Tarpaṇa

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Tarpaṇa. Part of Hindu morning ablutions. The morning cleansing with water is a basic obligation. Tarpaṇa is the point at which the worshipper makes a cup with his hands and pours the water back into the river while reciting mantras. After sipping some water, he may then apply the distinguishing mark of his saṃpradāya (tradition), e.g. three vertical lines (tripuṇdra) for a Śaivite, three horizontal lines for a Vaiṣṇavite. It is followed by saṃdhyā (morning prayer).