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The significance of the holy Thai amavasai observed today (4th February)
Posted on: 04/Feb/2019 1:49:12 PM
According to the Hindu religion calendar and the chronology system, the period of 6 months from the Tamil months from Aadi to Margazhi, is known as ‘Dakshinayanam’. This is considered to be just a night session for the ‘Devas’. On the basis of the assumption that the ancestors of a person will appear for him/her to protect him from the night period. On behalf of this, ‘Tarpnam’ or prayer wit offering must be performed as a form of thanksgiving to these ancestors.
The ancestors, who proceed from the ‘Brahmalokam’ to happily receive these offerings, will arrive on the Earth on the New Moon Day during the Tamil Calendar month of Purattasi, also known as ‘Mahalaya Amavasya’, the event of ‘Tarpanam’ should be performed on this New Moon Day too! Again, during the New Moon Day in the Tamil calendar month of ‘Thai’, the ‘Tarpanam’ is performed as a form of thanksgiving to these ancestors on their return to Brahmalokam.
In the current period of ‘Kaliyugam’, the classical sayings known as ‘Sastras’ explain that though the ancestors cannot be visually seen in this period, they appear in the minute or microform in a subtle or delicate manner and protect. In order to achieve the status of being a true heir of the ancestor, the person must take extreme care of their parents and also must take care of the ‘pithru dharma’ after their death.
In the Hindu sacred scripture ‘ Katobhanisadh’, the God of Death Yama explained the young lad ‘Nasikethan’ that the pern who believes that he has no connection whatsoever with his pithrus is the idiot of the extreme variety.
As per the Hindu scriptures, as the other half of the year, ‘Utharayana’ begins with the start of the Tamil calendar month, ‘Thai’, the holy occasion of Thai amavasai (New Moon Day) is also ideal to perform prayer on our ancestors.
The religious routine of performing Tarpan or ‘pithru karma’ for the departed soul of one’s father on the New Moon Day and perform pithru karma for the soul of the departed mother on the Full Moon Day (‘Pournami’) has been a tradition for several thousand years. Performing ‘Tarpanam’ on the Thai amavasai for the Pithrus, one will get their blessings and get innumerable benefits in their lives.
On the holy day of ‘Thai amavasai’, the God of Death, Yama. Grants permission for the souls of the departed ancestors to visit the planet earth, it is a traditional belief that these ancestors will be brought to earth on the carriage of the Sun God, escorted by the messengers/servants of God Yama. The traditional belief is that these ancestors are extremely eager to visit and see their true heirs and relatives and bless them! So, it is extremely recommendable for everyone to perform the pirthru drama and tarpanam on the day of Thai amavasai. When the pithru dharma is performed with care by the heirs, the ancestors are mightily pleased and give their whole-hearted blessings to remove all the tragic/evil. sorrowful events in life .
The scripture, ‘Garuda Puranam’, says that even the kind God will not help the persons who fail to perform the above Pithru Dharmas!
The ‘Tarpanam’ on the above sacred days must be performed recalling the memories of one’s parents and ancestor and have a dip/bath in the sea or river or any other holy water reservoir. The term ‘Tarpananam’ means ‘returning with a contended mind’. The term ‘Srardham’ means performing one’s religious routine highly diligently and with faith. Even if one is constrained not to perform Tarpanam, he can pray the departed souls of the parents and ancestors and offer rice, vegetables, fruits, Dakshina (money), and vastram (clothes) to the poor as a donation. Subsequently, one can feed the crows who are considered to be the representatives of the departed souls and also one of the groups of living creatures who always gather together to eat. This will bring the blessings and goodwill of the departed souls of the ancestors.
There is a popular and oft-repeated saying – ‘Munorgalukku moondru kai thanner’ – which means 3 palmfuls of waters to be offered to the souls of the ancestors’! The legends mention that the Sun God receives these offering from the person performing ‘Tarpanam’ and passes them on to the ‘Pithru Devathas’. These pithru devathas ensure that the offerings are passed on to the souls of the departed ancestors. While performing ‘Tarpanam’ taking a dip in the holy waters, the routine of offering handfuls of water to the ‘Pithrukarar’ Sun God brings a whole lot of good to the person. After taking the dip/bath in the holy rivers, stand ‘knee-deep’ in the water and offer 3 handfuls of water to the Sun God, who in turn, will give His full Blessings!
