The seventh day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaisakha is dedicated to Goddess Ganga. On this auspicious occasion, devotees take a holy dip in the Ganga River and offer prayers to the sacred Ganga and Lord Shiva. It is also a time for performing the Tarpan and Pind Daan for ancestors, as it is believed that this ritual leads to the liberation of the ancestors and provides the individual with freedom from ancestral doshas.
According to religious beliefs, taking a dip in the Ganga on the seventh day of Vaisakha’s Shukla Paksha helps to cleanse oneself of both intentional and unintentional sins. The blessings of Maa Ganga also bring prosperity and happiness to the practitioner. If you wish to please your ancestors, perform Ganga Snan (holy dip) on Ganga Saptami and offer Tarpan and Pind Daan with devotion. While performing Pind Daan, recite the following mantras and the Pitru Nivaran Stotra for the blessings of your ancestors:
1. Om Pitri Devataye Namah
2. Om Pitri Ganaaya Vidmahe Jagatdhaarine Dheemahi Tanno Pitro Prachodayat.
3. Om Devatabhya Pitri Bhyaashcha Mahayogibhyaeva Namah Swahaaye Swadhaaye Nityamev Namah Namah.
4. Om Devatabhya Pitri Bhyaashcha Mahayogibhyaeva Namah Swahaaye Swadhaaye Nityamev Namah Namah.
5. Om Aadya-Bhootaye Vidmahe Sarv-Sevyaye Dheemahi Shiv-Shakti-Swaroopena Pitri-Dev Prachodayat.
6. Gotra Asmat-Pita (Name of Ancestor) Sharma Vasuroopat Tripyatatidam Tilorakam Ganga Jalam Vaa Tasmai Swadha Namah, Tasmai Swadha Namah, Tasmai Swadha Namah.
7. Gotra Asmat-Pita (Father’s Name) Sharma Vasuroopat Tripyatatidam Tilorakam Ganga Jalam Vaa Tasmai Swadha Namah, Tasmai Swadha Namah, Tasmai Swadha Namah.
8. Gotra Maa (Mother’s Name) Devi Vasuroopast Tripyatatidam Tilorakam Ganga Jalam Vaa Tasmai Swadha Namah, Tasmai Swadha Namah, Tasmai Swadha Namah.
Pitru Nivaran Stotra
Architaanam Amurtaanam Pitrinam Deeptatejasam,
Namasyami Sada Tesham Dhyaninam Divyachakshusham.
Indraadinaam Cha Netaaro Dakshamaareechayostatha,
Saptarishinam Tathaanyeshaam Taan Namasyami Kaamadaan.
Manvaadeenaam Cha Netaara: Suryachandamasostatha,
Taan Namasyamaham Sarvaan Pitrunapyudadhavapi.
Nakshatraanam Grahaanam Cha Vayvagnjornabhastatha,
Dyaavaprithivovyoashcha Tathaa Namasyami Krutanjali.
Devarshiinam Janitruncha Sarvalokanamaskritaanaam,
Akshayyasya Sada Daatrin Namasyeyham Krutanjali.
Prajapate: Kashpaaya Somaya Varunaaya Cha,
Yogeshwarebhyaashcha Sada Namasyami Krutanjali.
Namo Ganeebhya: Saptabhya: Tathaa Lokeshu Saptasu,
Swayambhuve Namasyami Brahmane Yogachakshuse.
Somaadharaan Pitru Ganaan Yogamurtidharaanstathaa,
Namasyami Tathaa Somam Pitaram Jagataamaham.
Agridhoopamstathaivaanyan Namasyami Pitrunaham,
Agrisomamayan Vishwam Yat Etadasheshatah.
Ye Tu Tejasi Ye Chaite Somasuryagrimurtayah,
Jagatswaroopinashchaiva Tathaa Brahmaswaroopinah.
Tebhyo Khilebhyo Yogibhyo Pitru Bhyo Yatamanasah,
Namo Namo Namastestu Praseedantu Swadhabhuj.
Reciting these mantras and Pitru Nivaran Stotra during Tarpan on Ganga Saptami is believed to bring blessings from your ancestors, along with the attainment of peace, prosperity, and liberation for both the individual and their ancestors.
