Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 21
ततश्च तर्पयेद्देवान्मनुष्यांश्च पितामहान् । तिलमिश्रेण तोयेन सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः
tataśca tarpayeddevānmanuṣyāṃśca pitāmahān | tilamiśreṇa toyena samyakchraddhāsamanvitaḥ
Then, endowed with proper faith, one should duly offer tarpaṇa—libations of water—to the gods, to human beings, and to the forefathers, using water mixed with sesame seeds.
Śiva (continuing instruction to Devī/Pārvatī)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-tilodaka-tarpaṇa
Type: ghat
Scene: A pilgrim stands waist-deep or at the shore, pouring water mixed with black sesame through cupped hands, invoking devas, humans, and forefathers; subtle ancestral silhouettes receive the offering in the liminal space above the water.
FAQs
A complete tīrtha-rite includes gratitude and obligation—honoring devas, society, and ancestors with śraddhā.
The tarpaṇa is part of the Prabhāsa-kṣetra bathing sequence taught in this chapter.
Perform tarpaṇa using water mixed with sesame seeds, offered to devas, humans, and pitṛs.