Philosophy
Brahma
This known existence is just a memory – a ‘Brahma‘ or a literary translation to English – a delusion. The ‘Bharathiya’ philosophy says that when this delusion has solidified, it becomes the matter that we touch and feel that we term Karma. When it finally evolves on Earth, the pinnacle of evolution is a human. And the final purpose of a human is to dissolve this delusion and go back to the source.
Karma
Karma is a memory that has sprouted a body with a behaviour. This body is bound to have some experience. However, it is memory itself that is bound and prevents of return back to the source. This residual memory manifests in different ways like anxiety, fear, anger, passion, lust, greed, power, selfish love, emotional anchor, and many expressions in these lines. As it intensifies, it creates more delusion.
Tharpanam
When the intensity of Karma increases and the body’s birth does not have the intensity to hold such Karma, it results in significant mental distress. Tharpanam is one of the easiest approaches to reducing this mental distress. Literary translation of this word ‘Tharpanam’ is ‘the process of pleasing’. Performing ‘Tharpanam’ on a regular basis results in the glue of karma getting diluted. It is a key to unlocking the treasured happiness – ‘Satchitananda’. In ounces, one gets to taste it. God bless!!
Image by Mireia Soler from Pixabay
Preparation
Materials
Materials (Mandatory): Water
Materials (Preferred): A lamp lit with oil (preferably ghee–clarified butter) Pinch of Paddy/Rice, a mat/piece of cloth to sit.
Materials (Optional): Sesame seeds
Timing
Ideally, this needs to be done at Sunrise (the time when we have twilight). However, if this is not possible, identify a suitable time and do it before noon. At least get started !!
Action
- Sit on the ground. If you are using a mat / clean cloth, please do not use this for any other activity.
- If you have a lamp, light it up. With closed eyes, observe the body you have gained by gratitude for food, the people who helped it grow, the people who helped it to your home, the people who paid you money to buy this food, people who cooked this food. Bow to the ancestors whose memory you carry in your body. Expand this as much as you can. Pray with gratitude for this time that you have got to perform the Tharpanam.
- Take water in your right hand. If you have paddy, please put this first in your hand and then pour water on top and hold your hand as a cup.
- Look at the picture of the hand above with the numbers 1, 2 & 3
- First time pour this water such that water flows through the number 1 position (thank all the unknown entities who have influenced you)
- Second time pour this water such that water flows through the number 2 position (thank all the gurus – {loosely translated as teachers} who have taught you.
- Third time pour this water such that water flows through the number 3 position (thank all the ancestors whose memory you carry)
- Collect the water in a vessel and pour it into any plants outside the home
If you are bathing in a pond, river or any water body, then do this with only water with both hands.
