the
solstice, in
the
season, in the month
of
In the waning/waxing period of the moon, in the
day
of the moon crescents, in
the
day, in
the
star, in the holy period which is for good action, which results in
good, and in the period which has many other good
properties, in the
day
of moon crescents, I do oblations with thil(gingelly) and water for destruction
of all my sins and for the favour of the god, to my father
whose name is who is of
the form of vasu, who belongs to the
gothra
, to my grand father whose name is
who is of the form of Rudra, who belongs to the
gothra
, to my great grand father whose name
is who is of the
form of adithya and who belongs to the
gothra , as also to my mother(grand
mother if she mother is alive) who is of the form of vasu and who belongs
to the
gothra
and whose name is ,
to my grand mother (great grand mother if mother is alive) who is of the form
of Rudra who belongs to the
gothra
And whose name
is
, to my great grand mother (her mother if mother is alive) who is of the
form of Adithya and who belongs to the
Gothra
and whose name is
,
to my maternal grand father who is of the form of Vasu and who belongs to the
gothra
and whose name is
, to my maternal great grand father who is of the form of Rudra, who
belongs to the
gothra
and whose name
is
, to my great grand father of my mother who is of the form of
Adithya
and whose name is
, to my maternal grand mother who is of the form of vasu, who belongs to the
gotra and whose name
is , to my maternal great grand
mother who is of the form of Rudra, who belongs to the gothra
and whose name
is
, to my great grand mother of my mother who is of the form of
adithya who belongs to the
gothra
and whose name
is
.for their perennial satisfaction
,
5.Avahanam(For my fathers side)
1.Hey revered manes, who have observed soma yaga, please
travel through the royal path , and take part in this rite, which has
been adopted by your ancestors. And bless me with children wealth and long
life,
2.Om is the sound of the holy lands, which are above this
earth.
3.I meditate on my father, grandfather, great grandfather
whose names
are
who were belonged to the
gothra and whose respective forms are that of Vasu, rudhra and adhithya
and my mother, grand mother and great grand mother
[24] whose names
are
who
belonged to
the
gothra and whose respective forms are that of Vasu, Rudhra and Adhithya and
request them to occupy this koorcham.
6.Asanam (For my fathers side)
1.Hey leaves of Durbha plant, I spread thine very
soft leaves , which were only cut once here so that my manes can sit on you.
Let my father, grandfather, great grandfather who are of the form of the moon
sit on you along with their companions.
2.I give seat to my father, grandfather, great
grandfather and my mother, grandmother and great grandmother
[25] and worship them with gingelly.
7.Avahanam(For my maternal grand father’s side)
1.Hey revered manes, who have observed soma yaga, please
travel through the royal path , and take part in this rite, which has
been adopted by your ancestors. And bless me with children wealth and long
life,
2.Om is the sound of the holy lands, which are above this
earth.
3.I meditate on my maternal grandfather, maternal great
grandfather, grandfather of maternal grandfather whose names are
who were belonged to the
gothra and whose respective forms are that of Vasu, rudhra and adhithya
and my maternal grand mother, maternal great grand mother and grand
mother of maternal grand father
[26] whose names
are
who belonged to
the
gothra and whose respective forms are that of Vasu, Rudhra and Adhithya and
request them to occupy this koorcham.
8.Asanam (For my maternal grand fathers side)
1.Hey leaves of Durbha plant, I spread thine very
soft leaves , which were only cut once here so that my manes can sit on you.
Let my maternal grandfather, maternal great grandfather, grand father of
maternal grandfather who are of the form of the moon sit on you along with
their companions.
2.I give seat to my maternal grand father, maternal
great grand father, grand father of my maternal grand father and my maternal
grand mother, maternal great grand mother and grand mother of my maternal
grand father
[27] and worship them with gingelly.
9.Oblations to paternal ancestors
a. Oblations to father
1.Let all those manes who are in the earth because they did
not perform dutiful rites. Those manes who are great because they carried out
fire sacrifices and those of average stature because they performed the
rites prescribed to them, receive my oblations and bless me. Let those who do
not trouble and know about the rites that I perform save me. I
offer this oblation of this food mixed with water to my father whose name
is
and who is born in the
gothra
and who is the form of vasu.
2.Our manes who are known by names such as Angeeras, atharwas,
and brugus ,are of very great character and they all have great affection to
their descendents. Let them who should be worshipped by doing fire sacrifices
be is our mind doing good and bless us. I offer this oblation of this food
mixed with water to my father whose name
is
and who is born in the
gothra
and who is the form of vasu.
3.Let my manes who have not done fire sacrifices but have
reached pithru loka arrive here by the path taken by Gods. Let them get satisfied
by this offering of food mixed with water and let them talk good of us in
the other world and bless us with further and further progress. I offer
this oblation of this food mixed with water to my father whose name
is
and who is born in the
gothra
and who is the form of
vasu.
b. Oblations to grandfather
1.Hey gods who love water , carry suitable food,
nectar, ghee, blood and toddy to my manes if by chance they are born as
men, tree, creeper and men of the lower caste and make it suitable food for
them and also become food for them. I offer this oblation of this food
mixed with water to my grand father whose name
is
and who is born in the
gothra
and who is the form of Rudra.
2.I salute my father, grand father and great grand father
who like the food called swadha which is mixed with water and offer them the
food which is swadha. I offer this oblation of this food mixed with water to my
grand father whose name is
and
who is born in the
gothra
and who is the form of Rudra.
3.Hey God of fire who is all knowing, You know my manes who
are present here, who are not present here, those who are known to me
because they departed not long ago, those are not known to me, . Please take
this food with water, which I am offering to them and let all my manes become
happy. I offer this oblation of this food mixed with water to my grand
father whose name is
and who is born in the
gothra
and who is the form of Rudra
c. Oblations to great grandfather
1.Let air do me (who is offering these
oblations) good and rivers and medicinal plants give me
sweetness I offer this oblation of this food mixed with water to my great
grand father whose name
is
and who is born in the gothra
and who is the form of Adhithya.
2.Let night and day do me good. Let earth give me sweetness
and very good quality food. Let the sky , which is like my father not trouble
me with no rain or excess rain and grant me pure pleasure. I offer this
oblation of this food mixed with water to my great grand father whose name
is
and who is born in the
gothra
and who is the form of Adhithya.
3.Let trees bless me by giving fruits. Let Sun god give me
energy without much hot weather. Let cows give me sweet milk. I offer this
oblation of this food mixed with water to my great grand father whose name
is
and who is born in the
gothra
and who is the form of adhitya.
d, e. f. Mother , grandmother , great grandmother
[28]
Three oblations each are offered
without any “riks(prayer chant) to the lady ancestors with the manthra
“I offer this oblation of this food mixed with water to my
mother (grand mother, great grand mother) whose name
is
and who is born in the
gothra
and who is the form of vasu.(Rudra for grand mother, Adithya for great grand
mother.) “
10.Oblations to unknown manes of the father’s side.
This is offered thrice with the chant.
“I offer this swadha food which is mixed with water to my
known and unknown manes of my paternal side.”
Hey gods who love water , carry suitable food,
nectar, ghee, blood and toddy to my manes if by chance they are born as
men, tree, creeper and men of the lower caste and make it suitable food for
them and also become food for them. Oh manes please get satisfied, please
get satisfied and please get satisfied.
The Tharpanam for the manes of the maternal
grandfather side(11 and 12) is same as that of paternal side except
the manes of the maternal grand fathers side are mentioned so as to avoid
repetition this meaning is not given/
13.Pradakshinam
Salutations to gods, manes and great
sages.
Salutations to food, fire sacrifice daily
The meaning of the alternate manthra:-
Oh manes salutations ,
To your spirit,
Your strength,
Your soul,
Your food, which is swadha,
Your anger,
And your strong punishment.
Let those people whom you are with ,
Obey you.
You kindly do as per our wishes.
Please be friends to those whom you are
With in Pithru loka and be a good home for them.
For those who are in this earth,
Let me a good home.
.
14.Namaskaram (Salutations)
Salutations to father-grand father and great grandfather,
Salutations to mother-grand mother-great grandmother
Salutations to maternal grandfather, his father and his
grand father
Salutations to maternal grandmother, maternal great
grandmother and great grandmother of maternal grandfather.
The meaning of alternate manthra.
Oh manes who are great in blessing and in action,
Be pleased to depart by either the old way
or through the land of yama or any other way,
Please grant us wealth and good luck.
Please tell the Vasu, adhithya and devathas,
About the food that I offered you.
15.Udwasanam
This is the
same as Avahana manthra except that the manes are asked to go their place
and are requested to come again and again.
16.Sarva Tharpanam.(general oblations)
Let all those manes who do not have mother, father,
friends , others of their family or even others belonging to other
gotras to do tharpanam for them partake this water mixed with
gingely and be satisfied., be satisfied, be satisfied.
17.Brahmarpanam
I do give all this to the great god
Brahma so that faults are pardoned.
II Brahma Yagnam
This is supposed to be done by all
Brahmins daily after Madhyahnikam. This is a worship of Vedas and honouring and
satifying the devas, rishis and Pithrus.The Manthra starting with
“Vidhyudhasi….” Means
Oh God, you are the lightning which is in between the clouds
and you know my sins.and I seek the part of that power of yours. Daily.
The vedic chants have the following meaning:-
1.I worship the god of fire who is the first god in
all fire sacrifices, who is the one who conducts and who is the conductior of
the fire sacrifice and who is capable of giving all wealth.(Rik Veda)
2.Oh calves of cows, To supply us food as well as make us
worship god, you graze and return. Let the god savithru give you good
grazing(Yajur veda)
3.Oh God of fire, be pleased to come.You should be pleased
accept our worship.Please make the fire sacrifice that we do to the devas.(sama
veda)
4.Oh Gods who like water, Apart from quenching our thirsts,
you should fulfill all our desires and grant us good things.By your grace let
sorrow vanish from our lives and let happiness come.(atharvana Veda)
Meaning for the sloka starting with “Vrushtirasi….”
You are rain,You will cut off my sins,.
After this several oblation is offered to
devas, rishis, Vedas and pithrus.
