Friday, May 1, 2026

Tharpanam

Pitru Tarpanam — Srivatsa Gotram
श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः

Pitru Tarpanam

Mantras for the Paternal Lineage
SRIVATSA GOTRAM

LineageFamily Whose Souls We Honour

Tarpanam is performed only for those who have departed. The list below preserves all six members of the paternal line you provided; offer oblations to those who have passed on and honour the living through pranamam.

RelationshipSanskrit TermNameRupa
FatherPitaGodhandaramanVasu
GrandfatherPitamahaVenkataramananRudra
Great GrandfatherPrapitamahaRamilangamAditya
GrandmotherPitamahiBragadhambalVasu
Great GrandmotherPrapitamahiMeenakshiRudra
Great Great GrandmotherPitru PrapitamahiSeethalakshmiAditya
Tradition: Yajurveda — Apastamba Sutra (Smartha). All six women are treated under the husband’s gotra (Srivatsa) per standard convention.

Section 1Achamanam (आचमनम्)

Sip a small drop of water after each of the first three names. Then touch the body parts (cheeks, eyes, nostrils, ears, shoulders, navel, head) while reciting the next set of names.

Sip thrice

ॐ अच्युताय नमः ।
Om Achyutāya namaḥ |
ॐ अनन्ताय नमः ।
Om Anantāya namaḥ |
ॐ गोविन्दाय नमः ।
Om Govindāya namaḥ |

Touch the body parts

केशव — नारायण
Keśava — Nārāyaṇa
माधव — गोविन्द
Mādhava — Govinda
विष्णो — मधुसूदन
Viṣṇo — Madhusūdana
त्रिविक्रम — वामन
Trivikrama — Vāmana
श्रीधर — हृषीकेश
Śrīdhara — Hṛṣīkeśa
पद्मनाभ — दामोदर
Padmanābha — Dāmodara

Section 2Pranayama (प्राणायामः)

Hold the right nostril closed with the thumb, recite while breathing slowly. Three rounds.

ॐ भूः । ॐ भुवः । ॐ सुवः । ॐ महः । ॐ जनः । ॐ तपः । ॐ सत्यम् ।
Om Bhūḥ | Om Bhuvaḥ | Om Suvaḥ | Om Mahaḥ | Om Janaḥ | Om Tapaḥ | Om Satyam |
ॐ तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Om Tat-savitur-vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi | Dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
ॐ आपो ज्योती रसोऽमृतं ब्रह्म भूर्भुवस्सुवरोम् ॥
Om āpo jyotī raso’mṛtaṃ brahma bhūrbhuvas-suvar-om ||

Section 3Pavithra Dharanam (पवित्र-धारणम्)

Wear the pavitra (a ring made of two blades of darbha grass) on the right hand’s ring finger. Place a few short blades of darbha under your seat. This consecrates the seat for the pitṛ-karma to follow.

पवित्रे स्थो वैष्णव्यौ सवितुर्वः प्रसव उत्पुनाम्यच्छिद्रेण पवित्रेण सूर्यस्य रश्मिभिः । तस्य ते पवित्रपते पवित्रपूतस्य यत् कामः पुने तच्छकेयम् ॥
Pavitre stho vaiṣṇavyau savitur-vaḥ prasava ut-punāmy-acchidreṇa pavitreṇa sūryasya raśmibhiḥ | Tasya te pavitra-pate pavitra-pūtasya yat kāmaḥ pune tac-chakeyam ||
Sit facing south on the consecrated darbha seat. South is the pitṛ direction.

Section 4Sankalpam (सङ्कल्पम्)

The Sankalpam is the formal resolve declaring time, place, gotra, lineage and the act of tarpanam. It is recited in the normal upaveeta (sacred thread on left shoulder) before switching to apasavyam.

4.1 Preliminary verses (Pranayama is recited within these)

शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् । प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥
Śuklāmbara-dharaṃ Viṣṇuṃ śaśi-varṇaṃ catur-bhujam | Prasanna-vadanaṃ dhyāyet sarva-vighnopaśāntaye ||
ॐ तदेव लग्नं सुदिनं तदेव ताराबलं चन्द्रबलं तदेव । विद्याबलं दैवबलं तदेव लक्ष्मीपते तेऽङ्घ्रियुगं स्मरामि ॥
Om tadeva lagnaṃ sudinaṃ tadeva tārā-balaṃ candra-balaṃ tadeva | Vidyā-balaṃ daiva-balaṃ tadeva lakṣmī-pate te’ṅghri-yugaṃ smarāmi ||
अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा सर्वावस्थां गतोऽपि वा । यः स्मरेत् पुण्डरीकाक्षं स बाह्याभ्यन्तरः शुचिः ॥
Apavitraḥ pavitro vā sarvāvasthāṃ gato’pi vā | Yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ sa bāhyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ ||
मानसं वाचिकं पापं कर्मणा समुपार्जितम् । श्रीराम स्मरणेनैव व्यपोहति न संशयः ॥ श्री राम राम राम ।
Mānasaṃ vācikaṃ pāpaṃ karmaṇā samupārjitam | Śrī-Rāma smaraṇenaiva vyapohati na saṃśayaḥ || Śrī Rāma Rāma Rāma |
तिथिर्विष्णुस्तथा वारो नक्षत्रं विष्णुरेव च । योगश्च करणं चैव सर्वं विष्णुमयं जगत् ॥ श्री गोविन्द गोविन्द गोविन्द ।
Tithir-viṣṇus-tathā vāro nakṣatraṃ viṣṇu-reva ca | Yogaś-ca karaṇaṃ caiva sarvaṃ viṣṇu-mayaṃ jagat || Śrī Govinda Govinda Govinda |

4.2 Day’s Sankalpam Lookup

The day’s panchangam (samvatsara, ayana, ritu, masa, paksha, tithi, vasara, nakshatra) is computed for the chosen date from the moon and sun positions at sunrise (Lahiri ayanamsa). City defaults to Bengaluru if your browser does not share a location. Override any value with the dropdowns if your printed panchangam disagrees near a sandhi.

↗ Verify on Drik Panchang

Personalised Sankalpam — Roman

Personalised Sankalpam — Sanskrit

4.3 Mahasankalpam — full recitation

Recite the full sankalpam below, substituting today’s computed values from above:

आद्यस्य श्री भगवतो महापुरुषस्य विष्णोराज्ञया प्रवर्तमानस्य आद्य ब्रह्मणो द्वितीय परार्धे श्वेतवराहकल्पे वैवस्वत मन्वन्तरे अष्टाविंशतितमे कलियुगे प्रथमे पादे जम्बूद्वीपे भारतवर्षे भरतखण्डे मेरोः दक्षिणे पार्श्वे शकाब्दे अस्मिन् वर्तमाने व्यावहारिके प्रभवादि षष्ट्याः सम्वत्सराणां मध्ये __ नाम सम्वत्सरे __ अयने __ ऋतौ __ मासे __ पक्षे __ पुण्य तिथौ __ वासर युक्तायां __ नक्षत्र युक्तायां, विष्णु योग विष्णु करण एवं गुण विशेषण विशिष्टायाम् अस्यां विष्णु तिथौ ।
Ādyasya śrī Bhagavato Mahā-puruṣasya Viṣṇor-ājñayā pravartamānasya, ādya Brahmaṇo dvitīya parārdhe Śveta-varāha-kalpe Vaivasvata-manvantare aṣṭāviṃśatitame Kali-yuge prathame pāde, Jambū-dvīpe Bhārata-varṣe Bharata-khaṇḍe Meroḥ dakṣiṇe pārśve, śakābde asmin vartamāne vyāvahārike Prabhavādi ṣaṣṭyāḥ samvatsarāṇāṃ madhye __ nāma samvatsare, __ ayane, __ ṛtau, __ māse, __ pakṣe, __ puṇya-tithau, __ vāsara-yuktāyāṃ, __ nakṣatra-yuktāyāṃ, viṣṇu-yoga, viṣṇu-karaṇa, evaṃ guṇa-viśeṣaṇa-viśiṣṭāyām asyāṃ viṣṇu-tithau |

Section 5Yagnopaveeta Apasavyam (अपसव्यम्)

Switch the yagnopaveetam (sacred thread) from the left shoulder (upaveeta / savyam) to the right shoulder (apasavyam / pracina-vidhi). This converts the rite from deva-karma to pitṛ-karma. When seated facing east the thread now flows north-to-south — south being the pitṛ direction. Wash the right hand briefly.

Reasoning: deva-karma is performed with the thread on the left shoulder (the upaveeta direction), tarpanam and pitṛ-yajña are performed with the thread on the right shoulder (the apasavyam direction). All the mantras that follow until the visarjanam are recited with the thread on the right shoulder.

Section 6Pitru-Varga Sankalpam Declaration

With the thread now on the right shoulder, formally declare the lineage on whose behalf the tarpanam is being performed. This declaration names every ancestor by gotra, name and rupa, and states the intent of the offering.

अस्मत् पितृवर्गम् उद्दिश्य — श्रीवत्स-गोत्राणां गोधण्डरामन्-वेङ्कटरामणन्-रामिलङ्गम् शर्मणां, वसु-रुद्र-आदित्य स्वरूपाणाम्, अस्मत् पितृ-पितामह-प्रपितामहानां, श्रीवत्स-गोत्राणां ब्रगदाम्बाल्-मीनाक्षी-सीतालक्ष्मी नाम्नीनां, वसु-रुद्र-आदित्य स्वरूपाणाम्, अस्मत् पितामही-प्रपितामही-पितृ-प्रपितामहीनां च, अक्षय्य तृप्त्यर्थम्, अमावास्या पुण्यकाले, पितृ-वर्गम् उद्दिश्य, दर्श-श्राद्धम्, हिरण्य-रूपेण अद्य करिष्ये । तदङ्गं तिल-तर्पणं च करिष्ये ॥
Asmat pitṛ-vargam uddiśya — Śrīvatsa-gotrāṇāṃ Godhaṇḍarāman-Veṅkaṭarāmaṇan-Rāmilaṅgam-śarmaṇāṃ, vasu-rudra-āditya svarūpāṇām, asmat pitṛ-pitāmaha-prapitāmahānāṃ; Śrīvatsa-gotrāṇāṃ Bragadhambal-Meenakshi-Seethalakshmi-nāmnīnāṃ, vasu-rudra-āditya svarūpāṇām, asmat pitāmahī-prapitāmahī-pitṛ-prapitāmahīnāṃ ca, akṣayya tṛpty-arthaṃ, amāvāsyā puṇya-kāle, pitṛ-vargam uddiśya, darśa-śrāddham, hiraṇya-rūpeṇa adya kariṣye | Tad-aṅgaṃ tila-tarpaṇaṃ ca kariṣye ||
For non-Amavasya days, replace “amāvāsyā puṇya-kāle” with the appropriate puṇya-kāla (e.g., grahaṇa-kāle for an eclipse, sankramaṇa-puṇya-kāle for a sankranti, śrāddha-tithau for a death-anniversary).

Section 7Avahanam — Invocation of the Pitrus

Take a few sesame seeds in the right hand. Holding them at the kurcham (the bundle of darbha grass placed before you), invoke the ancestors with the following mantra and offer the seeds at the kurcham in the reverse-hand direction (with the right thumb pointing south).

7.1 Avahanam mantra

आ यन्तु पितरः सोम्या गम्भीरैः पथिभिः पूर्व्यैः । प्रजामस्मभ्यं ददतो रयिं च दीर्घायुत्वं च शतशारदं च ॥ ॐ भूर्भुवस्सुवरोम् ।
Ā yantu pitaraḥ somyā gambhīraiḥ pathibhiḥ pūrvyaiḥ | Prajām-asmabhyaṃ dadato rayiṃ ca dīrghāyutvaṃ ca śata-śāradaṃ ca || Om bhūr-bhuvas-suvar-om |
अस्मिन् कूर्चे — श्रीवत्स-गोत्राणां गोधण्डरामन्-वेङ्कटरामणन्-रामिलङ्गम् शर्मणाम्, वसु-रुद्र-आदित्य स्वरूपान्, अस्मत् पितृ-पितामह-प्रपितामहान्, श्रीवत्स-गोत्राणां ब्रगदाम्बाल्-मीनाक्षी-सीतालक्ष्मी नाम्न्यः, वसु-रुद्र-आदित्य स्वरूपाः, अस्मत् पितामही-प्रपितामही-पितृ-प्रपितामहीश्च ध्यायामि । आवाहयामि ॥
Asmin kūrce — Śrīvatsa-gotrāṇāṃ Godhaṇḍarāman-Veṅkaṭarāmaṇan-Rāmilaṅgam-śarmaṇām, vasu-rudra-āditya svarūpān, asmat pitṛ-pitāmaha-prapitāmahān; Śrīvatsa-gotrāṇāṃ Bragadhambal-Meenakshi-Seethalakshmi-nāmnyaḥ, vasu-rudra-āditya svarūpāḥ, asmat pitāmahī-prapitāmahī-pitṛ-prapitāmahīś-ca dhyāyāmi | Āvāhayāmi ||
Offer a few sesame seeds at the kurcham (reverse-hand direction).

7.2 Asanam — offering the seat

सकृदाच्छिन्नं बर्हिः ऊर्णामृदु स्योनं पितृभ्यस्त्वा भराम्यहम् । अस्मिन् तिष्ठन्तु मे पितृ-सोम्याः पितामहाः प्रपितामहाश्चानुघैः सह । पितृ-पितामह-प्रपितामहानां, पितामही-प्रपितामही-पितृ-प्रपितामहीनां च इदम् आसनम् ॥
Sakṛd-ācchinnaṃ barhiḥ ūrṇā-mṛdu syonaṃ pitṛbhyas-tvā bharāmy-aham | Asmin tiṣṭhantu me pitṛ-somyāḥ pitāmahāḥ prapitāmahāś-cānughaiḥ saha | Pitṛ-pitāmaha-prapitāmahānāṃ, pitāmahī-prapitāmahī-pitṛ-prapitāmahīnāṃ ca idam āsanam ||
तिलादि सकलाराधनैः स्वर्चितम् ।
Tilādi sakalārādhanaiḥ svar-citam |
Offer a few more sesame seeds. The pitrus are now seated on the kurcham, ready to receive the tarpanam offerings that follow.

Section 8Pitru Tarpanam (पितृ-तर्पणम्)

Sit facing south. Take a small quantity of black sesame in the right hand. With each mantra, pour water mixed with tila across the right thumb (pitṛ-tirtha) onto the darbha. Each mantra is repeated three times.

Father
Godhandaraman
Vasu rupa · 3 mantras × 3 = 9 oblations
Grandfather
Venkataramanan
Rudra rupa · 3 mantras × 3 = 9 oblations
Great Grandfather
Ramilangam
Aditya rupa · 3 mantras × 3 = 9 oblations
Grandmother
Bragadhambal
Vasu rupa · 3 oblations
Great Grandmother
Meenakshi
Rudra rupa · 3 oblations
Great-Great Grandmother
Seethalakshmi
Aditya rupa · 3 oblations

8.1 Pitha Tarpanam — Father (Godhandaraman)

Recite each mantra three times, pouring tila-jala each time. Vasu-rupa.
उदीरतामवर उत्परास उन्मध्यमाः पितरः सोम्यासः । असुं य ईयुरवृका ऋतज्ञास्ते नोऽवन्तु पितरो हवेषु ॥ श्रीवत्स-गोत्रान् गोधण्डरामन् शर्मणः वसु-रूपान् अस्मत् पितॄन् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि ।
Udīratām-avara utparāsa unmadhyamāḥ pitaraḥ somyāsaḥ | Asuṃ ya īyura-vṛkā ṛta-jñās-te no’vantu pitaro haveṣu || Śrīvatsa-gotrān Godhaṇḍarāman-śarmaṇaḥ vasu-rūpān asmat pitṝn svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi |
अङ्गिरसो नः पितरो नवग्वा अथर्वाणो भृगवः सोम्यासः । तेषां वयं सुमतौ यज्ञियानामपि भद्रे सौमनसे स्याम ॥ श्रीवत्स-गोत्रान् गोधण्डरामन् शर्मणः वसु-रूपान् अस्मत् पितॄन् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि ।
Aṅgiraso naḥ pitaro navagvā atharvāṇo bhṛgavaḥ somyāsaḥ | Teṣāṃ vayaṃ sumatau yajñiyānām-api bhadre saumanase syāma || Śrīvatsa-gotrān Godhaṇḍarāman-śarmaṇaḥ vasu-rūpān asmat pitṝn svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi |
आयन्तु नः पितरो मनोजवसः अग्निष्वात्ताः पथिभिर्देवयानैः । अस्मिन् यज्ञे स्वधया मादयन्तामधिब्रुवन्तु तेऽवन्त्वस्मान् ॥ श्रीवत्स-गोत्रान् गोधण्डरामन् शर्मणः वसु-रूपान् अस्मत् पितॄन् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि ।
Āyantu naḥ pitaro mano-javasaḥ agniṣvāttāḥ pathibhir-deva-yānaiḥ | Asmin yajñe svadhayā mādayantām-adhi-bruvantu te’vantv-asmān || Śrīvatsa-gotrān Godhaṇḍarāman-śarmaṇaḥ vasu-rūpān asmat pitṝn svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi |
Perform only if your father is no longer with you. While he is alive, offer pranamam in his place.

8.2 Pitamaha Tarpanam — Grandfather (Venkataramanan)

Recite each mantra three times. Rudra-rupa.
ऊर्जं वहन्तीरमृतं घृतं पयः कीलालं परिश्रुतम् । स्वधा स्थ तर्पयत मे पितॄन् ॥ श्रीवत्स-गोत्रान् वेङ्कटरामणन् शर्मणः रुद्र-रूपान् अस्मत् पितामहान् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि ।
Ūrjaṃ vahantīr-amṛtaṃ ghṛtaṃ payaḥ kīlālaṃ pari-śrutam | Svadhā stha tarpayata me pitṝn || Śrīvatsa-gotrān Veṅkaṭarāmaṇan-śarmaṇaḥ rudra-rūpān asmat pitāmahān svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi |
पितृभ्यः स्वधाविभ्यः स्वधा नमः । पितामहेभ्यः स्वधाविभ्यः स्वधा नमः । प्रपितामहेभ्यः स्वधाविभ्यः स्वधा नमः । श्रीवत्स-गोत्रान् वेङ्कटरामणन् शर्मणः रुद्र-रूपान् अस्मत् पितामहान् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि ।
Pitṛbhyaḥ svadhāvibhyaḥ svadhā namaḥ | Pitāmahebhyaḥ svadhāvibhyaḥ svadhā namaḥ | Prapitāmahebhyaḥ svadhāvibhyaḥ svadhā namaḥ | Śrīvatsa-gotrān Veṅkaṭarāmaṇan-śarmaṇaḥ rudra-rūpān asmat pitāmahān svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi |
ये चेह पितरो ये च नेह यांश्च विद्म यानु च न प्रविद्म । अग्ने तान् वेत्थ यदि ते जातवेदस्तया प्रत्तं स्वधया मदन्तु ॥ श्रीवत्स-गोत्रान् वेङ्कटरामणन् शर्मणः रुद्र-रूपान् अस्मत् पितामहान् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि ।
Ye ceha pitaro ye ca neha yāṃś-ca vidma yānu ca na pravidma | Agne tān vettha yadi te jāta-vedas-tayā prattaṃ svadhayā madantu || Śrīvatsa-gotrān Veṅkaṭarāmaṇan-śarmaṇaḥ rudra-rūpān asmat pitāmahān svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi |

8.3 Prapitamaha Tarpanam — Great Grandfather (Ramilangam)

Recite each mantra three times. Aditya-rupa.
मधु वाता ऋतायते मधु क्षरन्ति सिन्धवः । माध्वीर्नः सन्त्वोषधीः ॥ श्रीवत्स-गोत्रान् रामिलङ्गम् शर्मणः आदित्य-रूपान् अस्मत् प्रपितामहान् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि ।
Madhu vātā ṛtāyate madhu kṣaranti sindhavaḥ | Mādhvīr-naḥ santv-oṣadhīḥ || Śrīvatsa-gotrān Rāmilaṅgam-śarmaṇaḥ āditya-rūpān asmat prapitāmahān svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi |
मधु नक्तमुतोषसो मधुमत् पार्थिवं रजः । मधु द्यौरस्तु नः पिता ॥ श्रीवत्स-गोत्रान् रामिलङ्गम् शर्मणः आदित्य-रूपान् अस्मत् प्रपितामहान् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि ।
Madhu naktam-utoṣaso madhumat pārthivaṃ rajaḥ | Madhu dyaur-astu naḥ pitā || Śrīvatsa-gotrān Rāmilaṅgam-śarmaṇaḥ āditya-rūpān asmat prapitāmahān svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi |
मधुमान्नो वनस्पतिर्मधुमाँ अस्तु सूर्यः । माध्वीर्गावो भवन्तु नः ॥ श्रीवत्स-गोत्रान् रामिलङ्गम् शर्मणः आदित्य-रूपान् अस्मत् प्रपितामहान् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि ।
Madhu-mān-no vanaspatir-madhumāṃ astu sūryaḥ | Mādhvīr-gāvo bhavantu naḥ || Śrīvatsa-gotrān Rāmilaṅgam-śarmaṇaḥ āditya-rūpān asmat prapitāmahān svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi |

8.4 Pitamahi Tarpanam — Grandmother (Bragadhambal)

Recite three times.
श्रीवत्स-गोत्राः ब्रगदाम्बाल् नाम्न्यः वसु-रूपाः अस्मत् पितामहीः स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि ।
Śrīvatsa-gotrāḥ Bragadhambal-nāmnyaḥ vasu-rūpāḥ asmat pitāmahīḥ svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi |

8.5 Prapitamahi Tarpanam — Great Grandmother (Meenakshi)

Recite three times.
श्रीवत्स-गोत्राः मीनाक्षी नाम्न्यः रुद्र-रूपाः अस्मत् प्रपितामहीः स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि ।
Śrīvatsa-gotrāḥ Meenakshi-nāmnyaḥ rudra-rūpāḥ asmat prapitāmahīḥ svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi |

8.6 Pitru Prapitamahi Tarpanam — Great-Great Grandmother (Seethalakshmi)

Recite three times. Aditya-rupa is used (the rupa of the eldest tier) since standard tarpanam ends at the third generation.
श्रीवत्स-गोत्राः सीतालक्ष्मी नाम्न्यः आदित्य-रूपाः अस्मत् पितृ-प्रपितामहीः स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि ।
Śrīvatsa-gotrāḥ Seethalakshmi-nāmnyaḥ āditya-rūpāḥ asmat pitṛ-prapitāmahīḥ svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi |

8.7 Gnaata-Agnaata Pitru Tarpanam — Known & Unknown Ancestors

For all ancestors of the paternal line whose names you may not know.
ज्ञात-अज्ञात पितॄन् स्वधा नमः तर्पयामि ।
Jñāta-ajñāta pitṝn svadhā namaḥ tarpayāmi |

Closing tripti for the lineage

ऊर्जं वहन्तीरमृतं घृतं पयः कीलालं परिश्रुतम् । स्वधा स्थ तर्पयत मे पितॄन् । तृप्यत तृप्यत तृप्यत ।
Ūrjaṃ vahantīr-amṛtaṃ ghṛtaṃ payaḥ kīlālaṃ pari-śrutam | Svadhā stha tarpayata me pitṝn | Tṛpyata tṛpyata tṛpyata |
Repeat “Tṛpyata tṛpyata tṛpyata” three times in three rounds (3 × 3 = 9).

Section 9Concluding Rituals

Pradakshina Namaskaram

Switch the yagnopaveeta back to upaveeta (left shoulder), do clockwise pradakshina in seated position chanting:

देवताभ्यः पितृभ्यश्च महायोगिभ्य एव च । नमः स्वधायै स्वाहायै नित्यमेव नमो नमः ॥
Devatābhyaḥ pitṛbhyaś-ca mahā-yogibhya eva ca | Namaḥ svadhāyai svāhāyai nityam-eva namo namaḥ ||
यानि कानि च पापानि जन्मान्तर कृतानि च । तानि तानि विनश्यन्तु प्रदक्षिण पदे पदे ॥
Yāni kāni ca pāpāni janmāntara kṛtāni ca | Tāni tāni vinaśyantu pradakṣiṇa pade pade ||

Visarjanam (release of the ancestors)

With pracina-vidhi (thread on right shoulder), look at the kurcham:

आ यन्तु पितरः सोम्या गम्भीरैः पथिभिः पूर्व्यैः । प्रजामस्मभ्यं ददतो रयिं च दीर्घायुत्वं च शतशारदं च । ॐ भूर्भुवस्सुवरोम् ।
Ā yantu pitaraḥ somyā gambhīraiḥ pathibhiḥ pūrvyaiḥ | Prajām-asmabhyaṃ dadato rayiṃ ca dīrghāyutvaṃ ca śata-śāradaṃ ca | Om bhūr-bhuvas-suvar-om |
अस्मात् कूर्चात् श्रीवत्स-गोत्रान् गोधण्डरामन्-वेङ्कटरामणन्-रामिलङ्गम् शर्मणः, वसु-रुद्र-आदित्य स्वरूपान् अस्मत् पितृ-पितामह-प्रपितामहान्, श्रीवत्स-गोत्राः ब्रगदाम्बाल्-मीनाक्षी-सीतालक्ष्मी नाम्न्यः, वसु-रुद्र-आदित्य स्वरूपाः अस्मत् पितामही-प्रपितामही-पितृ-प्रपितामहीश्च यथा-स्थानं प्रतिष्ठापयामि । शोभनार्थे क्षेमाय पुनरागमनाय च ।
Asmāt kūrcāt Śrīvatsa-gotrān Godhaṇḍarāman-Veṅkaṭarāmaṇan-Rāmilaṅgam-śarmaṇaḥ, vasu-rudra-āditya svarūpān asmat pitṛ-pitāmaha-prapitāmahān; Śrīvatsa-gotrāḥ Bragadhambal-Meenakshi-Seethalakshmi-nāmnyaḥ, vasu-rudra-āditya svarūpāḥ asmat pitāmahī-prapitāmahī-pitṛ-prapitāmahīś-ca yathā-sthānaṃ pratiṣṭhāpayāmi | Śobhanārthe kṣemāya punar-āgamanāya ca |

Sarva Tarpanam — single oblation for all unconnected souls

येषां न माता न पिता न बन्धुर्न च गोत्रिणः । ते सर्वे तृप्तिमायान्तु मयोत्सृष्टैः कुशोदकैः । तृप्यत तृप्यत तृप्यत ।
Yeṣāṃ na mātā na pitā na bandhur-na ca gotriṇaḥ | Te sarve tṛptim-āyāntu mayot-sṛṣṭaiḥ kuśodakaiḥ | Tṛpyata tṛpyata tṛpyata |

Final achamanam & closing

सर्वं ब्रह्मार्पणमस्तु ।
Sarvaṃ Brahmārpaṇam-astu |
कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण — शिव शिव शिव — नारायण नारायण नारायण ।
ॐ तत् सत् ।
Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa — Śiva Śiva Śiva — Nārāyaṇa Nārāyaṇa Nārāyaṇa | Om Tat Sat |

Section 10Brahma Yajna (ब्रह्म-यज्ञः)

Brahma Yajna is the daily duty of Vedic study and tarpanam to devas, rishis and pitrus. One of the five great daily sacrifices (Pañca Mahāyajñas), it is performed every morning after the sandhya. The text below follows the Apastamba Sūtra of the Krishna Yajurveda (Taittirīya Āraṇyaka 2.11–2.20). The tarpanam offers tila-jala to devatas, sages, and ancestors collectively, named for its central element — the ārṣeya-tarpaṇa to the rishis.

Position changes: the yagnopaveetam shifts thrice — savyam (left shoulder) for devas with water from the daiva-tīrtha (between thumb and forefinger), nivita (around the neck) for rishis with water from the ārṣa-tīrtha (tips of fingers), and apasavyam (right shoulder) for pitrus with water from the pitṛ-tīrtha (between thumb and base of thumb).

10.1 Achamanam (आचमनम्)

In savyam (thread on left shoulder). Sip a small drop of water after each of the first three names; then touch the body parts while reciting the twelve names.
ॐ अच्युताय नमः ।
Om Achyutāya namaḥ |
ॐ अनन्ताय नमः ।
Om Anantāya namaḥ |
ॐ गोविन्दाय नमः ।
Om Govindāya namaḥ |
केशव — नारायण — माधव — गोविन्द — विष्णो — मधुसूदन — त्रिविक्रम — वामन — श्रीधर — हृषीकेश — पद्मनाभ — दामोदर ।
Keśava — Nārāyaṇa — Mādhava — Govinda — Viṣṇo — Madhusūdana — Trivikrama — Vāmana — Śrīdhara — Hṛṣīkeśa — Padmanābha — Dāmodara |

10.2 Sankalpam (सङ्कल्पः) — for Brahma Yajna

Touch the right thigh with the right hand. Begin with the Vighneśvara/Vishnu dhyana, then declare the resolve.
शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् । प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥
Śuklāmbara-dharaṃ Viṣṇuṃ śaśi-varṇaṃ catur-bhujam | Prasanna-vadanaṃ dhyāyet sarva-vighnopaśāntaye ||
हरिः ॐ । ममोपात्त समस्त दुरितक्षयद्वारा श्रीपरमेश्वरप्रीत्यर्थम् अद्य कर्तव्यस्य ब्रह्म-यज्ञस्य अङ्ग-भूतम् आर्षेय-तर्पणं करिष्ये । ब्रह्म-यज्ञं करिष्ये । ब्रह्म-यज्ञं यक्ष्ये ॥
Hariḥ Om | Mama upātta samasta durita-kṣaya-dvārā Śrī-Parameśvara prīty-arthaṃ adya kartavyasya Brahma-yajñasya aṅga-bhūtam ārṣeya-tarpaṇaṃ kariṣye | Brahma-yajñaṃ kariṣye | Brahma-yajñaṃ yakṣye ||
For a full mahasankalpam with location and time framing, prepend the framing from Section 4 (Sankalpam) before the resolve above.

10.3 Pranayama (प्राणायामः)

After sankalpam and before veda adhyayana. Three rounds of Gayatri-pranayama — silently with the right nostril held by the thumb.
ॐ भूः । ॐ भुवः । ॐ सुवः । ॐ महः । ॐ जनः । ॐ तपः । ॐ सत्यम् ।
Om Bhūḥ | Om Bhuvaḥ | Om Suvaḥ | Om Mahaḥ | Om Janaḥ | Om Tapaḥ | Om Satyam |
ॐ तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Om Tat-savitur-vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi | Dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
ॐ आपो ज्योती रसोऽमृतं ब्रह्म भूर्भुवस्सुवरोम् ॥
Om āpo jyotī raso’mṛtaṃ brahma bhūrbhuvas-suvar-om ||

10.4 Veda Adhyayana — Opening of the Four Vedas

Recite the opening mantra of each Veda once.
ॐ अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य देवमृत्विजम् । होतारं रत्नधातमम् ॥ (ऋग्वेदः)
Om agnim īḷe purohitaṃ yajñasya devam-ṛtvijam | hotāraṃ ratna-dhātamam || (Ṛg-veda)
ॐ इषे त्वोर्जे त्वा वायव स्थोपायव स्थ देवो वः सविता प्रार्पयतु श्रेष्ठतमाय कर्मणे ॥ (यजुर्वेदः)
Om iṣe tvorje tvā vāyava sthopāyava stha devo vaḥ savitā prārpayatu śreṣṭhatamāya karmaṇe || (Yajur-veda)
ॐ अग्न आ याहि वीतये गृणानो हव्यदातये । नि होता सत्सि बर्हिषि ॥ (सामवेदः)
Om agna ā yāhi vītaye gṛṇāno havya-dātaye | ni hotā satsi barhiṣi || (Sāma-veda)
ॐ शं नो देवीरभिष्टय आपो भवन्तु पीतये । शं योरभि स्रवन्तु नः ॥ (अथर्ववेदः)
Om śaṃ no devīr abhiṣṭaya āpo bhavantu pītaye | śaṃ yor abhi sravantu naḥ || (Atharva-veda)

10.5 Namo Brahmane (नमो ब्रह्मणे)

Recite three times after veda adhyayana. From Taittirīya Āraṇyaka 2.11.1 — the opening invocation of the Brahma-yajña-prakaraṇa.
ॐ नमो ब्रह्मणे । नमो अस्त्वग्नये । नमः पृथिव्यै । नम ओषधीभ्यः । नमो वाचे । नमो वाचस्पतये । नमो विष्णवे महते करोमि ॥
Om Namo brahmaṇe | namo’stv agnaye | namaḥ pṛthivyai | nama oṣadhībhyaḥ | namo vāce | namo vācas-pataye | namo viṣṇave mahate karomi ||
Recite three times. The yagnopaveetam is still in savyam.

10.6 Deva Tarpanam — to the Gods

Begin with: Deva-tarpaṇaṃ kariṣye. Yagnopaveetam in upaveeti / savyam (left shoulder). Pour water from the fingertips. Recite each line three times.
ॐ ब्रह्मादयो ये देवाः, तान् देवान् तर्पयामि ।
Om Brahmādayo ye devāḥ, tān devān tarpayāmi |
ॐ सर्वान् देवान् तर्पयामि ।
Om Sarvān devān tarpayāmi |
ॐ सर्व-देव-गणान् तर्पयामि ।
Om Sarva-deva-gaṇān tarpayāmi |
ॐ सर्व-देव-पत्नीस्तर्पयामि ।
Om Sarva-deva-patnīs tarpayāmi |
ॐ सर्व-देव-गण-पत्नीस्तर्पयामि ।
Om Sarva-deva-gaṇa-patnīs tarpayāmi |

10.7 Rishi Tarpanam — to the Sages

Begin with: Ṛṣi-tarpaṇaṃ kariṣye. The position changes several times within this section — follow the sub-headings below.

In nivita (poonal as malai/garland). Pour water through the little finger (rishi-tīrtha). Recite each line three times.

ॐ कृष्ण-द्वैपायनादयो ये ऋषयः, तान् ऋषीन् तर्पयामि ।
Om Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyanādayo ye ṛṣayaḥ, tān ṛṣīn tarpayāmi |
ॐ सर्वान् ऋषीन् तर्पयामि ।
Om Sarvān ṛṣīn tarpayāmi |
ॐ सर्व-ऋषि-गणान् तर्पयामि ।
Om Sarva-ṛṣi-gaṇān tarpayāmi |
ॐ सर्व-ऋषि-पत्नीस्तर्पयामि ।
Om Sarva-ṛṣi-patnīs tarpayāmi |
ॐ सर्व-ऋषि-गण-पत्नीस्तर्पयामि ।
Om Sarva-ṛṣi-gaṇa-patnīs tarpayāmi |
ॐ प्रजापतिं काण्डर्षिं तर्पयामि ।
Om Prajāpatiṃ kāṇḍarṣiṃ tarpayāmi |
ॐ सोमं काण्डर्षिं तर्पयामि ।
Om Somaṃ kāṇḍarṣiṃ tarpayāmi |
ॐ अग्निं काण्डर्षिं तर्पयामि ।
Om Agniṃ kāṇḍarṣiṃ tarpayāmi |
ॐ विश्वान् देवान् काण्डर्षीन् तर्पयामि ।
Om Viśvān devān kāṇḍarṣīn tarpayāmi |

Switch the poonal back to upaveeti (savyam). Pour water from the tips of the fingers.

ॐ सांहितीर्देवता उपनिषदस्तर्पयामि ।
Om Sāṃhitīr-devatā upaniṣadas tarpayāmi |
ॐ याज्ञिकीर्देवता उपनिषदस्तर्पयामि ।
Om Yājñikīr-devatā upaniṣadas tarpayāmi |
ॐ वारुणीर्देवता उपनिषदस्तर्पयामि ।
Om Vāruṇīr-devatā upaniṣadas tarpayāmi |

Switch the poonal back to nivita (malai/garland). Pour water through the little finger. Recite three times.

ॐ हव्यवाहं तर्पयामि ।
Om Havya-vāhaṃ tarpayāmi |
ॐ अरुणान् काण्डर्षीन् तर्पयामि ।
Om Aruṇān kāṇḍarṣīn tarpayāmi |

Pour water with the bottom of the palm turned towards yourself (brahma-tīrtha). Recite three times.

ॐ ब्रह्माणं स्वयम्भुवं तर्पयामि ।
Om Brahmāṇaṃ svayambhuvaṃ tarpayāmi |

Switch the poonal back to upaveeti (savyam). Pour water from the tips of the fingers. Recite three times.

ॐ सदसस्पतिं तर्पयामि ।
Om Sadasaspatiṃ tarpayāmi |
ॐ ऋग्वेदं तर्पयामि ।
Om Ṛg-vedaṃ tarpayāmi |
ॐ यजुर्वेदं तर्पयामि ।
Om Yajur-vedaṃ tarpayāmi |
ॐ सामवेदं तर्पयामि ।
Om Sāma-vedaṃ tarpayāmi |
ॐ अथर्वणवेदं तर्पयामि ।
Om Atharvaṇa-vedaṃ tarpayāmi |
ॐ इतिहास-पुराणं तर्पयामि ।
Om Itihāsa-purāṇaṃ tarpayāmi |
ॐ कल्पं तर्पयामि ।
Om Kalpaṃ tarpayāmi |
ॐ वृक्षं तर्पयामि ।
Om Vṛkṣaṃ tarpayāmi |

10.8 Soma Pithru Tarpanam (after Mādhyāhnikam)

Performed after Mādhyāhnikam (the midday sandhya). Although “Soma” often refers to the moon, here it points to the Sun (madhyamam) and the Moon together, and the offering is to the Devas’ pitrus, not your own ancestors (those are honoured in Sections 6–8 above). Switch the poonal to prāchīnaveethi / apasavyam (right shoulder). Pour water between the thumb and forefinger.
ॐ सोम-पितृमान् यमाङ्गिरस्वान् हव्यवाहन इत्यादयः ये पितरः, तान् पितॄन् तर्पयामि ।
Om Soma-pitṛmān, Yamāṅgirasvān, Havya-vāhana ity-ādayaḥ ye pitaraḥ, tān pitṝn tarpayāmi |
ॐ सर्वान् पितॄन् तर्पयामि ।
Om Sarvān pitṝn tarpayāmi |
ॐ सर्व-पितृ-गणान् तर्पयामि ।
Om Sarva-pitṛ-gaṇān tarpayāmi |
ॐ सर्व-पितृ-पत्नीस्तर्पयामि ।
Om Sarva-pitṛ-patnīs tarpayāmi |
ॐ सर्व-पितृ-गण-पत्नीस्तर्पयामि ।
Om Sarva-pitṛ-gaṇa-patnīs tarpayāmi |
ॐ ऊर्जं वहन्तीरमृतं घृतं पयः कीलालं परिश्रुतम् । स्वधा स्थ तर्पयत मे ।
Om Ūrjaṃ vahantīr-amṛtaṃ ghṛtaṃ payaḥ kīlālaṃ pari-śrutam | Svadhā stha tarpayata me |
ॐ सोम-पितरः तृप्यत तृप्यत तृप्यत ।
Om Soma-pitaraḥ tṛpyata, tṛpyata, tṛpyata |

10.9 Concluding — Kāyena vācā dedication

Switch the yagnopaveetam back to savyam. Offer the Kāyena vācā dedication, the prīyatām dedication, and the forgiveness verse. Conclude with achamanam.
कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतेः स्वभावात् । करोमि यद्यत् सकलं परस्मै नारायणायेति समर्पयामि ॥
Kāyena vācā manasendriyair vā buddhyātmanā vā prakṛteḥ svabhāvāt | Karomi yad-yat sakalaṃ parasmai Nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayāmi ||
अनेन ब्रह्म-यज्ञेन भगवान् सर्वदेवात्मको जनार्दनः प्रीयताम् ।
Anena Brahma-yajñena Bhagavān sarva-devātmako Janārdanaḥ prīyatām |
यदक्षरपदभ्रष्टं मात्राहीनं तु यद्भवेत् । तत्सर्वं क्षम्यतां देव नारायण नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Yad-akṣara-pada-bhraṣṭaṃ mātrā-hīnaṃ tu yad-bhavet | Tat sarvaṃ kṣamyatāṃ deva Nārāyaṇa namo’stu te ||
ॐ तत् सत् । ब्रह्मार्पणमस्तु ।
Om Tat Sat | Brahmārpaṇam-astu |
Conclude with achamanam (the three sips from 10.1).

Section 11Reference Tables

Samvatsara (60-year cycle around the present)

#SamvatsaraPeriod
38Krodhi14 Apr 2025 – 13 Apr 2026
39Vishvavasu14 Apr 2026 – 13 Apr 2027
40Parabhava14 Apr 2027 – 13 Apr 2028
41Plavanga14 Apr 2028 – 13 Apr 2029

Masa & Tamil month

VedicSauraTamilApprox GregorianRitu
ChaitraMeshaChithirai14 Apr – 14 MayVasanta
VaishakhaRishabhaVaikasi15 May – 14 JunVasanta
JyeshthaMithunaAani15 Jun – 16 JulGrishma
AshadhaKatakaAadi17 Jul – 16 AugGrishma
ShravanaSimhaAavani17 Aug – 16 SepVarsha
BhadrapadaKanyaPurattasi17 Sep – 17 OctVarsha
AshvinaTulaAippasi18 Oct – 16 NovSharad
KarthikaVrischikaKarthikai17 Nov – 15 DecSharad
MargashirshaDhanusMargazhi16 Dec – 14 JanHemanta
PushyaMakaraThai15 Jan – 12 FebHemanta
MaghaKumbhaMasi13 Feb – 14 MarShishira
PhalgunaMeenaPanguni15 Mar – 13 AprShishira

Vasara (weekday in Sanskrit)

DayVasaraDevanagari
SundayBhanu vasaraभानु वासर
MondayIndu vasaraइन्दु वासर
TuesdayBhauma vasaraभौम वासर
WednesdaySaumya vasaraसौम्य वासर
ThursdayGuru vasaraगुरु वासर
FridayBhrigu vasaraभृगु वासर
SaturdaySthira vasaraस्थिर वासर
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः
Sarve janāḥ sukhino bhavantu | Loka samasta sukhino bhavantu
Tradition: Yajurveda — Apastamba Sutra (Smartha) · Created for Mouli, Srivatsa Gotram

Monday, February 11, 2013

Dream Vacation

Imagine being in the party Capital of the world, Amsterdam in The Netherlands, staying in the most luxurious accommodation of its kind, surrounded by beautiful ladies all the time, who hold your hands without twitching their eyes, ready to serve you without any expectation 24/7, the bed is a very cozy adjustable bed, the coziest you have ever slept on, room service does not mean leaving the food tray on the table, but feeding you with a spoon, entertainment non-stop with a huge Plasma TV which telecasts all of your favorite programs. You can stay there as long as you can and the vacation is granted by your company. Not just that, the bill for the stay will also be picked by your company. That, my friends, is the epitome of a dream vacation. I have been there and also learnt valuable lessons in the process.

On September 5, 2007, my hopes were sky high and my dreams were larger than life, when I boarded "The mysterious Swan" Lufthansa flight to Amsterdam to work.

Couple of months later, I tried my hands, actually my legs, on ice skating at Winter Efteling Theme park. I learnt very quickly that while Ice skating, one should bend the knees and put the majority of one’s weight forward, because you cannot fall forward.

I quickly learnt how to skate and picked up pace moving my legs in perfect rhythm. It was a brilliant feeling. Right there I had a train of thought. Why was I not heavier? Why did I not learn how stop before gaining speed? Why was the person on a collision course with me heavier and faster than me? When the inevitable collision did happen, laws of physics were against me and laws of gravity were holding on to me tight. It was a heavy duty stress test of the ice versus my left arm. There I learnt my first lesson, Ice though thin, is way too much stronger than a thicker human.

I have always imagined clinic to be dim lit and with an old doctor wearing glasses end and coughing once in a while. There were 4 stunningly beautiful young ladies and the room radiated with vibrant light, I still am unsure if it was their radiant skin or the bulb which lit the room. I could swear that I saw wings on a couple of them and one was even off the ground by a couple of feet (ANGELS!!). All of them took a special interest in me and were taking turns to hold my hand and check if it hurts. The left hand refused to cry in pain and was jumping in joy to receive a royal treatment. They strapped my arm and recommended that I should be taken to Ziekenheus Hospital. Second Lesson, it is lucky to be unlucky and you never know what wonders a bit of bad luck can bring.

Then, came the most wonderful 10 days of stay in the luxurious Zeikenheus Hospital which hosted the most luxurious rooms with cozy, fully adjustable beds. Nurses and doctors, mostly beautiful ladies, giving special attention since, I had not family there to take care of me and company took care of the bills. It was a multiple fracture that my left arm proudly sported to get all the royal treatment and attention of these ladies. To make things lighter, I used a lot of humor to make them laugh. One fine morning, a nurse woke me up with an empty 12 liter can in hand. She uttered two words, Urine test. I responded spontaneously with a laugh. I know I am slightly er em a lot on the heavier side, but that does not mean I need a 12 liter. She also could not control her laugh when she said it was for a specific test where I had to collect urine for an entire day in the can. This taught me the third lesson, A good sense of humor, helps you forget even your tumor.

Friends, if in England, breaking a wish bone is getting lucky, in The Netherlands, breaking your arm in multiple places, just makes you the luckiest person alive. With all the lessons I learnt, wonderful memories and a heavy heart, I left the hospital. Just before I left, I told my favorite lady in the hospital, that their treatment helped me leave with a fixed arm but a broken heart and that I will miss her forever. She winked at me and said not to worry, she can arrange for my right arm to be broken ;)

That was my dream vacation.

Friday, February 1, 2013

“What keeps me going is goals” – January 26, 2013

Medley Toastmasters Club has set a goal of having an education session for every session this year and so far that has kept the sessions going great. Aptly themed 180th Meeting was another example of how wonderful the goals of the club this year has kept it going strong.

The venue was as usual filled with a wonderful blend of Toastmasters and guests, this has become a feature since we moved to the new venue. The meeting started precisely at 3 pm (at least as per Our Club president).

Club President, TM Guruprasad started the session with the esteemed golden gravel bang and declared the meeting open.

TMOD Santhosh did a thoughtful job of introducing the theme and the word for the day ‘Design’. He also shared how his goals have made him design his life towards success.

The prepared speeches, which was scheduled after the education session, was moved ahead to give time required to sort the technical glitches with projector. Though the education session was moved to later part of the session, it was worth the wait.

- First speech by TM Apurv (CC#3) was based on his experience and his learning which helped him overcome his silent addiction to sleeping.
- Second Speech by TM Alagu Bharathi (CC#4) shared ‘The Secret’ to attain what we dream to attain within 7 minutes.
- Third Speech by TM Chandramouli (CC#4) set the audience on ‘A journey to the Stars’ with a voyager (whose identity is reveled in the end) recounting his experience. This helped him win the Best Prepared Speech for the day.

Then, it was time for one of the best and memorable education sessions so far. TM Dr.Sampath Sowrirajan, one of the founding members of Medley Toastmasters, walked the audience through various strategies, tips and tricks on handling a Table Topics session. The session was a wonderful workshop where the strategies were explained and then volunteers from the audience were called upon to use the technique explained to handle a specific topic effectively.

Then, the evaluations session was conducted by the General Evaluator TM Karthik. The evaluators clearly carried the energy from the education session and provided wonderful feedback for the speakers. TM Badri Narayanan was voted as the best Evaluator of the day. And for his exhaustive grammarian’s report, TM Santhosh was awarded the Best Role Player of the day.

The eventful session came to a close at around 5:10 pm to be followed by a wonderful round of samosas and coffee/tea.

Signing off sharing a few questions that I took home from the session:

- Do we really spend time on what is very dear to us by setting our goals and priorities right?
- What keeps me going? The goals or the journey? Is it the greatness of the goal which leads to the journey being wonderful or vice versa?
- What is that one Goal that defines me and keeps me going?

- Just another curious mind
“Curiousity kills a cat!! But we are humans!”

Start with a Bang!! – January 5, 2013

Medley Toastmasters Club started the year 2013 with a bang, coming from a very successful year 2012. The first meeting of the year (177th from its Genesis) reflected the same; the theme was ‘Start with a Bang!’.

Novelty and energy were evident from the start. A new venue (30 minutes on Lattice Bridge road), a new agenda template (with minutes), a wonderful education session and of course the new executive committee who put in their efforts into making all of this possible.

The New venue was refreshing and was fully packed with a right blend of Toastmasters and guests. The meeting started precisely at 3 pm and stuck to the minutes in the agenda.

Club President, TM Guruprasad started the session with the esteemed golden gravel bang and declared the meeting open. Following which Club VPM TM Sarathy inducted the new members.

The Education session, that followed, by our Area Governor TM Sundararaman infused (which was by the way the word of the day) the energy and enthusiasm while it helped us understand how to conduct the sessions better. It set the stage right for this session and for the sessions to follow.

Then came the Prepared Speeches session boasting three thoughtful speeches:
- First speech by TM Venkatesan (CC#5) was based on three remarkable experiences of his life which made him (and the audience) appreciate the saying ‘As you sow, so you reap’.
- Second Speech by TM Jayanthi (CC#7) was a well researched speech on how to infuse desirable thoughts into ones subconscious mind while in an Alfa state and bring out ‘The Magician within You’.
- Third Speech by TM Rajasekhar (CC#8) was a very interesting and creative use of trash to make very attractive decorative and useful articles, which, infused us to ‘Think Different’. This helped him win the Best Prepared Speech for the day.

This was followed by the Table Topics marathon where the Table Topics Master TM Meenakshi fired 12 questions to invoke thoughtful responses from Toastmasters and Guests alike. The response from Guest Charu on the possibility of having (or not) a New year resolution of avoiding junk food helped her bag the Best Table Topics Speaker for the day.

Then it was time for the most awaited part of the meeting (really!), the evaluations. The evaluators matched the speeches with their insightful feedback. TM Guruprasad was voted as the best Evaluator of the day. And for his exhaustive grammarian’s report, TM Apurv was awarded the Best Role Player of the day.

The eventful session came to a close at around 5 pm to be followed by a wonderful round of Kozhakattais (Steamed Modhaks) and coffees.

Signing off sharing a few areas to feed our curious minds from the sessions:

- Why the idiom ‘Start with a Bang’? Does it have anything to do with the big bang or the gun shots, gongs before track events or ring events?
- What are your experiences that help you appreciate the idiom ‘Start with a Bang’?
- Why at times we let boredom, reluctance, laziness creep in and not carry the energy with which we started something?

Monday, February 20, 2012

Can religion have a scientific explaination? (Part - 2)

Having discussed the divine trinity in my previous post, I also wanted to share my interpretation of Hinduism in this post.


Disclaimer - Before reading the contents below, understand that this is only my interpretation and feel free to disagree with me (I would be happy to have healthy debates).


Devas (Demi-gods)

While the trinity signified the acts of creation, preservation and destruction, Nature played a major role (as in many religions) in finding divine existence in the world around us.

The elements of nature: Wind (Vayu), rain (Varun), Fire (Agni), etc., were considered to be devas (Demi-gods). The head of Devas, Indra is the god of lighting. This is an interesting similarity with a lot of pagan religions, Zeus (the most powerful Greek god) and Thor (God of lightning, Norse mythology), where the god who created lightning was considered to be the most powerful. This could be attributed to the fact that lightning was (and still continues to be) one of the most feared natural phenomenon. Till date a phenomenon called as ball lightning still remains unexplained. No wonder, these gods were treated with a great respect and fear.


Navagrahas (The Planets)

It is interesting to note that, the seven celestial bodies close to the Earth, namely the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were identified to be 7 celestial bodies which influenced the events on earth. Along with two imaginary planets (Rahu and Kethu) that caused the lunar and the solar eclipse. These planets formed the basis of Indian astrology system.

I once asked my granny, why should one believe in astrology? I really liked her answer (though I still do not truly believe in astrology). She replied "Each of these planets are made up of different composition of elements. And as per the law of gravity, each of these bodies exert a certain amount of force on earth. The nature of the influence of this force is determined by the composition of these planets and their relative position with respect to the Earth. For example, the Moon causes tides, during full moon periods, there is definitely a fluctuation in the pattern of our minds (crazy people become crazier) and this is the reason why moon in Hindu astrology is associated with mood swings and things related to mind." She went on to say "So knowing that these planets do have influence on us, Astrology is nothing but mathematics based on the planets relative position and their influence on us."


(End of Part 2)

Monday, October 17, 2011

Can religion have a scientific explaination? (Part - 1)

I have always wondered if there was a scientific explanation for all the religious creations (gods, tradition, customs, etc.). This is my first blog on this area on which I have been thinking for a long time.

I know about Hinduism better than rest of the religions. Hence most of my questions and explanations have come in the same area. I believe that Hinduism has cryptic messages and symbolism in the way gods are described and their mythical stories

Disclaimer - Before reading the contents below, understand that this is only my interpretation and feel free to disagree with me (I would be happy to have healthy debates).


Trimurti - The Holy trinity of Hinduism

Trimurtis, the holy trinity, are the three deities who are considered to be the most important gods of Hinduism. Following is my interpretation of the Trimurtis.



Brahma
 Brahma - The creator


According to Hinduism, the Universe was conceptualized and created by Brahma.
My interpretation is that he is the abstracted form of every creator, designer, the prime-movers of the earth (as put by Ayn Rand), and thinkers. To create something, one needs to think, needs a wealth of knowledge. The knowledge drives creation. It is so apt that his wife is Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. My interpretation of Hinduism makes me say that Hinduism believes that women always were the drive force and male were the acting force. Evolution is the best example for the same. Two factors which were primarily responsible were to survive and to impress the female species. The female species drove male species to evolve, but the male species changed, over a period of time, evolved. Even if Brahma is a much respected god, it is hard to find temples for Brahma (I know of just one dedicated temple for Brahma - at Pushkar, Rajasthan). Lord Brahma is conceptualized with four heads (powerful thinker), white beard (wisdom), seated on a lotus and travel on a swan (Hamsa). The swan is symbolized to be living on nectar from the blooming lotus of knowledge. I relate Lord Brahma to the people of mind, who create, invent, innovate, etc., who do not enjoy the status of a businessman or a warrior, however, is regarded with a great respect.


Vishnu with his wife Lakshmi 
Vishnu - The Preserver


Vishnu is looked upon as the god of sustenance, the one who took many forms (avatars) to save the world when needed. I see the power of Vishnu in every person who help people in trouble, save people, people who run business (needed for business to survive), in good leaders. To sustain or to preserve, one needs good leadership skills. Also, wealth is a driving force for survival. Wealth here is not just money, but also spiritual wealth, health, courage, luck, etc. It is apt that Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of Wealth (8 forms of Lakshmi for different forms of wealth), is his wife. Since, Vishnu is the Preserver; there is a huge amount of people who worship Vishnu. Lord Vishnu is conceptualized to wear beautiful attire, sleep on a lake of milk, on top of a 5 headed snake(Aadi-seshan). I read a blog of a friend of mine which linked the 10 avatars (dasavatar) to evolution of humans. Found the idea to be very interesting.



 
Shiv with his wife Shakti
Shiv - The Destroyer


Everything that is created needs to live and then eventually come to an end once its purpose of existence ceases to exist. It is like letting a program to loop even when what is supposed to achieve in the loop is done, or, saving your clothes even after you grow out of them, or, keeping the remains of what was food after everything is juiced out of it by our body. Everything created, needs to be destroyed eventually, gracefully, timely and ONLY when its purpose ceases to exist. This is the job of Lord Shiv. I see Shiv in anyone who does the above function. To destroy, one needs power. Hence, Shakti, the goddess of power is his wife. Lord Shiv is conceptualized to wear attire made of dead animal skin, cover body with ashes which are obtained by cremation of the dead, covered by snakes all over the body and use a bull (Nandi) as his vehicle. Since human fear death the most, Shiv is one of the most worshipped god in Hinduism.

(end of Part - 1)