Pitri Tarpana Question (Vishnu Sahasra Naama Homam..)

June 12, 2009

Namaste Ram ji,

Shraaddham is an offering of balls of solid food for deceased ancestors on special occasions.

Pitri tarpana is an offering of water for pitris (deceased ancestors who are stuck with some desires) to satisfy them. Not so long ago, every Braahmana used to perform a brief pitri tarpana everyday, as a part of daily rituals. This is not without reason.

* * *

The thoughts of the minds around us do have a subtle impact on our mind. When too many depressed, sad or frustrated people are around you, it will have a negative effect on you. Similarly, when some peaceful and blissful people or elevated souls are around you, it will have a positive effect on you. Thus, thoughts in the minds around you does have an impact on you.

This is particularly true with respect to the minds of people who have genetic/kaarmik links/debts with you. When minds of such people are in great distress or great excitement, it has an impact on your mind.

If a deceased ancestor to whom you have a kaarmik debt has some strong desires and unable to progress to a higher loka or be reborn, his thoughts and desires will have an impact on your mind.

Thus, we invest our mental energy praying for their relief. While offering balls of solid food (shraaddha) on special occasions, pray that the ancestor may get an appropriate body again to fulfil remaining desires. While leaving water in pitri tarpana, pray that the ancestor's desires may be satisfied and the ancestor may be overcome the weaknesses. By praying for helping an ancestor, you are indirectly helping yourself, by removing a powerful negative influence on your mind and getting rid of some weaknesses.

Unfortunately, the extremely simple ritual of pitri tarpana is out of fashion today. However, so many people will benefit tremendously if they do it atleast once every month if not daily. Vimalananda says that he will pick pitri tarpana if there is only one ritual he can perform.

* * *

Not long ago, every orthodox Braahmana used to perform a fire ritual and a water ritual (tarpana) everyday. Rituals use external symbols to induce internal changes. These two rituals are really important and useful rituals.

A small comparison of homam and tarpana is reproduced from archives:

--------------------------

One word on Homam vs Tarpana. In homam, you are calling devatas and the medium is fire. In tarpana, you are calling pitris and the medium is water. Both sadhanas are applicable to all people irrespective of whether watery signs/planets are strong or fiery signs/planets in their horoscope. In homam, devatas come in fire and burn your blocking karmas to purify you. In tarpana, pitris come in water and free you from vasanas (conditioning of the mind) that were karmically inherited from them. If you have genes from (and rina with) an ancestor who was lustful or angry or jealous and the consciousness of the deceased ancestor is still having those thoughts, you will also suffer from such thoughts due to the connection and may even commit some bad karmas because of the weaknesses. You can free yourself from the rina by working on giving a rebirth to that ancestor. If the ancestor's consciousness is attached to a new body, the thoughts and cravings of that consciousness will not affect your consciousness in the same way. Thus, tarpana aims to cut off a strong source of bad karmas, while homam burns off previously committed bad karmas. Both are very important sadhanas for spiritual progress. Devatas are very subtle forms of consciousness. Their self-identification is to what is known as soul and represented by Sun. They work on your individual soul and free it from the karmas it carries. Pitris are grosser forms of consciousness with strong attachments and desires. Their self-identification is with what is known as mind and represented by Moon. You may note that Sun and Moon are associated with Devas and Pitris in the hora chart of astrology. Fire and water are the natural media for them respectively. Devas and pitris have different ways of working and influencing us and helping our spiritual progress. But both are relevant to all of us and have a role to play in our spiritual evolution. Worshipping devas in fire and satisfying pitris in water are very important.

--------------------------

Best regards,NarasimhaDo a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpanaSpirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

, Ramakrishnan Krishnamurthy <ramki108 wrote:>> Dear Narasimha,> > Thanks for this valuable manual. Could you enlighten me on the difference between Pitri Tarpana and Shraddham? I believe Shraddham is performed once a year on the thithi of demise of one's father (to be performed by the eldest son). There are some variants such as performing it during the Shraddha Paksham instead of on the actual thithi, every year. Also, have heard of a Gaya Shraddham, which is to be performed once in a lifetime, and which makes it unnecessary to perform yearly Shraddham subsequently. > > Have tried to search for material on this but have not succeeded so far. At least if you can provide information on some sources, it would be a great help.> > Thanks and regards,> Ram> > --- On Fri, 12/6/09, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote:> > Namaste,> > Now a Vishnu sahasra naama homam manual is available. It contains a very short procedure for Vishnu sahasra naama homam. It is very detailed and pretty much anybody can follow it.> > Those who regularly chant Vishnu sahasra naama stotram should be able to perform a homam if they spend an extra 10 minutes, after a little practice. For those who are pressed for time and yet want to do a homam, a super-short procedure involving one verse is also given.> > The manual is available in English language, with mantras given in Sanskrit/Hindi, English, Telugu, Kannada or Malayalam scripts.> > In addition to this manual, manuals for Mahaganapathi homam, Chandi homam, Krishna homam, Shiva homam, Mahalakshmi homam, Sani homam and Kuja homam are available. More will be coming later.> > Chanting Vishnu's 1000 names is very powerful in this age. It is the best antidote for many problems, material and spiritual. Fire of a reasonable size augments the effect. The philosophy of fire ritual is explained in the manual.> > This is a part of the effort to enable a community of sadhakas who worship various deities in fire, as per the command of the divine Mother to my spiritual master at Kalikambal temple in Chennai in March 2006.> > Please go to the homam website below to download the manuals. It is hoped that spiritual sadhakas interested in homam will benefit from this and also help in increasing collective dharma in this world with their contribution. Please feel free to spread this link among interested people.> > Any philosophical or practical questions on homam or any spiritual sadhana can be discussed on the .> > Best regards,> Narasimha

June 12, 2009

JAI MAANarsimha ji & othersNamaskari am sharing one thing, but don't want to disturb you.my native village is in Kurukshetra and there is a water pond in almost every village the elders told us that you can worship or meditate any devta or devi standing in these ponds, your spiritual progress will magnifying by many folds. one day a old village prist also told that when the fire homa is not possible due to rain (in our tradition the homa done in open) then you can invoke the deva in water and perform the ahuti in it.thanks--- On Sat, 13/6/09, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote:Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr Pitri Tarpana Question

(Re: "Vishnu Sahasra Naama Homam"..) , , vedic astrology , sohamsa Date: Saturday, 13 June, 2009, 7:14 AM

Namaste Ram ji,

Shraaddham is an offering of balls of solid food for deceased ancestors on special occasions.

Pitri tarpana is an offering of water for pitris (deceased ancestors who are stuck with some desires) to satisfy them. Not so long ago, every Braahmana used to perform a brief pitri tarpana everyday, as a part of daily rituals. This is not without reason.

* * *

The thoughts of the minds around us do have a subtle impact on our mind. When too many depressed, sad or frustrated people are around you, it will have a negative effect on you. Similarly, when some peaceful and blissful people or elevated souls are around you, it will have a positive effect on you. Thus, thoughts in the minds around you does have an impact on you.

This is particularly true with respect to the minds of people who have genetic/kaarmik links/debts with you. When minds of such people are in great distress or great excitement, it has an impact on your mind.

If a deceased ancestor to whom you have a kaarmik debt has some strong desires and unable to progress to a higher loka or be reborn, his thoughts and desires will have an impact on your mind.

Thus, we invest our mental energy praying for their relief. While offering balls of solid food (shraaddha) on special occasions, pray that the ancestor may get an appropriate body again to fulfil remaining desires. While leaving water in pitri tarpana, pray that the ancestor's desires may be satisfied and the ancestor may be overcome the weaknesses. By praying for helping an ancestor, you are indirectly helping yourself, by removing a powerful negative influence on your mind and getting rid of some weaknesses.

Unfortunately, the extremely simple ritual of pitri tarpana is out of fashion today. However, so many people will benefit tremendously if they do it atleast once every month if not daily. Vimalananda says that he will pick pitri tarpana if there is only one ritual he can perform.

* * *

Not long ago, every orthodox Braahmana used to perform a fire ritual and a water ritual (tarpana) everyday. Rituals use external symbols to induce internal changes. These two rituals are really important and useful rituals.

A small comparison of homam and tarpana is reproduced from archives:

------------ --------- -----

One word on Homam vs Tarpana. In homam, you are calling devatas and the medium is fire. In tarpana, you are calling pitris and the medium is water. Both sadhanas are applicable to all people irrespective of whether watery signs/planets are strong or fiery signs/planets in their horoscope. In homam, devatas come in fire and burn your blocking karmas to purify you. In tarpana, pitris come in water and free you from vasanas (conditioning of the mind) that were karmically inherited from them. If you have genes from (and rina with) an ancestor who was lustful or angry or jealous and the consciousness of the deceased ancestor is still having those thoughts, you will also suffer from such thoughts due to the connection and may even commit some bad karmas because of the weaknesses. You can free yourself from the rina by working on giving a rebirth to that ancestor. If the ancestor's consciousness is attached to a new body, the thoughts and cravings of that consciousness will not affect your consciousness in the same way. Thus, tarpana aims to cut off a strong source of bad karmas, while homam burns off previously committed bad karmas. Both are very important sadhanas for spiritual progress. Devatas are very subtle forms of consciousness. Their self-identification is to what is known as soul and represented by Sun. They work on your individual soul and free it from the karmas it carries. Pitris are grosser forms of consciousness with strong attachments and desires. Their self-identification is with what is known as mind and represented by Moon. You may note that Sun and Moon are associated with Devas and Pitris in the hora chart of astrology. Fire and water are the natural media for them respectively. Devas and pitris have different ways of working and influencing us and helping our spiritual progress. But both are relevant to all of us and have a role to play in our spiritual evolution. Worshipping devas in fire and satisfying pitris in water are very important.

------------ --------- -----

Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

, Ramakrishnan Krishnamurthy <ramki108 wrote:>> Dear Narasimha,> > Thanks for this valuable manual. Could you enlighten me on the difference between Pitri Tarpana and Shraddham? I believe Shraddham is performed once a year on the thithi of demise of one's father (to be performed by the eldest son). There are some variants such as performing it during the Shraddha Paksham instead of on the actual thithi, every year. Also, have heard of a Gaya Shraddham, which is to be performed once in a lifetime, and which makes it unnecessary to perform yearly Shraddham subsequently. > > Have tried to search for material on this but have not succeeded so far. At least if you can provide information on some sources, it would be a great help.> > Thanks and regards,> Ram> > --- On Fri, 12/6/09, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote:> > Namaste,> > Now a Vishnu sahasra naama homam manual is available. It contains a very short procedure for Vishnu sahasra naama homam. It is very detailed and pretty much anybody can follow it.> > Those who regularly chant Vishnu sahasra naama stotram should be able to perform a homam if they spend an extra 10 minutes, after a little practice. For those who are pressed for time and yet want to do a homam, a super-short procedure involving one verse is also given.> > The manual is available in English language, with mantras given in Sanskrit/Hindi, English, Telugu, Kannada or Malayalam scripts.> > In addition to this manual, manuals for Mahaganapathi homam, Chandi homam, Krishna homam, Shiva homam, Mahalakshmi homam, Sani homam and Kuja homam are available. More will be coming later.> > Chanting Vishnu's 1000 names is very powerful in this age. It is the best antidote for many problems, material and spiritual. Fire of a reasonable size augments the effect. The philosophy of fire ritual is explained in the manual.> > This is a part of the effort to enable a community of sadhakas who worship various deities in fire, as per the command of the divine Mother to my spiritual master at Kalikambal temple in Chennai in March 2006.> > Please go to the homam website below to download the manuals. It is hoped that spiritual sadhakas interested in homam will benefit from this and also help in increasing collective dharma in this world with their contribution. Please feel free to spread this link among interested people.> > Any philosophical or practical questions on homam or any spiritual sadhana can be discussed on the .> > Best regards,> Narasimha

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June 13, 2009

Dear Manoj,

In addition to fire, gods can be invoked in water as well as idols or any objects in general. In fact, gods can be invoked and worshipped in one's breathing. Gods can be worshipped without any external invocation also, as they have an indwelling presence always. However, external worship in fire gives the best results and useful for progressing for most sadhakas in the beginning.

Kurukshetra is the land of BhagavadGita and you are blessed to be from that sacred land. I and my guru spent a couple of days at Kurukshetra for shooting a documentary movie on Krishna's historicity in May 2008. That whole region is filled with some powerful and strange spiritual energy. We had a couple of really nice homams and meditation sessions in Kurukshetra. I loved the place.

Particularly, one Chandi homam we did in the night atop a small hill in Kurukshetra (Karna ka teela) was very nice. An old yogi and his grandson lived there and did sadhana everyday. They belonged to Naath pantha and were Gorakshaanaath (Gorakhnath) followers. When we were climbing the hill in the afternoon, Manish told me we probably had a rina there and might end up doing something there. When we found these yogis, we talked to them for a while. Just when leaving, Manish saw their havan kund where they do a havan everyday. Manish asked them it would be alright if we do Chandi homam in that havan kund that night. They welcomed us under the condition that we would not call any dark energies, as they were worshippers of Narayana. We told them we would call Mahalakshmi in fire and they consented. We went back later that night with all materials and did a Chandi homam. The place had around 10 dogs. They were barking loud before, but they all came and sat around the homam once fire started. Surprisingly, the dogs just sat around the fire without any sounds or barking for a whole 2 hours. It was Manish, I, that old naath panthaa yogi and a bunch of dogs that sat around the havan kund for 2 hours.

Until we invoked the Mother, it was very silent except for our soft voices. But the moment we invoked the Mother in fire, there were strange noises all around us on the hill and in the valley. Suddenly, so many birds and flies started making various noises. The effect of transitioning from such silence to such an animated state all around us was quite strange and eerie. That animated state continued for a few minutes. Also, when we offered bali at the end of homam, suddenly all the dogs got up and started running together towards the southwestern direction while jumping up now and then, as though they were chasing somebody.

There was no electricity there. The ONLY light in the vicinity was homam fire. There were so many mosquitos all around us and biting us continuously. We did not eat anything since noon and it was 10:30 pm when we finished. Still, it was so nice. Like I said, there is something ethereal about the air of Kurukshetra. Though I only spent only a couple of days there, I have fond memories of that place.

Best regards,NarasimhaDo a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpanaSpirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

-

manoj sharma

Saturday, June 13, 2009 12:42 AM

Re: Pitri Tarpana Question (Re: "Vishnu Sahasra Naama Homam"..)

JAI MAANarsimha ji & othersNamaskari am sharing one thing, but don't want to disturb you.my native village is in Kurukshetra and there is a water pond in almost every village the elders told us that you can worship or meditate any devta or devi standing in these ponds, your spiritual progress will magnifying by many folds. one day a old village prist also told that when the fire homa is not possible due to rain (in our tradition the homa done in open) then you can invoke the deva in water and perform the ahuti in it.thanks--- On Sat, 13/6/09, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote:

Namaste Ram ji,

Shraaddham is an offering of balls of solid food for deceased ancestors on special occasions.

Pitri tarpana is an offering of water for pitris (deceased ancestors who are stuck with some desires) to satisfy them. Not so long ago, every Braahmana used to perform a brief pitri tarpana everyday, as a part of daily rituals. This is not without reason.

* * *

The thoughts of the minds around us do have a subtle impact on our mind. When too many depressed, sad or frustrated people are around you, it will have a negative effect on you. Similarly, when some peaceful and blissful people or elevated souls are around you, it will have a positive effect on you. Thus, thoughts in the minds around you does have an impact on you.

This is particularly true with respect to the minds of people who have genetic/kaarmik links/debts with you. When minds of such people are in great distress or great excitement, it has an impact on your mind.

If a deceased ancestor to whom you have a kaarmik debt has some strong desires and unable to progress to a higher loka or be reborn, his thoughts and desires will have an impact on your mind.

Thus, we invest our mental energy praying for their relief. While offering balls of solid food (shraaddha) on special occasions, pray that the ancestor may get an appropriate body again to fulfil remaining desires. While leaving water in pitri tarpana, pray that the ancestor's desires may be satisfied and the ancestor may be overcome the weaknesses. By praying for helping an ancestor, you are indirectly helping yourself, by removing a powerful negative influence on your mind and getting rid of some weaknesses.

Unfortunately, the extremely simple ritual of pitri tarpana is out of fashion today. However, so many people will benefit tremendously if they do it atleast once every month if not daily. Vimalananda says that he will pick pitri tarpana if there is only one ritual he can perform.

* * *

Not long ago, every orthodox Braahmana used to perform a fire ritual and a water ritual (tarpana) everyday. Rituals use external symbols to induce internal changes. These two rituals are really important and useful rituals.

A small comparison of homam and tarpana is reproduced from archives:

------------ --------- -----

One word on Homam vs Tarpana. In homam, you are calling devatas and the medium is fire. In tarpana, you are calling pitris and the medium is water. Both sadhanas are applicable to all people irrespective of whether watery signs/planets are strong or fiery signs/planets in their horoscope. In homam, devatas come in fire and burn your blocking karmas to purify you. In tarpana, pitris come in water and free you from vasanas (conditioning of the mind) that were karmically inherited from them. If you have genes from (and rina with) an ancestor who was lustful or angry or jealous and the consciousness of the deceased ancestor is still having those thoughts, you will also suffer from such thoughts due to the connection and may even commit some bad karmas because of the weaknesses. You can free yourself from the rina by working on giving a rebirth to that ancestor. If the ancestor's consciousness is attached to a new body, the thoughts and cravings of that consciousness will not affect your consciousness in the same way. Thus, tarpana aims to cut off a strong source of bad karmas, while homam burns off previously committed bad karmas. Both are very important sadhanas for spiritual progress. Devatas are very subtle forms of consciousness. Their self-identification is to what is known as soul and represented by Sun. They work on your individual soul and free it from the karmas it carries. Pitris are grosser forms of consciousness with strong attachments and desires. Their self-identification is with what is known as mind and represented by Moon. You may note that Sun and Moon are associated with Devas and Pitris in the hora chart of astrology. Fire and water are the natural media for them respectively. Devas and pitris have different ways of working and influencing us and helping our spiritual progress. But both are relevant to all of us and have a role to play in our spiritual evolution. Worshipping devas in fire and satisfying pitris in water are very important.

------------ --------- -----

Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

, Ramakrishnan Krishnamurthy <ramki108 wrote:>> Dear Narasimha,> > Thanks for this valuable manual. Could you enlighten me on the difference between Pitri Tarpana and Shraddham? I believe Shraddham is performed once a year on the thithi of demise of one's father (to be performed by the eldest son). There are some variants such as performing it during the Shraddha Paksham instead of on the actual thithi, every year. Also, have heard of a Gaya Shraddham, which is to be performed once in a lifetime, and which makes it unnecessary to perform yearly Shraddham subsequently. > > Have tried to search for material on this but have not succeeded so far. At least if you can provide information on some sources, it would be a great help.> > Thanks and regards,> Ram> > --- On Fri, 12/6/09, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote:> > Namaste,> > Now a Vishnu sahasra naama homam manual is available. It contains a very short procedure for Vishnu sahasra naama homam. It is very detailed and pretty much anybody can follow it.> > Those who regularly chant Vishnu sahasra naama stotram should be able to perform a homam if they spend an extra 10 minutes, after a little practice. For those who are pressed for time and yet want to do a homam, a super-short procedure involving one verse is also given.> > The manual is available in English language, with mantras given in Sanskrit/Hindi, English, Telugu, Kannada or Malayalam scripts.> > In addition to this manual, manuals for Mahaganapathi homam, Chandi homam, Krishna homam, Shiva homam, Mahalakshmi homam, Sani homam and Kuja homam are available. More will be coming later.> > Chanting Vishnu's 1000 names is very powerful in this age. It is the best antidote for many problems, material and spiritual. Fire of a reasonable size augments the effect. The philosophy of fire ritual is explained in the manual.> > This is a part of the effort to enable a community of sadhakas who worship various deities in fire, as per the command of the divine Mother to my spiritual master at Kalikambal temple in Chennai in March 2006.> > Please go to the homam website below to download the manuals. It is hoped that spiritual sadhakas interested in homam will benefit from this and also help in increasing collective dharma in this world with their contribution. Please feel free to spread this link among interested people.> > Any philosophical or practical questions on homam or any spiritual sadhana can be discussed on the .> > Best regards,> Narasimha