I have posted blogs on the importance of performing Tarpana ((Oblation to Ancestors)- Mahalaya Amavasya.
Some more posts are on Sandhya Vandhana in two parts and  one audio.
The Tharpana Mantras with basic instructions are given below.
Amavasai_Tharpanam_Unicode
Audio Follows.
Post on ‘Sankalpa’, Sanskrit names for performance of Daily Routines including
SandhyaVandana,Months,Rtus,Pakshas,Manvantaras,Nakshatras follow-with Tamil Equivalents.
I will post for Rik , Sama Veda and Shukla Yajur Veda.
In performance of Tharpana, some wear marks on the forehead and some not.
It is better to follow what has been followed at your homes.
As I mentioned in another blog, Tharpana ,Sraddha are to be performed only after Noon,after performing Madyanhika and Brahma Yagnam.
As a matter of fact Brahma Yagnam is to be performed Daily
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It is sanctioned in the Sastras that the Sraddha or commitment to performing these Duties are important and not throwing away money to ease Conscience.
Food is to be cooked at Home by the wife/Daughter and not by caterers or getting some one to cook at Home.
It is for your parents.
Physical contribution is necessary.
It is also stated that The Brahmanas who come to Srardha are to be well versed in The Vedas and they are to be fed.
Now a days one does not get them and even if one gets them they do not know The Vedas to be called a purohits(Please read my blog on Acharya,Guru and Purohita).
In the absence of a suitable and qualified Brahmana, I suggest one feed a really needy, caste does not matter, but one should be of good habit, not a Drunkard,way ward and generally uncouth.
They can be given new clothes which they can use, not necessarily Dhoti and Angavastram.
The same can be followed during the Srardha for Women , by giving Sari or chidudhar as they prefer.
I am aware those who call them Panditas objecting to this.
But this is what I have been doing for the past 30 years, criticisms notwithstanding.
Unfortunately for them I read the Sastra texts.
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http://www.calendarlabs.com/calendars/religious/hindu-calendar.php
Related Articles
http://ramanisblog.in/2013/08/06/yajur-upakarma-avani-avittam-vedic-course-details/
https://polldaddy.com/js/rating/rating.jsNamaskarams. Often, the pronunciation of tarpana mantras while reading from texts are more comfortable convenient and correct if the texts are in sanskrit. Any link to devanagari texts?
Dear Sir, The second question I have is around performing tharpanam for matha vargam. Even though our sastrigal had suggested I do tharpanam only for pitha vargam and purushals from matha vargam (i.e. thatha, kollu thatha etc) and don’t have to do for mother’s mother (paati and up). However I have been doing the tharpanam for all i.e. 3+3 = 6 on father’s side and 3+3 = 6 on mother’s side. I feel I am equally obliged to perform my duties as a grandson for my maternal grandmother as I do for my paternal grandmother. I got all the details from my maternal uncle and even he suggested I don’t have to do it as he does it in his tharpanam.
Am I doing the right thing or going against a norm?
You are supposed to do it for Matruvarga when you perform Tharpana. What you are doing is correct.
https://polldaddy.com/js/rating/rating.jsDear Sir, Thanks for the article. It was great speaking to you over phone over the weekend. I understand both shrardham and amavasya tharpanam to be performed after madhyanikam. This is fine when amavasya falls on a public holiday or over weekends. What do you do if you have to go to work and it is not feasible to come back home to perform madhyanikam and then perform amavasya tharpanam. I perform this in the morning before leaving for work. Is this ok?
If one can not help, this may be followed. For information , I have seen marwaris close their shops on Amavasya in Bangalore. They keep that as weekly holiday!Regards.
thank you sir. your articles are really educative. can you explain the significance of lighting lemon lamps in amman temples and their counts?
Lighting Lemon Lamps are not sanctioned by Smriti. Lemon is to be offered as a whole in Saraswathi pooja day. Cutting Lemon is practiced only in Abhichara prayoga. This should not be done any where.Lamp is to be light with two wicks, two faces with Gingelly oil .This is the practice. On special occasions ghee can be used for Longevity.
I read your articles and suggestions whenever there is a dialema. But as I go through various .coms, it is quite confusing. Dos and donts vary and it is subject to one’s interpretation. Which one is the authentic source for us to follow?
That is the strength and weakness of Sanatana Dharma,as it is very difficult to define what Dharma is, as Lord Krishna says in the Gita. For our daily activities and karma we can rely on the Smritis and the Sutra of Apasthamba.My observations are based on this. I rely more on Apasthamba and a good reference Vaidyanatha Deekshatheeyam.However if we follow the essence of the Vedas we would know instinctively what is Right.Another way is to follow any one authority with out cross referencing with another.Regards