Ashram News Update - Pitru Paksha 2020

September 16, 2020  |  by Ramloti

Dear Friends,

This is really just a news update to let everyone know that tomorrow is the last day of this special time of year, Pitru Paksha, to honor, nourish, and express our gratitude to all of our ancestors. We will complete it here at the Ashram at the beginning of our live-streamed New-moon fire ceremony at 10am MT tomorrow, Thursday. If you would like to sponsor this fire ceremony for you and your ancestors, click here and scroll down.

I have heard from several people that have done this ceremony during the last 15 days, that they have felt a strong connection, healing, and closure with their ancestors, many of which they did not know personally. For me, each time I did it during this special period, it was a time of great gratitude particularly for my Mom and Dad who raised10 of us children. I also felt compassion for my grandparents who had such a challenging life and just a distant gratitude to all that came before.

It can be a very simple ceremony and we invite you to join us. We will just be making the offerings to a bowl of water, as we will be inside the temple as you see Jonathan and I in the photo. (Yes, Colorado is still under a strict fire ban.) If you want to gather about a Tb. of rice, a Tb. of sesame seeds (black is best but not necessary), and a few flower petals, you will be all set. Now just get a bowl of water and either read the mantras or join in with us on the live-stream at 10am MT as we do the mantras. You can remember the names of your ancestors or just remember you grandfather, great grandfather... (After the ceremony, take the bowl of water offerings to a creek or put them under a tree.) Here are the mantras in English, if you would like the Sanskrit ones, they are in the article below.

Brahma said:

1. Om salutations to the manes (ancestors), who gave me birth and who are filled with all devas, And who bless us with pleasure, who are happy and are great ones liked by good people.
2. Oh manes of the form of all yajnas, who are like the gods in heaven, Who are the form of all sacred waters as well as oceans of mercy.
3. Salutations always to them who are easily pleased. Salutations to them in the form of Shiva, To those who always pardon our mistakes, who are pleasant and bless us with pleasure.
4. The human birth is difficult to get, and through you I have got it, for performing of Dharmas and so my salutations to you manes.
5. Having taken bath in sacred waters, done penance and meditation, I have been able to see you, Oh teacher of all teachers, because of that I salute you oh manes.
6. As per your words alternative of praying to you is performing of tarpana, and It is equivalent to one hundred Aswamedha yagnas, because of that I salute you.

Gratitude to all of our ancestors,

Ramloti

Join us on Live-Stream for a Pitru Tarpan on Saturday, September 12 at 1pm MT to Honor and Nourish our Ancestors on their Heavenly Journey.

The period of Pitru Paksha is a sixteen-day period set aside to reflect on the contribution of our ancestors and to show our gratitude to them. This year it is September 2 through September 17. Pitru Paksha is observed by remembering our ancestors. It is when the deceased visit earth and bless their kin with prosperity. The kin offer food, money and other gifts to their ‘Pitras’ as a sign of reverence, it is believed that those who have died come to earth in their subtle form and accept the offering of their kin. One of the main rituals during this time that goes to mark the short life of humans on earth, is called Tarpan. Tarpan comes from the word ‘Trup’ which means satisfying or pleasing others. Pitru Tarpan is a way of gratifying the ancestors and freeing them from any unfulfilled desires so that they can complete their journey to the heavenly abode with peace, satisfaction and happiness. The other objective of performing tarpan is that deceased ancestors’ souls, whose names are pronounced while performing Tarpan, should bestow happiness on us. You can join us with your list of ancestors, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents. Knowing their names is helpful but not essential and if you do not have a river to sit facing south at, you can use a bowl of water to make the offerings in. The prayers will be recited online so you can join in with your ancestors on Thursday, September 17 at 10am MT.

If you would like to sponsor this fire ceremony for you and your ancestors, go to our Donate Page and scroll down.

Methods to perform Pitru Tarpan or Tarpan

According to ancient tradition, ‘Tarpan should be performed at the riverside’. While performing Pitru Tarpan at the riverside, one should stand in the river so that the water level touches the belly button or one should perform tarpan by sitting on the banks of the river facing South. It is performed by remembering the ancestors with their names. Then, with the chanting of mantras, one offers water, rice and black sesame seeds. Sesame seeds particularly constitute the food of the Pitrus and the rice is offered with a wish that this offering will satisfy the pitrus desires and help them to progress in their journey. Offering of water to the deceased ancestors’ souls should be done through the middle of the thumb and the first finger of the hand. Here is a simple form of prayers for Tarpan, you can recite in either English or Sanskrit.

Brahmo Uvāca:

1. Om namaḥ pitre janma dātre sarva deva mayāya ca sukhadāya prasannāya suprītāya mahātmane
   Brahma said: Om salutations to the manes (ancestors), who gave me birth and who are filled with all devas, And who bless us with pleasure, who are happy and are great ones liked by good people.
2. Sarva yajña svarūpāya svargāya parameṣṭhine sarva tīrthāvalokāya karuṇā sāgarāya ca
   Oh manes of the form of all yajnas, who are the gods in heaven, Who are the form of all sacred waters as well as oceans of mercy.
3. Amaḥ sadā ‘śutoṣāya śiva rūpāya te namaḥ. Sadā ‘parādha kṣamiṇe sukhāya sukhadāya ca
   Salutations always to them who are easily pleased. Salutations to them in the form of Shiva, To those who always pardon our mistakes, who are pleasant and bless us with pleasure.
4. Durlabhaṁ mānuṣamidaṁ yena labdhaṁ mayā vapu saṁbhāvanīyaṁ dharmārthe tasmai pitre namo namaḥ
   The human birth is difficult to get, and through you I have got it, for performing of Dharmas and so my salutations to you manes.
5. Tīrtha snāna tapo homa japādi yasya darśanam mahā-gurośca gurave tasmai pitre namo namaḥ
   Having taken bath in sacred waters, done penance and meditation, I have been able to see you,Oh teacher of all teachers, because of that I salute you oh manes.
6. Yasya praṇāma stavanāt oṭiśaḥ pitṛ tarpaṇam aśvamedha śatais tulyaṁ tasmai pitre namo namaḥ
   As per your words alternative of praying to you is performing of tharpana, and It is equivalent to one hundred Aswamedha, because of that I salute you.

Ashram Update

To keep this short and to be able to get it out this evening, we will not put much karma yoga or anything else in it. But people have asked about the unusual snow storm we had last week, so here are photos and the karma yoga that it created with the 60 a mile winds that came just before it!

Yes, along with branches, it blew over our storage shed near the havan kund. It took all of Jonathan's, Premanand's, and Bill's combined strength to lift it back up.

We Can Still Use Your Support

Please do not forget our GoFundMe Campaign to help support the Ashram during this time of closure. You can also donate through PayPal at shop@babajiashram.org and if you press the button for sending money to a friend or family, there is no fee for this. Thank you deeply for all your continued support with your prayers, thoughts, and financial support. Each donor's name is put at the feet of Shri Babaji and the Divine Mother for Their blessings. Bhole Baba Ki Jai!

Calendar of Events for 2020

New Moon Fire Ceremonies - Sept. 17, Oct 16, Nov. 14 (Diwali), Dec. 14
Full Moon Fire Ceremonies - Sept. 1, Oct. 1, Oct 31, Nov. 30, Dec. 29

Fall Navratri - Oct 17 - 25

Please go to our Calendar of Events page for all events.

Maha Lakshmi Shop Report

Particularly since tomorrow is Guru Day and that this is the last Rudraksha Bead from Shri Babaji that we have, here is the mala made with it. Once again, artistically made by Yogi Dreamer, it is108 beads and sales for $216. Indian Agate beads hand-knotted with green thread and finished with a Babaji Rudraksha bead and green tassel. We also had two wrist malas made from the last of Shri Babaji's tulsi beads that He wore with lava stone beads and hand-made tassels left long for you to trim to your taste. They are selling for $108. Finally we have only two left of the unique bracelets that were made from malas purchased over 20 years ago in Chandi Chowk, India for the Divine Mother. She has worn them since that time. They are delicate in feature but carry a huge amount of Mother's Shakti. They sell for $54 and and what we have left are blue jade pictured here and one with just a silver bead. None of these are up on our website yet so to order call us at 719-256-4108 or email us at shop@babajiashram.org. We are happy to deliver them at the bottom of the driveway or of course send them through the mail.

We have a great supply of puja and havan items. You can purchase some of them on line at our website under devotional items at our Maha Lakshmi Online Shop. Many items, however, are too unique to put on line, so you are always welcome to call and order at 719-256-4108. You can ask to have photos sent of our items, it is really nice to connect in this way. You may also email us at shop@babajiashram.org. We are happy to bless an item at Baba's and Mother's feet for you or drop ship items to your loved ones around the country. We take Visa, MasterCard or Discover.

The Shop is a major supporter of the Ashram. We deeply appreciate your patronage.

Maha Lakshmi Mata Ki Jai!