Naga tanu tarpana puja

By Smt.Meera Tadipatri

Pics.courtesy: SVK TEMPLE,PHOENIX,AZ

Many people assume it is some kind of “Udupi paddhati” and not for the rest simply because they have neither heard it nor seen in their circles!
Worship is of two kinds:
a. Baahya - through external pratikas/symbols
b. Antarika -- through internal pratika which is "manasika"
The internal pratika which is the "mind" should be part and parcel of every puja done through external pratikas. Thus, every mantra, prayer will always start with "dhyaana" which is "internal".
The external pratikas are again mainly of two kinds:
a. Dravya linga/symbol
b. xiti linga.
a. Dravya linga is of 8 kinds:
1. Lauhi -- metals
2. Shili -- stones
3. Daarumayi -- wood
4. Mrunmayi -- sand/clay
5. lepya -- painting
6. lekya -- book
7. Manimayi -- prescious stones
8. Manomayi -- mental picture
Apart from this Bhagavata also mentions special pratikas like surya, agni, brahmana, cow, vaishnava, vayu, jalam, sarbhuta.
b. Xiti linga: It is using the very bhumi itself and decorating it with specific "mandala"/drawings and use this as pratima.
"Naagatanutarpana" belongs to the category of "xiti linga" mode of worship.
1.“Naaga” doesn’t just mean “hooded snake” or “sarpa”. As the very name suggests it is “na+a+ga” – where “ga” is movement/life force, “aga” means no movement/jaDa and “na” negates it meaning just the opposite “ giver of of “movement/life to lifeless/jaDa”.
2. Our body is just “jaDa” [as seen when one dies] and in this “jaDa/devoid of movement is given “life”.
That which gives life to the “lifelss body” is “Naaga” = life force/ “kundalini shakti” /“chaitanya shakti”.
Tanu: means “body” but the dhatu paaTha indicates "expansion/vistaara”. Here the “life force” is not just in one place in one’s body but expanded to every cell, every atom of this body by “naaga”
3. Who is this “naaga”: Krishna asserts that it is He who is present in all “naagas” as “anantha” Gita # 10.29, thus it is actually Lord Krishhna present in Vaayu inside Sheshha is being worshipped here as pervading in all “life force”/jiva inside every “jaDa deha”, mainly in every nook and corner of one’s body.
Thus, giving us “desire/kaama” —-> knowledge– to do every action/prayatna.
4. Often, our “desires” are all “outward”/laukika involving “me”, “mine” towards selfish goals with arrogance due to all our past karmas leading us in the wrong path.
5. Here, the puja is meant for the realization with gratitude along with prayers to the one who gives us “kaama/desire “ to:
a. 1. Thank him for reminding us about Gods role thr’ all devatas.
b. Forgive us for all bad-kaamane/desire leading to — wrong knowledge—> wrong friends/lleaders→ wrong deeds —> accumulations of sin → naraka→ hina janma→ all misery.
c. Pray Him along with Mukhyapraana in the abode of shesha/sarpaakaara to give good kaama/desire -->good jnana --> good company--> good deeds---> punya--—> good dharmika janma with a guru ---> bhagavat jnana --—-> sadhana--—> moxa.
6. Tarpana: means making devatas/pitrus pleased with us. They like good teachers, get pleased if we realize about Lord Krishnas upakaara for us with gratitude.
7. This is done in particular during the last day of the year as a samarpana of our entire karma for the whole year/ayana/rutu/maasa as the case may be– recollecting all the bad deeds and [also good deeds] we did [mis-]using the “god given life along with well equipped body, well equipped jagat, for all wrong things. Thus, we pray Him to burn all the sins arising out of it, and also accept if any good deeds with His prerane for His preeti thr’ our guru-s. Similar to “kaama dahana”, and begin the new year with “panchanga shravana” invoking all devatas and their parivaara to guide us.
8. Homa : is tyaaga, giving up the abhimana of "me", "mine" starting from the very sankalpa to phala expectation, and accepting all that He gives as His praasada in the form of "raxe".

Youtube link of the puja held at Shri Puttige MaTha,Phoenix,AZ