Namaste,
Tarpan is not just pertinent; it is profoundly righteous and reflects a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of life. Indeed, just as a mighty river is fed by numerous streams, our existence flows from both our paternal and maternal lines, and both deserve our utmost reverence and gratitude.
Many wonder about Tarpan for maternal ancestors, perhaps because some traditions place a stronger outward emphasis on the paternal line (pitṛ-vaṃśa). But rest assured, our sacred Puranas, the timeless repositories of Dharmic wisdom, explicitly validate and encourage the honoring of the maternal lineage (mātṛ-vaṃśa).
Embrace Wholeness: How to Perform Tarpan for Maternal Ancestors
The bond we share with our mother is primordial. Through her, we connect to a whole lineage of ancestors – her parents, grandparents, and beyond – whose lives, struggles, and merits have contributed to the tapestry of our own existence. To neglect them in our remembrance rites would be incomplete, like acknowledging only half the sky. Performing Tarpan for maternal ancestors is not merely an optional addition; it is an integral part of fulfilling our duty (dharma) towards our complete ancestry.
Why Including Maternal Ancestors is Spiritually Vital
Our existence is a confluence of two lineages. Both parents contribute equally to our physical form and subtle energetic makeup. Spiritually, the karmic threads and blessings flow through both channels.
- Completeness of Lineage: Acknowledging only the paternal side provides an incomplete picture and potentially leaves ancestral needs unmet. Honoring both sides ensures a holistic approach to ancestral reverence.
- Debt of Gratitude (Ṛṇa): We owe a debt of gratitude not just to our father’s parents but equally to our mother’s parents and their line for the sacrifices, values, and life force passed down.
- Balanced Blessings: Just as both parents nurture a child, the blessings (āśīrvāda) from both paternal and maternal ancestors contribute to our well-being, prosperity, and spiritual progress. Seeking blessings from both lines fosters balance and harmony.
- Resolving Karmic Ties: Any unresolved karmic issues or needs (Pitṛ Doṣa) can exist on either side of the family. Inclusive Tarpan helps address these comprehensively.
Scriptural Sanction: Puranic Evidence for Honoring Maternal Ancestors
Our revered Puranas leave no ambiguity about the rightful place of maternal ancestors in our rites. Let us look at some specific references you’ve brought to light:
Agni Purana: Explicit Invocation of Maternal Forefathers
The Agni Purana provides clear instruction. It explicitly states that during ancestral rites (like Shraddha, which often encompasses Tarpan), one should invoke not only the father, grandfather, and great-grandfather but also the forefathers on the maternal side to whom one is entitled to offer respects. This direct mention underscores their inclusion as rightful recipients of our offerings. The Purana also details rites like Nandi Shraddha (an auspicious ancestral rite performed before happy occasions like weddings), where both paternal (Pitāmaha, Prapitāmaha, Vṛddhaprapitāmaha) and maternal (Mātāmaha, Mātuh Pitāmaha, Mātuh Prapitāmaha) grandfathers are specifically invoked, highlighting their equal importance in certain key ceremonies.
Garuda Purana: Recipients of Pindas and Specific Mantras
The Garuda Purana, a vital source for understanding afterlife rites, provides compelling evidence in multiple ways:
- Recipients of Pindas (Part 1): When detailing who receives the sacred food offerings (pindas), the Garuda Purana explicitly lists the maternal grandfather (Mātāmaha), maternal great-grandfather (Mātuh Pitāmaha), and maternal great-great-grandfather (Mātuh Prapitāmaha), along with their female counterparts (wives). If they are designated recipients of Pindas – the most substantial offering in Shraddha – they are unquestionably entitled to receive the water offering of Tarpan as well.
- Specific Mantras (Part 2): The text goes further by providing simple, direct mantras specifically for invoking these maternal ancestors during Tarpan:
- Om Mātāmahāya Namaḥ (ॐ मातामहाय नमः) – Salutations to the maternal grandfather.
- Om Mātuh Pitāmahāya Namaḥ (ॐ मातुः पितामहाय नमः) – Salutations to the mother’s father’s father (maternal great-grandfather).
- Om Mātuh Prapitāmahāya Namaḥ (ॐ मातुः प्रपितामहाय नमः) – Salutations to the mother’s grandfather’s father (maternal great-great-grandfather).
(Note: Your input mentioned slightly different mantras referencing Prapitāmaha and Vṛddhaprapitāmaha directly for the maternal line, which might stem from specific interpretations or different sections. The structure invoking the mother’s lineage explicitly, like Mātuh Pitāmaha, is very common and clear.)
- Offering Quantity (Part 2): The Garuda Purana also mentions offering three anjalis (cupped handfuls of water) specifically to the maternal grandfathers, and then extending offerings to mothers and other maternal relatives. This confirms both their inclusion and the application of the standard threefold offering for Pitṛs to them.
Skanda Purana: Adoration and Dedicated Priests
The Skanda Purana adds further weight. It explicitly emphasizes the need to “adore the three generations beginning with the maternal grandfather.” It even details procedures within Shraddha where specific Brahmanas (priests) are invited and designated to represent the Pitṛs on the mother’s side – specifically naming her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. This shows a formal structure acknowledging and honoring the maternal line within established rituals.
Varaha Purana and Linga Purana: Applying General Principles
While the Varaha Purana establishes the general rule of offering water three times to the Pitṛs, and the Linga Purana mentions the traditional offering medium (water mixed with gingelly/sesame seeds), these principles naturally extend to all Pitṛs, including the maternal ones, when they are invoked. The threefold offering and the use of Til water apply equally when performing Tarpan for maternal ancestors.
Therefore, the scriptural consensus is clear: maternal ancestors are not only allowed to be included but should be included for the rites to be complete and fully effective.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Perform Tarpan for Maternal Ancestors
Performing Tarpan for maternal ancestors follows the same fundamental principles as Tarpan for paternal ancestors, with a specific focus on invoking the correct lineage. Here’s a simple guide:
1. Set Your Intention (Sankalpa)
Begin with a clear mental resolve (Sankalpa). After stating your intention to perform Tarpan for your paternal ancestors, explicitly include your maternal ancestors. You might mentally affirm: “I now perform Tarpan to offer satisfaction and peace to my departed maternal ancestors – my maternal grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, and all known and unknown ancestors of my mother’s lineage. May this offering reach them.”
2. Identify the Maternal Ancestors (Mātāmaha Adi)
The primary focus is typically on the three ascending generations from your mother:
- Mātāmaha (मातामह): Your mother’s father (Maternal Grandfather).
- Mātuh Pitāmaha (मातुः पितामह): Your mother’s paternal grandfather (Maternal Great-Grandfather).
- Mātuh Prapitāmaha (मातुः प्रपितामह): Your mother’s paternal great-grandfather (Maternal Great-Great-Grandfather).
If you know their names, you can include them in your invocation. If not, using these general terms is perfectly acceptable. Some traditions may also include female maternal ancestors (Mātāmahī, Mātuh Pitāmahī, etc.) especially in Shraddha, but for basic Tarpan, focusing on the three male heads of the maternal lineage is common.
3. Use Specific Mantras
Chant the simple yet powerful mantras, ideally those provided in texts like the Garuda Purana, while making the offering for each:
- For Maternal Grandfather:
Om Mātāmahāya Namaḥ (ॐ मातामहाय नमः)
(Optionally add Gotra and Name if known: [Gotra] Gotrāya Mātāmahāya [Name] Swadhā Namaḥ) - For Maternal Great-Grandfather:
Om Mātuh Pitāmahāya Namaḥ (ॐ मातुः पितामहाय नमः)
(Optionally add Gotra and Name if known: [Gotra] Gotrāya Mātuh Pitāmahāya [Name] Swadhā Namaḥ) - For Maternal Great-Great-Grandfather:
Om Mātuh Prapitāmahāya Namaḥ (ॐ मातुः प्रपितामहाय नमः)
(Optionally add Gotra and Name if known: [Gotra] Gotrāya Mātuh Prapitāmahāya [Name] Swadhā Namaḥ)
Alternatively, you can use the universal offering word “Swadhā” after invoking their name or relationship: e.g., “Mātāmahāya Swadhā”
4. Make the Offering Correctly
Follow the standard Tarpan procedure:
- Direction: Face South.
- Materials: Use pure water mixed with black sesame seeds (kala til), as mentioned in the Linga Purana for Pitṛ offerings.
- Hand Posture: Offer the water using both hands joined, letting it flow through the Pitṛ Tīrtha (the space between the right thumb and index finger).
- Sacred Thread: If you wear the Yajnopavita, ensure it is in the Prācīnāvīta position (over the right shoulder, under the left arm).
5. Offer Three Times for Each
Adhere to the general rule for Pitṛs mentioned in the Varaha Purana and supported by the Garuda Purana for maternal grandfathers: offer three anjalis (handfuls) of the Til-mixed water for each of the maternal ancestors you are invoking (Mātāmaha, Mātuh Pitāmaha, Mātuh Prapitāmaha). Chant the corresponding mantra with each offering.
6. Include Other Maternal Relatives (Optional but Recommended)
While the three main male ancestors are primary, you can also make general offerings for:
- Mātāmahī Ādi (Maternal Grandmother’s Line): If known, or simply as “My maternal grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother.” Use a mantra like Om Mātāmahībhyo Namaḥ (ॐ मातामहीभ्यो नमः).
- Other Maternal Relatives: Uncles (Mātula), aunts, cousins on the mother’s side who have departed. A general offering like Om Sarvebhyo Mātṛ-Pakṣa Pitṛbhyo Namaḥ (ॐ सर्वेभ्यो मातृ-पक्ष पितृभ्यो नमः – Salutations to all ancestors on the mother’s side) can be made.
7. Feel the Connection
Throughout the process, cultivate feelings of love, respect, and gratitude. Visualize the offering reaching them and bringing them peace and satisfaction (tṛpti). Feel the wholeness of honouring your entire lineage.
Addressing Potential Doubts: Why Isn’t It Always Emphasized?
Sometimes, due to cultural emphasis on the patrilineal continuation of the family name or property rights, the paternal line might receive more overt attention in daily life or simplified ritual instructions. However, this practical emphasis should not overshadow the spiritual completeness required in rites like Tarpan and Shraddha. The Puranic injunctions clearly establish the necessity and validity of Tarpan for maternal ancestors. Ignoring them leaves our duty incomplete.
Benefits of Inclusive Tarpan: Harmony and Wholeness
Performing Tarpan for maternal ancestors alongside paternal ones brings numerous benefits:
- Complete Ancestral Blessings: You invoke grace from your entire lineage, leading to more comprehensive well-being.
- Spiritual Harmony: It creates a sense of balance and acknowledges the equal contribution of both parental lines.
- Resolves Imbalances: It can help mitigate any potential issues or neglects related to the maternal line’s ancestors.
- Deepens Connection: It fosters a richer understanding and appreciation of your complete heritage.
- Fulfills Dharma: It ensures you are fulfilling your ancestral duty (Pitṛ Dharma) completely and righteously.
Conclusion: Embrace Your Full Heritage Through Tarpan
Your instinct to honour your mother’s lineage is guided by Dharma itself. The Puranas, including the Agni, Garuda, Skanda, Varaha, and Linga Puranas, provide ample evidence and guidance for performing Tarpan for maternal ancestors.
Remember to include them in your Sankalpa, invoke them using specific terms (Mātāmaha, etc.) or dedicated mantras, offer the traditional three anjalis of water mixed with black sesame seeds for each, and maintain the correct posture and heartfelt devotion.
By embracing this inclusive approach, you weave together the threads of your entire ancestry, strengthening your roots and opening yourself to the full spectrum of blessings that flow from contented Pitṛs on both sides of your family. Let your Tarpan be a testament to the wholeness of your lineage and the depth of your gratitude.
May all your ancestors, paternal and maternal, be deeply satisfied (parama-tṛpta) by your offerings and shower their choicest blessings upon you and your loved ones.
|| कल्याणमस्तु ||