Tarpanam, Alankaram & Abhishekam - Symbolism and Alchemy

When doing any tarpanam we use water. And we release water towards the ground. 

Why? 

Water holds memory.

Earth is a highest gross element. It has the quality of sealing the thought. 

Earth means stable, settled, grounded and balanced, fixed. 

When something to be stable and grounded we need earth.

Earth stabilizes the memory of thought

Earth can be represented by closely associated elements like stones, soil, salt. Earth can also be represented by animals which are closely associated with earth like bull, elephant and wolf.

Modern magick uses wolf to manifest, you must have heard about wolf magick, wolf is remover of obstacles they say.

In the same manner, in Hinduism elephant God represents the devine quality of obstacles remover. Infact, there are many other qualities associated with ganesha, but based on the same concept. 

Here earth in Hinduism is represented by Ganesha. When you chant a mantra which is embedded with the tattva matched to earth quality it would get the ganesha tattva within the water. 

And you are pouring the water on earth which is again Ganesha tattva. So here again you intention is being stabilized by Ganesha. Earth to Earth. That's the reason Ganesha is tarpana priya.

And Vishnu is alakara priya, because Vishnu sustains who resides at heart, represents heart and happiness. Happiness comes from creative balance which could come from Art. Decorative alter is beautiful and creative. So Vishnu is alankara priya.

Shiva is Abhisheka priya, Shiva represents the state of pleasant mind. The consciousness of absolute bliss which is higher than happiness and stability. So you have to clean it similar to how you wash linga, you have to keep it pure similar to how a linga immersed in milk. You have to make it soft natured similar to the quality of ghee or honey.

This is all behind the Alchemy tarpanam, Alankara and Abhishekam