Tarpana in Pitru Paksha: Why Offerings of Water and Til Hold Deep Spiritual Power

Chinmayi Devi Dasi
Sep 10
4 min read

Tarpana in Pitru Paksha is more than a ritual—it’s a bond of love with our ancestors. Learn why water, sesame, and mantras hold spiritual power and how to perform the puja step by step.

In Sanatana Dharma, every breath we take is linked to those who came before us. Our parents, grandparents, and forefathers passed on not only their genes but also their karmic legacy. The sacred ritual of Tarpana in Pitru Paksha is the bridge that connects us to them, offering water, sesame seeds, and mantras as an act of love and liberation.

Pitru Paksha, also called Shraddha Paksha, is a 16-day lunar period when Hindus across the world honor their departed ancestors. It is believed that during this time, the Pitrs (ancestral souls) visit the earthly plane, awaiting offerings from their descendants. Performing Tarpana during these days ensures their peace and grants blessings to the living.

As the Mahabharata beautifully says:

“तृप्तिं प्रयान्ति पितरः पिण्डोदकक्रियाः कृता।

तस्मात् पिण्डोदकं दद्यात् स्वधाकार्यं समाहिता॥”

Meaning: Ancestors attain satisfaction through offerings of pind (rice balls) and water. Therefore, one must sincerely perform Shraddha and Tarpana to honor them.

What is Tarpana in Pitru Paksha?

Pitru Paksha usually falls in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon phase) of the month of Bhadrapada. In 2025, Pitru Paksha began on Tuesday, September 7, 2025, and ends on Tuesday, September 21, 2025, with Sarva Pitru Amavasya marking the culmination.

During these 16 days, Hindus offer pinda daan (rice balls), tarpana (water with sesame), and perform shraddha rituals for the upliftment of souls. The belief is simple: if we satisfy our ancestors, they bless us with health, harmony, and prosperity.

The Meaning of Tarpana in Vedic Scriptures

The word Tarpana comes from the Sanskrit root “trp” meaning “to satisfy” or “to nourish.” Just as we quench the thirst of the body with water, we quench the spiritual thirst of our forefathers with tilodaka (water mixed with sesame seeds).

Water (Jala) – symbol of life, purity, and flow.
Sesame seeds (Til) – symbol of continuity, sacrifice, and protection from negative energies.
Mantras – vibrations that carry our prayers to higher realms.

Together, these three offerings act as a sacred medium to connect our love and gratitude with our ancestors.

तिलोदकं दत्तम अनन्तकालं, पितॄन् सन्तर्पयति नात्र संशयः।”

Meaning: Sesame-water offered with devotion satisfies the ancestors endlessly – there is no doubt in this truth.

What Do the Vedas and Scriptures Say?

The Garuda Purana, Matsya Purana, and Manusmriti emphasize the importance of honoring ancestors. The Taittiriya Upanishad also declares:

मातृ देवो भव, पितृ देवो भव।”

Meaning: Treat your mother and father as God.

In the Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva), Bhishma explains to Yudhishthira that offering food and water to ancestors not only liberates them but also purifies the descendants.

The Garuda Purana (2.49.12) states:

“श्रद्धेना दत्तं जलं तिलयुक्तं, पितॄन् प्रसादयति नित्यमेव।”

Meaning: Water mixed with sesame, when offered with faith, always pleases the ancestors.

Performing Tarpana: A Step-by-Step Guide

Preparation

Purification – Take a bath and wear clean or traditional clothes (preferably white).
Sacred Space – Choose a riverbank, pond, or courtyard. If unavailable, it can be done at home in a clean space.
Items Required – Water, black sesame seeds, barley, darbha grass, rice, and a copper vessel.

Step-by-Step Vidhi

Sankalpa (Resolve) – Facing south, declare your intent to perform Tarpana for your ancestors.
Invocation – Chant their names, starting from the most recent departed souls to the lineage (father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and so on).
Offering Water & Til – Take water in your palm, add black sesame seeds, and let it flow onto the ground or into a river while chanting mantras:
“Om Pitrubhyo Namah” (Obeisance to ancestors)
Prayers for Peace – Offer pinda (rice balls) if possible, symbolizing food for the ancestors.
Final Prayer – Conclude with the universal prayer:
“सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः, सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।”(May all beings be happy, may all beings be free from suffering.)

Disposal of Offerings – Place the remains under a tree or in flowing water.

The Inner Meaning: Tarpana as Inner Liberation

While Tarpana appears to be an external ritual, its true essence is internal transformation. Each ancestor lives within us as genetic traits and karmic tendencies. By offering water, til, and mantras, we symbolically:

Release our inherited karmic burdens,
Heal ancestral wounds carried within us,
Invite wisdom, peace, and spiritual clarity into our lives.

Thus, performing Tarpana is not just for the dead – it liberates the living.

Why Water, Sesame, and Mantras Hold Power

Water – Connects life to life, symbolizing the eternal flow between worlds.
Sesame Seeds (Til) – Mentioned in scriptures as sacred grains that repel negativity and purify.
Mantras – Vibrations that uplift the soul, guiding it towards liberation (moksha).

Together, these become a bridge between the earthly plane and Pitru Loka (ancestral realm).

The Emotional Tribute to Ancestors

Performing Tarpana is not done out of fear but out of love, gratitude, and remembrance. It is a way of saying:

“We remember you, we honor you, we thank you.”
“May your soul be in peace, may we continue your dharma.”

This ritual keeps alive the eternal bond between generations. As the saying goes in Sanatana Dharma:

पितृ ऋणं विना मुक्तिर्न भवति।”

Without repaying the debt to ancestors, liberation is incomplete.

Conclusion: The Spiritual Legacy of Tarpana

Tarpana in Pitru Paksha is not just a ritual, but a sacred responsibility. By offering water, sesame, and mantras, we not only honor and free our ancestors but also heal ourselves.

It is a reminder that life is a chain – our ancestors gave us this body, this culture, and this dharma. By remembering them with love, we strengthen that chain and pass it on with purity to the next generation.

In the words of Sanatana Dharma:

श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः।”

A person is made of faith; whatever faith he holds, that he becomes. (Bhagavad Gita, 17.3)

Thus, performing Tarpana with faith ensures that both ancestors and descendants move forward in peace, harmony, and spiritual freedom.

पितृ भक्तिः परमं धर्मः