Case of the Missing Brass Tharpana-Vattai

The Yajur Upakarma 2024 was on the cards.  Viswanathan (3161), ably assisted by Usha, was toying with the idea of repeating last year’s feat - of helping interested residents perform a mass pithru tarpanam as opposed to individually at home. 

Murali (6173), fondly called the Man Friday by our Seniors’ Group, had in fact mooted earlier the idea to Viswanathan. With him giving the green signal, it was all set. Murali made a phone call, and Pandit-ji was arranged. “Anything else?” Murali asked, always helpful. 

Now the venue for the Khanda Rishi tarpanam. Back in the village, it would be performed on the banks of a river or on the footsteps of the village pond. Here the head count would be around 15 with their bags full - pancha patram, uddarani, til, rice, one small chombu for water, betalnut leaves, supari, banana, Dakshina, floor mat, and token prasadam made at home. It would be a house full show in anyone’s drawing room with everyone squeezing, in a spirit of swalpa adjust madi. Yes, the Viswanathans were only happy to host it. Usha insisted that all should have at least a sip of coffee. Everyone had come after breakfast. Still they couldn’t say no. 

Arriving a little late, Panditji clarified that at the previous place some members reported late for the session. Once settled down, he lost no time in distributing poonal, darbhai, etc. He did a good job of reciting the mantras for us to repeat. The chanting session was good except on two counts. One, some members chose to begin the chant even before Pandit-ji had finished the last word. The other, Pandit-ji would begin his next mantra even before the group had uttered in full the earlier one. Consequently we (or, just I?) missed the first word of each mantra. It is devotion that matters, I consoled myself – to cover my lapse.

Some ladies who had accompanied their spouses promptly abandoned their little assistance at the kitchen and rushed to the drawing room to videograph the event, guess - focusing more on their own family.

The propitiation of ancestors over, each one got busy collecting one’s own items. There was some confusion with all vessels, tumblers, jumbled together. “Is this yours, sir”? “No, not mine,” replied the other. “Then it must be mine,” he felt reassured and put it in his bag. Then there was another who held an item high in his hand and announced: “Whose is this anyway,” he asked. The owner hesitated a while to claim. It was not in the best of shape; apparently he didn’t want it to be displayed in full view, as though it was being auctioned.

Everyone felt happy at the arrangements and thanked the Viswanathans profusely - and Murali, in passing. Not all knew that he had arranged the priest. Murali didn’t mind. He is committed to Karmanneva  adhikaraste...

Last Monday was Amavasai. A hectic day for me – morning walk, Amavasai tarpanam, and attend Slokam class at 11 am. When settling down for tarpanam I found my brass tarpana-vattai missing. All the three members present (our domestic help was at work then) swung into action. No luck. Time was running out. Good at make-do, my wife gave me a stainless similar vessel though many argue that only brass vessel should be used. Occasional deviation is excusable, I consoled myself.

The hunting mission starts for the Tarpana-vattai. I rang up Viswanathan if he had any items of the Yajur Upakarma left unclaimed in his house. “No, but what exactly are you looking for,” he came straight to the point. I explained to him. He consoled me that one member had since returned Viswanathan’s stainless steel glass, not just it, but filled with tasty pudding. It got mixed up someone else’s bag.  “Maybe, something better is in store for you,” he reassured me. Meanwhile in his own inimitable way he set in motion Operation Tarpana-vattai.

One member had just dumped his bag in the attic to be used next year. His relative visiting him had also joined. His set of vessels were also in the bag. Upon getting the query he had it checked; sent a photo of one patram to ascertain if it was ours. It was. He promptly brought it home with a few apples along. We had coffee together and he left after a brief chat.