Overview
Tarpana (Sanskrit: तर्पण) is a term in Vedic ritual practice that refers to an offering made to divine entities. The word denotes both the act of offering and the substance used in the offering. It is regarded as a form of arghya, a ceremonial libation, and is integral to several daily and occasional rites within the Hindu tradition.
The ritual is offered to a range of recipients, including the devas (deities), the rishis (sages), and the pitris (deceased ancestors). It is also performed in connection with the Navagrahas, the nine planetary deities, and is customarily included whenever the mulamantra of a deity is recited as japa. The performance of tarpana involves specific hand positions known as tirthas, which are used to direct the flow of water to the intended recipients—gods, sages, or ancestors—each having a designated portion of the hand through which the offering is made.
A particular form of the ritual is known as tilatarpana (तिलतर्पण), in which libations are offered to ancestors using water mixed with sesame seeds (tila). Tilatarpana is closely associated with Pitru Paksha, the fortnight in the Hindu calendar dedicated to remembering departed forebears, and is also performed as part of death rites. Through this practice, practitioners express reverence to lineage and seek the blessings of the ancestors.
The term tarpana is widely used across Indian languages, including Bengali (তর্পণ), Kannada (ತರ್ಪಣ) and Tamil (தர்ப்பணம்), reflecting the broad regional presence of the practice. While ritual details vary across traditions and communities, the underlying conception—offering water as a means of satisfying or honouring divine and ancestral beings—remains consistent.
References
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Tarpana.