Swadha Devi and Pitru Devatas
- Pitru Devatas decide the birth of a person. They emerged from the Saptarishis. The order of emergence in this creation is Saptarishis-Pitru Devatas-Deities and Human Beings.
- There are four Varnas (communities by devotion, not by caste) prescribed by the Vedas: Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vysya, and Shudra. The Vedas prescribed Pitru Devatas origin under these 4 Varnas (communities).
- The Atharvanaveda, 4392 mantra, describes the residence of Pitru Devatas.
There are three levels of world; the first is water-borne, the second is atomic (subtle) level; and the third is Prakashamaya world (enlightened world), which is where Pitru Devatas live.
Their residence is also referred to in the Vedas as existing between the Sky and the Heavenly abode. Their residence is referred to as Pitrulokam. - Because they emerged from Saptarishis, there are seven Pitru Devatas, among whom three ever remain in a state of eternal bliss with no form. The other four assume forms.
- Our ancestors remain immortal with their subtle bodies, while they stay in Pitru Lokam. This is why, they talk to their close relations based on their purity of heart. Those who have observed meditation all their lives ascend to Tapolokam on leaving their bodies.
- While offerings to fire are regarded as offerings to deities, performing ‘shraddha karma’ is an offering to Pitru Devatas.
- While karma decides our births and rebirths, Pitru Devatas are accountable for enforcing the laws of karma. They shape our lives according to karmic philosophy.
- Vasu, Rudra, and Aditya are the prime deities among all Pitru Devatas.
- We are indebted to five dharmic debts in this universe, often called by the Shastras as Five Rinams. Shastras classified these categories as: Deva Rinam, Rishi Rinam, Pitru Rinam, Manusha Rinam, and Bhuta Rinam.
- Pitru Rinam signifies indebtedness to ancestors. It is necessary to repay the debt you are indebted to your ancestors by offering Tharpanam (water mixed with black sesame) to your ancestors, the divine entities of the concerned community you belong to, through Vedic rituals and taking them to the next level. There are 70 Pitru Devata Mantras in the Vedas: 18 in the Rigveda, 21 in Atharva, and 31 in the Yajurveda.
- Each community has 12 Pitru Devatas. The Brahmin community, to free themselves from Pitru Rina, should worship Maharshi Brigu, who is the source of this community's birth. Similarly, the Kshatriyan community should worship Atri Maharshi; Vysyas should worship Maharshi Angirasa; and Shudras should worship Maharshi Pulasthya.
- During Pitru Tarpanam, ‘swadha’ should be chanted instead of ‘swaha.’ For instance,
Om Pitrubhyaha Swadhayibhyaha Swadha Namaha
Om Pitamahebhyaha Swadhayibhyaha Swadha Namaha
Om Prapitamahebhyaha Swadhayibhyaha Swadha Namaha
- Swadhadevi accepts Pitru Tarpanams and releases you from their curse because she is the consort of Pitru Devatas. She appears with a brilliance equal to the brilliance of a 100 moons. The name Swadha is mentioned 56 times in the four Vedas.
- When Pitru Devatas were starving, they approached Lord Brahma and explained him that their successors had stopped performing upasana because of which they are unable to receive their successors offerings . Then Lord Brahma contemplated Adiparashakti by uttering the word swadha internally.
- Adiparashakti appeared as Swadha Devi and asked Brahma about his request. He requested her to marry Pitru Devatas. She agreed. Also, irrespective of their upasana shakti, she granted a blessing to those who execute shraddha karma: if they chant "swadha" during the ceremony, the offerings will reach their Pitru Devatas.
- According to Devi Bhagavatam,
the moola mantra of Swadha Devi is
Om Hreem Sreem Kleem Swadhayai Swaha
- If you are cursed by Pitru Devatas, chant,
Swadha
OrOm Pitrudevatabhyo Namaha and Om Swadhayai Namaha
- There are 36 relations and a relation with Lord Shiva associated with human beings in this world. One should perform tarpanam to these 36 relationsduring Pitrupaksham that begins from the last 15 days of lunar month of Bhadrapada.
Pitru Tarpana Vidhi
Hold Black Sesame with your right thumb and leave water through it for three times as Pitruteertham
To father Asmat Pitaram ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Grand-Father Asmat Pitāmaham ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Great grand-father Asmat Prapiitāmaham ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Mother Asmat Mātaram ............Gōtrām.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Paternal Grand Mother Asmat Pitāmahīm ............Gōtrām.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Paternal Great Grand Mother Asmat Prapitāmahīm ............Gōtrām.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Elder Brother Asmat Jyeṣhṭha Bhrātaram ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Younger Brother Asmat Kaniṣhṭha Bhrātaram ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Elder or Younger Sister Asmat Sōdarīm ............Gōtravatīm.........(Name) Swarūpām Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Husband Asmat Patim ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Wife Asmat Patnīm ............Gōtravatīm.........(Name) Swarūpām Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Younger Sister-in-law Asmat Kaniṣhṭha Bhrātarupatnīm ............Gōtravatīm.........(Name) Swarūpām Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Step-Mother Asmat Sapatnīmātaram ............Gōtravatīm.........(Name) Swarūpām Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Maternal Grand Father Asmat Mātāmaham ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Maternal Great Grand Father Asmat Mātuh Pitāmaham ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Mother’s Great Grand Father Asmat Mātuh Prapitāmaham ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Maternal Grand Mother (Mother’s Mother) Asmat Mātāmahīm ............Gōtravatīm.........(Name) Swarūpām Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Maternal Great Grand Mother (Mother’s Grand Mother) Asmat Mātuh Pitāmahīm ............Gōtravatīm.........(Name) Swarūpām Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Mother’s Great Grand Mother Asmat Mātuh Prapitāmahīm ............Gōtravatīm.........(Name) Swarūpām Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Married Son Asmat Suta ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Father’s Elder Brother Asmat Jyeṣhṭha Pitruvyam ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Father’s Younger Brother Asmat Kaniṣhṭha Pitruvyam ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Maternal Uncle Asmat Mātulam ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Maternal Uncle’s wife Asmat Mātulam Sapatnīkam ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Morethan One Maternal Uncle Asmat Tadanantara Mātulam ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Daughter’s Son Asmat Dauhitraha ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Nephew Asmat Bhāginēyakaha ............Gōtram.........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Maternal Aunt Asmat Pitruṣhwasāram ............Gōtravatīm........(Name) Swarūpām Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
Mother’s Elder Sister or Younger Sister Asmat Mātruṣhwasāram ............Gōtravatīm........(Name) Swarūpām Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Son-in-law Asmat Jāmataram ............Gōtram........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Brother-in-Law (Elder or Younger Sister’s Husband) Asmat Bhāvukaha ............Gōtram........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Daughter-in-Law Asmat Snuṣhā ............Gōtravatīm........(Name) Swarūpām Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Uncle - Husband or Wife’s Father Asmat Shwasuraha ............Gōtram........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
Wife’s Elder or Younger Brother Asmat Syālakaha ............Gōtram........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
Guru (If your Guru is a Male) Asmat Gurum ............Gōtram........(Name) Swarūpam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
Guru (If your Guru is a Female) Asmat Gurvīm ............Gōtravatīm........(Name) Swarūpām Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
To Paramashiva Bhavam Dēvam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।। Sharvam Dēvam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।। Ῑshanam Dēvam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।। Pashupater Dēvam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।। Rudram Dēvam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।। Ugram Dēvam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।। Bhīmam Dēvam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।। Mahāntam Dēvam Tarpayāmi, Tarpayāmi Namaha ।।
Swadha Devi Stotram
Om Sri Pitruprana Tulyamcha Yajapreetikaraam Bhaje । Sri Yajate Vata Devi Swadha Devim Namamyaham ।।
Shraddhadistatru Devim Cha Shraddha Phala Pradam Bhaje । Atma Manasa Kanyamcha Swadha Devim Namamitam ।।
Pitrudrishti Pradadevi Krishna Vakshasthalam Bhaje । Parashakti Swaroopinim Swadhadevim Bhajamyaham ।।
Sri Pitrudevata Patnim Pitrugana Susevitam । Shata Chandra Samaprabham Swadha Sri Parvatim Bhaje ।।
Dakshaprajapatih Putrim Parvatyamsha Swaroopinim । Bhaje Sri Manasa Devim Swadha Devim Namamitam ।।
Swadha Moolaksharajjapam Pitrugana Katakshadam । Shraddha Tarpana Pradhamcha Swadhadevim Namamyaham ।।
Pitrushaapa Nivarini Pitrubandha Vimochinim । Lokakalyana Kaarini Sri Swadham Pranamamyaham ।।
Swadha Nama Japah Punyaha Sarvapapa Vinashinim । Swadha Dhyana Prashantadam Dhanada Moksha Karikam ।।