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Dear BhakthAs:

There was a question on the other list

about Ashtakai and Anvashtakai TarpaNams .

The answer to Sri Ramadurai's question

might be of wider interest . Hence I am

copying you .

Namo NaarAyaNAya ,

V.SatakOpan

 

>At 07:51 AM 2/15/01 +0530, you wrote:

>Dear Sri Sadagopan Swami,

>I would like to know the significance of Ashtaka and Anvashtaka Tarpanams

>today and tomorrow. I am told the significance behind the Amavasya and

>Sankramana as the New Moon and the Entrance of the Sun into the new

>Zodiac respectively. Is there any similar astronomical significance behind

>these two days? I also heard that the two Tarpanas are mandatory only for

>those performing Tarpanams on all the 12 Sankramanas and does not apply to

>those performing Tarpanams on FOUR Sankramanas only. Is it correct?

>S RAMADURAI

 

 

Dear Sri Ramadurai:

 

Thanks for your query .I assume that you are in India.

In that case , there are many experts there like SevA

Swamy and others , who can give a better answer than me .

 

The Ashtaki and anvashtakai are two Pithru srArdhams

performed on the 8th and ninth days of KrishNa Paksham in Maasi

Month.This year it falls on Feb 15 and 16.

 

The sankalpam is the normal one used , which ends in

" Maathu Pithru PithAmahapprapathAmahAnaamcha

varga dhvaya PithrUNAm Akshaayyaa Thrupthyartham

Ashtakaa SrArddha Prathinithi THILA TARPANAM KARISHYE " .

 

For ashtakai , the sankalpam this year is

" UttharAyaNE Sisirs Ruthou , Kumbha MaasE

KrishNa Pakshe Guru Vaasara VisAka nakshathra yukthAyAm --

AshtamyAm PuNya Thithou-- "

 

For anvashtakai , every thing same except ,

" Brughu Vaasara AnurAdhA Nakshathra YukthAyAm-- "

 

Manu Smruthi (4.150) commands us to the Ashtakai and

Anvashtakai SrArddhams for the Pithrus .Ashtakai means

the eighth day of KrishNa paksham ( Ashtami).Anvashtakai

refers to the TarpaNam done on the next day (Navami)

during the Month of Maasi (Maaga Maasam). Two more Ashtakais

and Anvashtakais are recommended in the lunar months of

Pousham and PhAlgunam ( Dec-Jan and Feb-March). You have to

observe your family's sampradhAyam.

 

Hope this helps,

V.SatakOpan