Shraddha Vidhi: Dev, Rishi & Pitru Tarpan, Janeu Positions & Pind Daan
Who each tarpan is for, why, which way to face, how the janeu is worn (savya, nivita, apasavya), which tirtha the water flows from — and the full Shraddha steps that follow.
This is the complete Shraddha vidhi for Pitru Paksha 2026 (26 September–10 October), and it starts where most short guides stop: with the three tarpans — Dev tarpan, Rishi tarpan and Pitru tarpan — the meaning of each, which way to face, how the janeu (sacred thread) is worn — savya, nivita and apasavya — and which part of the hand the water flows from. It then walks through pind daan, panchabali and Brahmin bhojan. The method is drawn from traditional manuals and Puranic sources; because families follow different Vedic-school (shakha) practices, the small variations between sources are pointed out honestly, and your family priest (purohit) has the final word.
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Tarpan and Shraddha — What Is the Difference?
Tarpan (from tarpana, "to satisfy") is the offering of water — with sesame, barley or rice and kusha grass — to gods, sages and ancestors. Shraddha is the fuller rite: sankalp, tarpan, pind daan, cooked food, panchabali and feeding a Brahmin. Tarpan can be done on its own every day of Pitru Paksha; Shraddha is done on the ancestor's tithi. Most Shraddhas therefore begin with the three tarpans described below.
Mythological and Scriptural Importance of Tarpan
- A Vedic rite: Tarpana is described as a Vedic offering made to gods, sages and ancestors. In the Yajurveda tradition, Deva-Rishi-Pitru tarpanam is treated as part of the daily Brahmayajna, one of the five daily duties (Pancha Maha Yajna).
- The three debts: Hindu thought speaks of a debt to the gods (Dev-rin), to the sages who preserved knowledge (Rishi-rin) and to one's ancestors (Pitru-rin). Dev, Rishi and Pitru tarpan are the three matching acknowledgements, which is why all three are offered.
- The Brahma Purana's definition: as summarised by Hindi reference works, tarpan is what is offered at the proper time, to the proper recipient, in the proper place and by the proper ritual, with reverence for the ancestors — meaning that sincerity and correct procedure go together.
- Who the pitrs are: the tarpan mantras themselves name the divine classes of ancestors — Agnishvatta, Barhishad and Somapa pitrs, along with Kavyavat Anala, Soma, Yama and Aryaman. Manusmriti 3.284 says that the fathers are called Vasus, the grandfathers Rudras and the great-grandfathers Adityas — which is why, in the pitru tarpan formula, the father is addressed as Vasu-rupa, the grandfather as Rudra-rupa and the great-grandfather as Aditya-rupa.
- How the offering reaches them: the Garuda Purana tradition describes two divine ancestors, Vishvadeva and Agnishrava, who carry the offered food onward — it becomes amrita for the gods, grain for humans and grass for animals, according to the realm the ancestor is in.
- Why kusha and sesame: a legend attributed to the Garuda Purana says kusha grass arose from the hair of Lord Vishnu when he shook his body after emerging from the water as Varaha, and sesame arose from the sweat of his penance. This is why tarpan without kusha and black sesame is said to be incomplete.
- Beyond one's own family: the Vishnu Purana is often cited for the idea that tarpan extends to all beings, and the widely recited closing verse (given below) offers water even to "those in the hells" and to "those who are relatives and those who are not".
- Bhishma tarpan: because Bhishma Pitamah remained a lifelong celibate and left no son to offer him water, tradition asks every Hindu to offer him tarpan "as a son would".
All of the above is religious tradition and belief, offered so you understand why the rite is shaped as it is — not as a scientific claim.
The Three Positions of the Janeu — Savya, Nivita, Apasavya
The sacred thread (yajnopavita, janeu) is worn in a different position for each tarpan. This is the single most important detail of the whole rite:
| Position | Also called | How it is worn | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savya | Upavita — the normal position | Over the left shoulder, resting under the right arm | Worship and Dev tarpan |
| Nivita | Garland position | Hung around the neck like a garland (a shawl or cloth can be used in the same way) | Rishi tarpan, Sanakadi (divine humans) and other acts involving people |
| Apasavya | Pracinavita — the reverse position | Over the right shoulder, resting under the left arm (a mirror image of savya) | Pitru tarpan, pind daan and all rites for ancestors |
Why the change? The usual explanation is symbolic: savya is the auspicious, everyday orientation used for the gods; the garland position is the neutral position used for sages and people; and the reversed, apasavya position turns the thread — and the performer — towards the world of the departed, which is why the offering to ancestors is also made facing south, the direction traditionally associated with Yama. (The same idea explains why circumambulation is anti-clockwise in death rites.) If you do not wear a janeu — for example women, or men without an upanayana — many families use a clean shawl or cloth in the same three positions; ask your priest what your family follows.
The Three Tirthas — Which Part of the Hand the Water Flows From
- Deva tirtha: the tips of the fingers (the four fingers, without the thumb) — for the gods.
- Prajapatya (Rishi) tirtha: the base of the little finger — for the sages.
- Pitru tirtha: the hollow between the thumb and the forefinger — for the ancestors.
Summary Chart — The Three Tarpans at a Glance
| Tarpan | Face | Sacred thread | Water flows through | Water is mixed with | Anjalis (handfuls) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dev tarpan (gods) | East | Savya (left shoulder) | Deva tirtha — fingertips | Rice/akshat, flowers (barley or sandal in some families) | 1 for each |
| Rishi tarpan (sages, incl. Sanakadi) | North | Nivita (garland round the neck) | Prajapatya tirtha — base of the little finger | Barley (jau) | 2 for each (1 for the ten rishis in some traditions) |
| Pitru tarpan (divine pitrs, Yama, own ancestors) | South | Apasavya (right shoulder) | Pitru tirtha — between thumb and forefinger | Black sesame (kala til) | 3 for each |
Note: sources differ slightly. Some manuals give one anjali to each of the ten rishis and two to each of the Sanakadi group; some place the ten rishis with the gods (facing east); some give one anjali to each Yama name. These are shakha differences, not errors — follow your own family's manual.
Before You Begin — Preparation
- Bathe and wear clean dry clothes — tarpan is done in dry clothes, never wet ones, and never at night.
- Keep ready: a copper or silver vessel with water, kusha grass, black sesame, barley, rice (akshat), flowers, and a plate to receive the water (see our samagri list).
- Kusha pavitri: wear a ring of kusha on the ring finger of the right hand (and one on each hand where your tradition does so).
- Timing: the daily tarpan is done in the morning after bathing; the full Shraddha with pind daan is done in the afternoon (Kutup–Rohina–Aparahna) on the ancestor's tithi — see the 2026 calendar.
- Achamana, pranayama and sankalp come first — sip water three times, calm the breath, tie the shikha with the Gayatri mantra and apply tilak.
Step 1 — Sankalp (the Resolve)
Sitting with water in the right palm, recall Lord Vishnu and state the date and tithi, your name and gotra, and that you are performing Dev-Rishi-Pitru tarpan (and Shraddha) to satisfy your named ancestors — father, grandfather, great-grandfather and, where your tradition includes them, the maternal side. Release the water. The sankalp is what makes it a rite and not just a prayer.
Step 2 — Dev Tarpan (Offering to the Gods)
Face east, keep the janeu savya (left shoulder), and — as the sources describe — sit with the right knee on the ground. Take water mixed with rice (akshat) and flowers, hold kusha with its tips, and pour one anjali for each deity through the deva tirtha (fingertips), saying "Om … tripyatam" (may they be satisfied). The list begins with Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and Prajapati and goes on through the gods, the Vedas, the sages, gandharvas, apsaras, serpents, seas, mountains, rivers, humans, yakshas, animals, plants and herbs, ending with all four kinds of living beings (bhutagrama). The mantras follow this pattern (your priest's manual has the full list of about 28 names):
ॐ ब्रह्मा तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ विष्णुस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ रुद्रस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ प्रजापतिस्तृप्यताम्॥
ॐ देवास्तृप्यन्ताम्॥ ॐ छन्दांसि तृप्यन्ताम्॥ ॐ वेदास्तृप्यन्ताम्॥ ॐ ऋषयस्तृप्यन्ताम्॥ … ॐ भूतग्रामश्चतुर्विधस्तृप्यताम्॥
Step 3 — Rishi Tarpan (Offering to the Sages)
Face north and change the janeu to the nivita position (garland). Use water mixed with barley and offer through the prajapatya tirtha (base of the little finger) two anjalis for each (one in some traditions for the ten rishis). First the ten great sages (Maharishis):
ॐ मरीचिस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ अत्रिस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ अङ्गिरास्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ पुलस्त्यस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ पुलहस्तृप्यताम्॥
ॐ क्रतुस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ वसिष्ठस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ प्रचेतास्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ भृगुस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ नारदस्तृप्यताम्॥
Then the divine humans (divya-manushya), the four Kumaras and their companions, two anjalis each:
ॐ सनकस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ सनन्दनस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ सनातनस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ कपिलस्तृप्यताम्॥
ॐ आसुरिस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ वोढुस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ पञ्चशिखस्तृप्यताम्॥
Step 4 — Pitru Tarpan (Offering to the Ancestors)
Now the main part. Face south, change the janeu to apasavya (right shoulder), rest the left knee on the ground, and use water with black sesame with kusha held bent between the thumb and forefinger. Pour three anjalis for each pitr through the pitru tirtha, saying "swadha namah" at the end. It has four parts:
4a. The Divine Pitrs (Divya Pitru)
ॐ कव्यवाडनलस्तृप्यताम् इदं सतिलं जलं तस्मै स्वधा नमः॥ ॐ सोमस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ यमस्तृप्यताम्॥ ॐ अर्यमा तृप्यताम्॥
ॐ अग्निष्वात्ताः पितरस्तृप्यन्ताम्॥ ॐ सोमपाः पितरस्तृप्यन्ताम्॥ ॐ बर्हिषदः पितरस्तृप्यन्ताम्॥
4b. Yama Tarpan — the Fourteen Names of Yama
Yama, the lord of the departed, and his attendants — including Dharmaraja and Chitragupta — are honoured with the fourteen names, three anjalis each in many traditions (one in some):
ॐ यमाय नमः॥ ॐ धर्मराजाय नमः॥ ॐ मृत्यवे नमः॥ ॐ अन्तकाय नमः॥ ॐ वैवस्वताय नमः॥ ॐ कालाय नमः॥ ॐ सर्वभूतक्षयाय नमः॥
ॐ औदुम्बराय नमः॥ ॐ दध्नाय नमः॥ ॐ नीलाय नमः॥ ॐ परमेष्ठिने नमः॥ ॐ वृकोदराय नमः॥ ॐ चित्राय नमः॥ ॐ चित्रगुप्ताय नमः॥
4c. Your Own Ancestors (Manushya-Pitru)
Call the ancestor by gotra and name, then offer three anjalis. Father's line first — father, grandfather, great-grandfather — then mother, paternal grandmother and great-grandmother, and where your tradition includes them, the maternal grandfather's line, wife, other relatives and teachers. Put in the actual gotra and name where amuka appears:
पिता / Father (वसुरूप):
अद्य अमुकगोत्रः अस्मत्पिता अमुकशर्मा वसुरूपस्तृप्यताम् इदं सतिलं जलं तस्मै स्वधा नमः॥ (×3)
पितामह / Paternal grandfather (रुद्ररूप):
अमुकगोत्रः अस्मत्पितामहः अमुकशर्मा रुद्ररूपस्तृप्यताम् इदं सतिलं जलं तस्मै स्वधा नमः॥ (×3)
प्रपितामह / Great-grandfather (आदित्यरूप):
अमुकगोत्रः अस्मत्प्रपितामहः अमुकशर्मा आदित्यरूपस्तृप्यताम् इदं सतिलं जलं तस्मै स्वधा नमः॥ (×3)
माता, पितामही, प्रपितामही / Mother, grandmother, great-grandmother:
अमुकगोत्रा अस्मन्माता अमुकीदेवी वसुरूपा (पितामही — रुद्ररूपा, प्रपितामही — आदित्यरूपा) तृप्यताम् इदं सतिलं जलं तस्यै स्वधा नमः॥ (×3)
4d. Bhishma Tarpan (Optional but Widely Done)
Many families end the pitru tarpan with one offering to Bhishma Pitamah, the son of Shantanu and Ganga, who took the vow of lifelong celibacy and so has no descendant to offer him water:
वैयाघ्रपदगोत्राय सांकृतिप्रवराय च।
गङ्गापुत्राय भीष्माय प्रदास्येऽहं तिलोदकम्।
अपुत्राय ददाम्येतत्सलिलं भीष्मवर्मणे॥
Step 5 — Closing Verse, Vastra-Nishpidan and Surya Arghya
With the janeu back in the savya position, recite the closing verse that offers the remaining water to all beings:
देवासुरास्तथा यक्षा नागा गन्धर्वराक्षसाः।
पिशाचा गुह्यकाः सिद्धाः कूष्माण्डास्तरवः खगाः॥
जलेचरा भूनिलया वाय्वाधाराश्च जन्तवः।
तृप्तिमेते प्रयान्त्वाशु मद्दत्तेनाम्बुनाखिलाः॥
नरकेषु समस्तेषु यातनासु च ये स्थिताः।
तेषामाप्यायनायैतद्दीयते सलिलं मया॥
ये बान्धवा अबान्धवा वा येऽन्यजन्मनि बान्धवाः।
ते सर्वे तृप्तिमायान्तु ये चास्मत्तोयकाङ्क्षिणः॥
Then dip a clean cloth in the tarpan water and squeeze it to the left (vastra-nishpidan) for those of the family who died without descendants — this is skipped if the annual Shraddha is being done that day:
ये के चास्मत्कुले जाता अपुत्रा गोत्रिणो मृताः।
ते गृह्णन्तु मया दत्तं वस्त्रनिष्पीडनोदकम्॥
Finally, standing and facing east with the hands raised, offer water (arghya) to the Sun and bow to the ten directions:
एहि सूर्य सहस्रांशो तेजोराशे जगत्पते।
अनुकम्पय मां भक्त्या गृहाणार्घ्यं दिवाकर॥
Step 6 — Pind Daan (Rice-Ball Offering)
On the ancestor's tithi, continue to the Shraddha proper. Pindas are small balls of cooked rice (or barley flour) mixed with black sesame, ghee and, in some families, honey and milk. Three are made — for the father, grandfather and great-grandfather (Vasu, Rudra, Aditya). Sitting apasavya facing south, place each on kusha and offer it with sesame water, flowers and a little cloth, saying "tasmai swadha". Afterwards the pindas are immersed in flowing water or given to a cow or crow, according to custom.
Step 7 — Panchabali (Five Food Offerings)
Once the meal is cooked, the first portion is set aside in five shares — for the cow, the dog, the crow, the ants and the deities (some families give a share to a sparrow or other bird instead). This is regarded as feeding the ancestors through the ones who receive it. A widely held belief is that if the crow eats the offering it is a sign of acceptance, the crow being seen as a messenger between the living and the ancestors — tradition, not proof.
Step 8 — Brahmin Bhojan and Dakshina
Invite a Brahmin — or, in the spirit of the rite, someone in need — and serve the meal with respect, followed by a dakshina of grain, clothes or money according to means. Feeding the guest is treated as feeding the ancestors themselves.
Step 9 — Concluding Prayer and Forgiveness
Close with a short prayer asking the ancestors' pardon for any lapse, gratitude for their blessings and peace for the family; many end with "Om tat sat Krishnarpanam astu". Some recite the Vishnu Sahasranama, the Bhagavad Gita or a chapter of the Garuda Purana. Only then does the family eat.
Important Rules and Common Questions
- If your father is alive: many traditions say the son does not offer pitru tarpan to the departed grandparents in the usual way, except in Mahalaya (Sarva Pitru Amavasya) — customs vary, so ask your purohit.
- Nothing at night: tarpan is not done after sunset.
- Without a priest: a simple tarpan — Pitru tarpan with sesame water, naming your ancestors — plus food for cow, crow and dog and a donation, is accepted by many as sincere.
- Unknown tithi: perform Shraddha on Sarva Pitru Amavasya, 10 October 2026.
- Regional differences: some serve the Shraddha meal on banana leaves; many Maharashtrian sources note that banana leaf is avoided and leaf-plates or metal plates are used instead.
For the full checklist of items, see Shradh Samagri List, Rules & Do's and Don'ts. For the story behind the practice and where to perform it, see Pitru Paksha Katha, the Karna Story & Where to Perform Shraddha.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the order of tarpan — Dev, Rishi, then Pitru?
Yes: gods first (east, savya), then sages (north, nivita), then ancestors (south, apasavya) — moving from the cosmic to the personal, ending with your own family.
Why is the janeu changed for pitru tarpan?
The apasavya (right-shoulder) position is the reverse of the normal one and is the traditional posture for rites concerning ancestors, alongside facing south.
Why black sesame and kusha?
Tradition holds that ancestors do not accept water offered without them; legend links kusha to Lord Vishnu's Varaha form and sesame to his tapas.
How many anjalis for each?
In the commonly cited pattern: one for each god, two for each sage, three for each ancestor — with shakha variations noted above.
Can women perform tarpan?
Traditionally the eldest son leads, but several traditions and modern sources accept a wife, daughter or other family member, especially when there is no male descendant. Consult your purohit.
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