Amavasya Tharpanam is a Hindu ritual performed on the day of Amavasya or the new moon day. It is a traditional ceremony where people pay homage to their ancestors and seek their blessings. The term 'Tharpanam' means an offering or oblation. The ritual is also known as Amavasya Pitru Tarpanam or Mahalaya Paksha Tharpanam.
According to Hindu mythology, the spirits of the deceased ancestors reside in the Pitruloka, a realm that exists between the earth and heaven. It is believed that these ancestors can provide guidance, support and blessings to their living descendants. However, it is also believed that if their descendants fail to pay homage to them, they may become restless and cause problems for their living descendants. The Amavasya Tharpanam is performed to prevent such restlessness and to seek the blessings of the ancestors.
The Amavasya Tharpanam ritual involves the chanting of Vedic mantras and the offering of rice, black sesame seeds, and water mixed with black sesame seeds to the ancestors. The ritual is usually performed by the eldest male member of the family, but it can also be performed by any male member of the family.
The ritual is performed in a clean and sacred place, preferably near a water body like a river or a pond. The person performing the ritual should wear clean clothes and take a purifying bath before commencing the ceremony.
The ritual begins by invoking the blessings of Lord Vishnu and other deities. The person performing the ritual then offers water to the ancestors and recites the mantras. After the recitation of the mantras, the person performing the ritual pours the water mixed with black sesame seeds on his right hand and offers it to the ancestors while uttering their names. This is repeated three times.
After the offering is made, the person performing the ritual touches his ears with his hands and recites a prayer seeking the forgiveness of the ancestors. The ritual concludes with the person performing the ritual feeding the Brahmins and offering them dakshina or money.
The Amavasya Tharpanam ritual is performed during the Mahalaya Paksha, a 16-day period that starts on the full moon day of the month of Bhadrapada and ends on the new moon day. It is believed that during this period, the spirits of the ancestors descend to the earth to receive offerings from their descendants. The Amavasya Tharpanam is performed on the new moon day or the Amavasya day during this period.
In conclusion, Amavasya Tharpanam is an important ritual in Hinduism that is performed to pay homage to the ancestors and seek their blessings. The ritual is performed to prevent restlessness among the ancestors and to seek their guidance and blessings. It is a way of showing gratitude to the ancestors for their contribution to the family lineage and seeking their continued blessings for the well-being of the family.
"ॐ यज्ञोपवीतं परमं पवित्रं प्रजापतेर्यत् सहजं पुरस्तात् । आयुष्यमग्रयं प्रतिमुञ्च शुभ्रं यज्ञोपवीतं बलमस्तु तेजः।"