Dharma sastra-Ānhika trapanam
By Jammalamadaka Suryanarayana
Sometimes transliterated as: tarpaṇaṃ, tarpan
Sauhityaṃ tarpaṇaṃ tṛptiḥ[1]
According to the etymology, Tarpaṇaṃ is the offering of oblations of water as prescribed by the Dharma Śāstram to please our ancestors, gods and sages. This offering is done using the right hand. Generally, water is the base element in this ritual. But in some special occasions, cow milk is also used. In the nitya karmānuṣṭhānaṃ[2] section, sandhyāvandanaṃ[3] and brahmayajṅaṃ are the two rituals which have tarpaṇaṃ as a part of it.
Kaniṣṭa dēśinyaṃguṣṭa mūlānyagraṃ karasya tu| prajāpati pitṛ brahma dēva tīrthānyanukramāt||[4]
In almost all the traditional rituals, usage of water is essential. Water is also called as tīrthaṃ. It is further classified according to it's position.
- Ṛṣi tīrthaṃ - The place situated at the bottom of the little finger is related to Ṛṣiḥ/Sage and the water at that place is called Ṛṣi tīrthaṃ.
- Ṛṣi tarpaṇaṃ - It is the offering of oblations of water using Ṛṣi tīrthaṃ to respect Ṛṣiḥ/Sage.
- Pitṛ tīrthaṃ - The place situated at the bottom of the index finger is related to Pitā/Ancestors and the water at that place is called Pitṛ tīrthaṃ.
- Pitṛ tarpaṇaṃ - It is the offering of oblations of water is used for Pitṛ tīrthaṃ to respect Pitā/Ancestors.
- Brahma tīrthaṃ - The place situated at the bottom of the thumb finger is related to Brahmā/The creator and the water at that place is called Brahma tīrthaṃ.
- Brahma tarpaṇaṃ - It is the offering of oblations of water using Brahma tīrthaṃ to respect Brahmā/The creator.
- Dēva tīrthaṃ - All the tips of the fingers are related to Dēvaḥ/The Gods and the water at that place is called Dēva tīrthaṃ.
- Dēva tarpaṇaṃ - It is the offering of oblations of water using Dēva tīrthaṃ to respect Dēvaḥ/ The Gods.
- Agni tīrthaṃ - The place situated in the middle of the palm is related to Agniḥ/ The fire god, and the water at that place is called Agni tīrthaṃ.