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TL;DR — Tarpan is a short offering of water with black sesame to your ancestors. Shraddha is the fuller rite on the death tithi, with pinda (rice-ball) offerings, and it usually includes tarpan. Tripindi shraddha is traditionally chosen when rites have lapsed for years or ancestors are unknown, and Narayan Bali when a death was untimely or unnatural; your family priest decides which applies, and you can have each performed at Srirangapatna on the Kaveri or at Gaya and Kashi.
Tarpan vs shraddha: the core difference
Families often use "tarpan" and "shraddha" as if they mean the same thing. They are related, but they are not the same rite.
Tarpan (tarpana) is a libation. Water mixed with black sesame (tila) is poured from the hand while the names and gotra of the ancestors are recited. The performer wears a ring of kusha grass, a sacred grass used in almost every ancestral rite. Tarpan is short and can be done on its own. Tradition offers it on:
- amavasya (new moon) days;
- sankramanas (the Sun's entry into a new sign);
- eclipses;
- the annual shraddha;
- visits to places of pilgrimage.
Shraddha comes from the word shraddha, meaning faith. It is a set of rites, not a single act. A typical shraddha includes:
- a sankalp (statement of intent);
- tarpan;
- the offering of pindas, balls of cooked rice often mixed with sesame and barley, to three generations of ancestors;
- feeding learned Brahmins and giving gifts (dana);
- closing prayers for peace.
It is done every year on the tithi (lunar date) of death, which is called tithi shraddha, and during Pitru Paksha, the fortnight for ancestors.
In one line: every shraddha contains tarpan, but tarpan alone is not a shraddha. Tarpan offers water; shraddha offers water, food and gifts.
All pitru rites at a glance
"Pitru karya" means rites for the pitrs, the departed ancestors. The table compares the rites families ask us about most.
| Rite | What it is | Usually chosen when | Duration | Typical places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarpan | Water with black sesame offered by hand, with kusha grass, naming the ancestors | Amavasya, Pitru Paksha, sankranti, eclipses, the annual shraddha, pilgrimages | Usually under an hour | Home or any sacred river; Gaya, Kashi, Srirangapatna |
| Tithi shraddha / pinda pradana | The full annual rite: sankalp, tarpan, pindas, feeding and gifts | Every year on the death tithi, or on the matching tithi in Pitru Paksha | A few hours | Home or a kshetra; Gaya, Kashi, Srirangapatna |
| Tila homa | A fire offering of black sesame, with mantras, for the ancestors | Pitru dosha is indicated, rites have lapsed, or after an untimely death (common in South Indian practice) | A few hours | Rameswaram, Gokarna, Srirangapatna |
| Tripindi shraddha | Three pindas, of barley, rice and sesame, for ancestors beyond the usual three generations, including unknown ones | Shraddha missed for years, ancestors unknown, lineage rites incomplete | About one day | Trimbakeshwar, Gokarna, Kashi (Pishach Mochan Kund), Gaya, Srirangapatna |
| Narayan Bali (and Nag Bali) | Narayan Bali: rites for one soul after an untimely or unnatural death. Nag Bali: atonement for killing a cobra | Death by accident, suicide, drowning, snakebite and similar; Nag Bali if a cobra was killed | Two to three days | Trimbakeshwar, Gokarna, Gaya, Kashi, Srirangapatna |
| Pitru dosha parihara | A remedial puja when an astrologer reads pitru dosha (ancestral affliction) in a birth chart | A chart reading shows pitru dosha, or the family feels ancestral duties are unfinished | A few hours | Gaya, Trimbakeshwar, Gokarna, Srirangapatna |
| Dhanishta panchaka / Tripada nakshatra shanti | A shanti (pacifying) homa after a death at a time tradition treats as inauspicious | Death while the Moon was in the Dhanishta panchaka nakshatras, or on a tripada day | A few hours | At home or at a kshetra, usually within months of the death |
Durations are typical. They vary with the vidhi (ritual procedure), the priest and the place.
Each rite, explained
1. Tarpan
Tarpan is the simplest and most frequent pitru rite. Many families offer it every amavasya and throughout Pitru Paksha. Tarpan on a sacred river is held especially dear, which is why the Kaveri ghats at Srirangapatna fill on Mahalaya Amavasya.
Book: Pitru tarpan at Srirangapatna · Ganga tarpan at Kashi
2. Tithi shraddha and pinda pradana
Pinda pradana means "offering of pindas". It is the heart of the annual shraddha. The rite is timed by the lunar tithi of death, not the calendar date, so the day moves each year. Pindas are offered to three generations on the father's side and, in many traditions, on the mother's side too.
If you do not know the tithi, tradition sets aside Sarva Pitru (Mahalaya) Amavasya, the new moon for all ancestors. In 2026 it falls on Saturday 10 October; see our Mahalaya Amavasya 2026 guide.
Gaya holds a special place for pind daan. Families offer at the Vishnupad temple, on the Falgu river and at the Akshayavat tree.
Book: Tithi shraddha and pinda pradana at Srirangapatna · Gaya pind daan
3. Tila homa for ancestors
Tila homa is a homa (fire ritual) in which black sesame is offered into a consecrated fire with Vedic mantras, in the name of the ancestors. Tarpan and tila homa both use sesame, but tarpan offers it with water by hand, while tila homa offers it into fire.
In South Indian practice, families usually choose tila homa in three situations:
- when an astrologer indicates pitru dosha;
- when regular shraddha has lapsed;
- after an untimely death, often alongside Narayan Bali.
Rameswaram, Gokarna and Srirangapatna are well-known places for it.
Book: Tila homa at Srirangapatna
4. Tripindi shraddha
"Tri" means three. In Tripindi shraddha, three pindas are prepared, one each of barley, rice and sesame, and offered on darbha grass. An ordinary shraddha names three known generations. Tripindi is meant for a wider circle of ancestors on both sides of the family:
- those whose final rites were never done;
- those who left no descendants to offer for them;
- those whose names are no longer known.
It is most often chosen when shraddha has not been done for several years; three consecutive years is the figure commonly cited. Some traditions also advise doing it once every twelve years. The rite takes about a day. Trimbakeshwar, Gokarna and Kashi are its best-known centres. At Kashi it is done at the Pishach Mochan Kund.
Book: Tripindi shraddha at Srirangapatna · Tripindi at Pishach Mochan Kund, Kashi
5. Narayan Bali and Nag Bali
Narayan Bali is described in the Garuda Purana. It is performed for a family member who died an untimely or unnatural death, for example:
- an accident, drowning or fire;
- snakebite or an attack by an animal;
- suicide.
It is also done when the usual final rites could not be performed properly. Tradition holds that it helps such a soul move on peacefully. Vishnu and Yama are worshipped during the rite.
Nag Bali is a separate rite of atonement for killing a snake, especially a cobra, whether by oneself or by an ancestor. Because the scriptures give the two rites a common aim, they are often performed together as Narayan Nagbali. At Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra, where the combined rite is best known, it takes three days. Our Moksha Narayana Bali at Srirangapatna is a two-day rite.
Book: Moksha Narayana Bali at Srirangapatna (2 days) · Narayan Bali and Nag Bali at Gaya or Varanasi. Read more in our Narayan Bali puja guide.
6. Pitru dosha parihara (pitru dosha puja)
Pitru dosha is a term from Vedic astrology. Astrologers read it from certain chart patterns, commonly an afflicted Sun (the karaka, or indicator, of the father) or an afflicted ninth house, the house of ancestors, often involving Rahu. A parihara is a remedy. The pitru dosha parihara puja is offered in faith to seek the ancestors' peace and blessings.
It is not a substitute for the annual shraddha. Most priests advise continuing tarpan and shraddha as well. See also our article on pitra dosh remedies.
Book: Pitru dosha parihara at Srirangapatna
7. Dhanishta panchaka and Tripada nakshatra shanti
Dhanishta panchaka ("the five from Dhanishta", called panchak in much of North India) is the stretch of five nakshatras, or lunar mansions: the second half of Dhanishta, then Shatabhisha, Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada and Revati. During this stretch the Moon moves through Kumbha and Meena (Aquarius and Pisces).
Tradition holds that a death during this window calls for special care. Priests often place small kusha effigies at the cremation, and a Dhanishta panchaka shanti homa follows later for the family's peace. Many priests schedule the shanti after the first fortnight and within three to six months of the death.
Tripada ("three-footed") shanti is a related rite. It is done when the day of death combines certain tithis, nakshatras and weekdays that tradition marks as inauspicious. The exact lists differ between texts and regions, so the family priest checks the panchang for the day of death. See our guide to the 27 nakshatras.
Book: Dhanishta panchaka / Tripada shanti at Srirangapatna
Tripindi shraddha vs Narayan Bali: which one?
These two are the most often confused. The simplest way to tell them apart:
- Who it is for: Tripindi is for a wide, often unnamed group of ancestors. Narayan Bali is usually for one known person.
- What triggers it: Tripindi is usually prompted by lapsed or incomplete shraddha. Narayan Bali is prompted by the manner of a death: untimely or unnatural.
- How long it takes: Tripindi takes about a day. Narayan Bali, or Narayan Nagbali, takes two to three days.
- Together: Many kshetras perform them in sequence. In one common arrangement, Narayan Bali, Nag Bali and Tripindi are all completed within three days.
How to choose: which pitru puja should I do?
Use this list to prepare for a conversation with your family priest (purohit). It reflects common tradition, not a ruling on your family's case.
- You know the death tithi: perform tithi shraddha with pinda pradana on that tithi every year, and tarpan on amavasyas.
- You do not know the tithi, or you want to remember all ancestors: perform shraddha or tarpan on Mahalaya (Sarva Pitru) Amavasya. In 2026 it falls on Saturday 10 October.
- Shraddha has been missed for years, or the ancestors are unknown: Tripindi shraddha is the traditional choice.
- A family member died an untimely or unnatural death: Narayan Bali, with Nag Bali if a cobra was killed. It is often followed by tila homa or Tripindi.
- The death fell in Dhanishta panchaka or on a tripada day: Dhanishta panchaka or Tripada shanti, in addition to the usual rites.
- An astrologer has read pitru dosha in a birth chart: pitru dosha parihara or tila homa, while continuing regular shraddha.
- You simply wish to remember your ancestors on a sacred day: tarpan is enough and always appropriate.
Customs differ by region, community and family lineage. Please consult your family priest before you decide, especially for Narayan Bali and the shanti rites.
Where each rite is done
- Gaya (Bihar): the most revered place for pind daan, at the Vishnupad temple, the Falgu river and the Akshayavat.
- Kashi (Varanasi): tarpan on the Ganga ghats. The Pishach Mochan Kund is known for Tripindi and for rites after an untimely death.
- Trimbakeshwar (Nashik, Maharashtra): best known for the three-day Narayan Nagbali and for Tripindi.
- Gokarna (Karnataka): a traditional centre for Tripindi, Narayan Bali and tila homa.
- Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu): tarpan by the sea and tila homa.
- Srirangapatna (Karnataka): tarpan, pinda pradana and other pitru rites on the Kaveri, at Paschima Vahini, the Sangama and Gosai Ghat. The town is also home to the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, the Adi Ranga.
Divine Hindu arranges private pujas at Srirangapatna, Gaya and Kashi. We do not arrange rites at Trimbakeshwar, Gokarna or Rameswaram. We are not connected with any temple or temple board, and our Srirangapatna pujas are done on the Kaveri banks, not inside any temple.
Have your family's pitru rite performed at Srirangapatna
Tarpan, tithi shraddha, tila homa, Tripindi, Moksha Narayana Bali, pitru dosha parihara and Dhanishta shanti, performed privately by our pandit on the Kaveri banks.
See all Srirangapatna pujasHow a Srirangapatna pitru puja works with us
- Private rite: Every Srirangapatna puja is private. Our pandit performs it on your behalf on the Kaveri banks, at the Sangama, the Paschima Vahini ghat or Gosai Ghat, as the vidhi and the day require.
- Sankalp: Only your family's names and gotra are included.
- Muhurat: Our team confirms the date on WhatsApp and shares the muhurat fixed by the pandit.
- Video: The video of your puja reaches you on WhatsApp within 3–4 days.
- Prasad: None is sent for the Srirangapatna pujas.
Booking cut-off. Each date closes at 4 PM IST:
- the day before, for tarpan and tithi shraddha;
- 2 days before, for tila homa, pitru dosha parihara, Tripindi and Dhanishta/Tripada shanti;
- 7 days before, for Moksha Narayana Bali (2 days).
For Gaya and Kashi, see the Pitru Paksha 2026 pujas, including the Sarva Pitru Amavasya Mahalaya puja at Gaya and Kashi. Curious how a remote sankalp works? Read can a puja be done remotely.
Mahalaya Amavasya · Saturday 10 October 2026
The last day of Pitru Paksha, set aside for all ancestors. Tarpan on the Kaveri at Srirangapatna, by our pandit.
Book Mahalaya Amavasya tarpanFrequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between tarpan and shraddha?
Tarpan is an offering of water with black sesame, made to the ancestors while their names and gotra are recited. Shraddha is the fuller rite on the death tithi or in Pitru Paksha. It usually includes tarpan, pinda offerings of rice balls, feeding of Brahmins and gifts. Tarpan can be done on its own on any amavasya, while shraddha is the main annual duty.
What is the difference between Tripindi shraddha and Narayan Bali?
Tripindi shraddha offers three pindas, of barley, rice and sesame, for ancestors whose rites have lapsed or whose names are not known. Narayan Bali is traditionally done for one person who died an untimely or unnatural death, such as by accident or drowning. Tripindi takes about a day, while Narayan Bali usually takes two to three days.
Which pitru puja should I do if I do not know the death tithi?
Tradition sets aside Mahalaya Amavasya, also called Sarva Pitru Amavasya, for all ancestors, including those whose tithi is not known. In 2026 it falls on Saturday 10 October. If rites have lapsed for many years, families often add a Tripindi shraddha. Please consult your family priest.
Is tila homa the same as tarpan?
No. Both use black sesame, but tarpan offers sesame with water by hand, while tila homa offers sesame into a consecrated fire with mantras. In South Indian practice, tila homa is often chosen when pitru dosha is indicated or after an untimely death, and it takes a few hours.
What is Dhanishta panchaka shanti?
Dhanishta panchaka is the stretch when the Moon moves from the second half of Dhanishta through Shatabhisha, Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada and Revati. Tradition holds that a death in this window calls for a shanti homa for the family's peace. Many priests schedule it after the first fortnight and within a few months of the death.
Can these rites be done on my behalf if I cannot travel?
Yes. Tradition allows a priest to perform the rite on your behalf through a sankalp that names your family and gotra. At Srirangapatna, our pandit performs the puja privately on the Kaveri banks, and the video reaches you on WhatsApp within 3 to 4 days.
Does a pitru puja promise results?
No. No puja can guarantee any result, and we do not promise outcomes. These rites are offered in faith and remembrance, as tradition teaches. Please consult your family priest before choosing a rite.
Remembering our ancestors, the right way for your family
Whichever rite you choose, the heart of pitru karya is the same: remembering those who came before us, in faith and gratitude. Related reading: Mahalaya Amavasya 2026 · Narayan Bali puja · Pitru Paksha 2026 dates and vidhi · Pitru Paksha shradh and tarpan online · Paschima Vahini, Srirangapatna · Amavasya dates 2026
