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Re: Regarding Tharpanams

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Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan • January 20, 2000 


Thanks to Anbil Swamigal for a very informative posting.  I have heard that 
the tarpanam on Ashtaka and Anvastaka (Krishna paksha ashtami and navami)are 
most imporatant during the month of 'Maasi'.  Just like the 4 major 
sankramana tarpanams the practice of offering tarpanams on rest of the 
months is not much in vogue.

Dasan

Vijayaraghavan


>From: Ramanbil@aol.com
>To: bhakti@lists.best.com
>Subject: Regarding Tharpanams
>Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 12:01:41 EST
>
>Dear friend
>I had a discussion of the subject with my Acharyan HH Poundarikapuram 
>Andavan
>when I went to India last. The point of discussion was about the Ashtaka 
>and
>Anvashtaka observance. He enumerated about 90 occasions when a Brahmana has
>to offer Tharpanam.  I was trying to recollect the occasions which I had
>noted down then but the paper is not readily traceable now. Hence, the 
>delay.
>As I do not wish to delay further, I am giving the following from my 
>memory.
>
>STRICTLY SPEAKING, one whose father is not alive has to offer Tharpanams in 
>a
>year on
>1.Masappirappu (sangramanam)            12
>2. Amavasya                         12
>3. Sraddanka Tharpanam of
>  father                                 1 (or 2 -if mother also is not 
>alive)
>4. Grahanams, if visible                    1 (to maximum of 4)
>5. Upakarma                         1
>5. Mahalaya Paksham (Chandramana)   1
>6. Ashtakai and Anvashtakai
>also called TisrOshtakai on
>Krishna Paksha Ashtami and Navami
>in the 4 months of Margazhi to Panguni  8
>7. Certain others, which I do not remember
>
>In respect of 1, the four Sangramanams of Mesha / Kataka / Tula and Makara
>are considered important. Mesha and Makara are considered most important. 
>In
>practice, however, we see people doing only Mesha Sangramanam.
>Those listed at 2,3,4,5 and 6 are must. We are told that item 6 is even 
>more
>important than even Mahalayam mentioned at 5 above. vide page 121 of the
>Anubandham to the Aahnika Grantha (Sri Vaishnava Sadachara Nirnaya) by our
>Prakritam HH. Azhagiyasinghar.
>Dasoham
>Anbil Ramaswamy

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