History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c34.136

v2.c34.136

*Tarpaṇa* (offering water to gods, sages and Manes) is an *aṅga* (a subsidiary constituent part) of snāna, just as it is an *aṅga* in *brahma-yajña*. When a person plunges his whole body in water including the head, he has to perform *tarpaṇa* while still standing in the water. Vide Manu II. 176, Viṣṇu Dh. S. 64. 23–24 (quoted above in *n.* 1570), Parāśara XII. 12–13 for this. He joins his two hands together, takes water in the joined hands and casts the water into the stream in which he is standing. If he changes his clothes, then he may perform the *tarpaṇa* on the bank of the river. There was a difference of opinion about *tarpaṇa*. Some said¹⁵⁹⁰ that a man had to perform *tarpaṇa* as an *aṅga* of snāna immediately after it and before saṁdhyā prayer and then again the same day as an *aṅga* of *brahmayajña*; while others held that *tarpaṇa* was to be performed only once in the day after saṁdhyā prayer. One has to perform *tarpaṇa* according to the procedure prescribed in one’s śākhā (Vedic school) but Śaṅkha prescribes a brief *tarpaṇa* which consists in the words ‘may the universe from Brahmā down to a bunch of grass be satisfied’ (or satiated) and offering three *añjalis* (joined hands) of water. When he performs *tarpaṇa* standing in water, he should not wring the water from the ends of his garment until he has finished it. He should then wring¹⁵⁹¹ the ends of his garment and the water so falling down is deemed to be meant for the sonless deceased persons born in the family of the bather and he has to repeat a verse to that effect. Further details of *tarpaṇa* are set out under *brahmayajña* below.