Summary meaning in English of various manthras used in tharpanam

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.