Spirits of departed ancestors in Hinduism
The
pitrs
(
Sanskrit
:
????
,
lit.
'forefathers',
IAST
:
Pit?
) are the spirits of departed ancestors in
Hinduism
. Following an individual's death, the performance of the
antyesti
(funeral rites) is regarded to allow the deceased to enter Pitrloka, the abode of one's ancestors. The non-performance of these rituals is believed to result in the fate of wandering the earth as a restless
preta
.
[1]
The
amavasya
(new moon day),
[2]
as well as the occasion of
Pitru Paksha
during the
Hindu month
of
Ashvin
is recommended for the veneration of pitrs.
[3]
[4]
Development
[
edit
]
An altar built under a tree for Pitr veneration in
Haryana
,
India
Ancestor veneration
is an ancient Indian practice. The custom of a
death anniversary
is still practised in India, where the deathday of one's parents involves a number of rituals and offerings, that are elaborated in the
Puranas
.
[5]
Balls of rice (Pi??a) are traditionally offered on certain occasions, due to the belief that one's ancestors still need to be fed by their descendants. For the members of the priesthood class, a sacrifice dedicated to one's pitrs must be performed on a daily basis. While the Vedic religion held that one's forefathers attain
Svarga
, the heavenly realm, most Hindus today believe in
samsara
, the cycle of rebirth, where all departed souls reincarnate on earth until they achieve spiritual liberation, called
moksha
.
[6]
According to popular belief, the fire deity,
Agni
, is believed to carry the deceased to Pitrloka with the smoke that emerges during
cremation
.
[7]
The pitrs are often likened to birds, as they are described to always be looking down on earth; the ancient Baudhayana stated that pitrs assume the form of birds. This led to the practice of feeding birds during funeral rites, and rituals associated with ancestor veneration.
[8]
Texts like the
Mahabharata
establish the concept of the living performing pious deeds for the benefit of their departed ancestors. Rather than a form of worship, it is stated to be the duty of every male descendant to perform rites for their pitrs.
[9]
Sayana
, a scholar of the
Vijayanagara Empire
, regarded every individual born to be under the debt of their pitrs. This debt is redeemed by continuing the race, which is done by procreation. This act is stated to protect and offer longevity from the pitrs. The world of the pitrs, according to him, could only be achieved by the pious, and is unreachable by those who hate
Hindu deities
or injure Brahmins.
[10]
Literature
[
edit
]
Pitrs have been featured in Hinduism since the
Rigveda
, with hymns invoking
Agni
to decide which offerings should go to the
devas
, and which to one's pitrs.
[11]
In this text, the Pitrloka and
Devaloka
are regarded to be indistinct. They are regarded to be distinct in the
Atharvaveda
, and in the
Brahmanas
, Devaloka becomes preferable to attain to the Pitroka.
[12]
The
Manusmriti
states that a son born of the
Brahma marriage
absolves the sins of ten pitrs on the ascending side, and ten on the descending side of his family, as well as himself as the twenty-first.
[13]
The
Smriti texts
of Hinduism state that any person who does not perform the
Shraddha
ritual is not entitled to inheritance.
[14]
According to the
Puranas
, the first pitrs were the
Prajapatis
, the progenitors of the human race. After the performance of a penance,
Brahma
is described to have ordered the
devas
, who had ceased to worship him, to acquire instruction from their sons regarding the manner of devotion and veneration. The devas were forced to call their own sons pitrs - fathers.
[15]
[16]
The most complete accounts about the pitrs are found in the
Vayu Purana
and
Brahmanda Purana
texts, that are regarded to be identical. The account in the
Harivamsha
resembles them. Brief accounts are also found in the
Matsya Purana
and
Padma Purana
. According to these accounts, there are different classes of the pitrs, who have different origins, forms, grades, as well as abodes. A broad distinction is said to exist between the
dev?? pitara?
(divine pitrs) and the
manu?y?? pitara?
(pitrs who were deceased human beings). Some of the pitrs dwell in
Devaloka
, while other dwell in
Patala
. The
devas
and the pitrs of Devaloka are often regarded to be synonymous.
[17]
The
Vishnu Purana
states that the most devout of Brahmins go to Pitrloka.
[18]
In the
Mahabharata
, while
Yudhishthira
talks to
Bhishma
upon his bed of arrows, the latter states that whether one is a deva or
asura
, a human being,
gandharva
or uraga or
rakshasa
,
pisaca
or
kinnara
, one must always venerate one's pitrs. He states that performing the Shraddha ritual on each successive day of the lunar fortnight, one reaps merits, such as acquiring beautiful spouses and successful children on the first day, daughters on the second day, steeds on the third day, and so on.
[19]
The pitrs are most primeval deities and they never cease to exist. The
manu?y?? pitara?
(ancestors of human beings) can attain the same level of the divine pitrs and live with them in
Svarga
by righteousness.
[
citation needed
]
They are reborn at the end of every thousand
mahayugas
and revive the worlds.
[
clarification needed
]
From them all the
Manus
, and all progeny at the new creation, are said to be produced.
[20]
Legends
[
edit
]
The legend of
Aurva
from the
Mahabharata
features the sage's pitrs appearing before him to request him to cease his
penance
, which produces the
Vadavagni
.
[21]
A legend from the
Devi Bhagavata Purana
narrates that the sage
Jaratkaru
was once travelling through the forest, when he came across his pitrs, hanging over a precipice at the end of a blade of grass. When enquiring regarding their state, the pitrs told Jaratkaru that they experienced this condition due to the latter's childlessness, which resulted in them not being to enter Svarga. To save his pitrs from their ordeal, the sage married
Manasa
.
[22]
The
Brahmanda Purana
narrates the episode of
Pururavas
propitiating his pitrs.
[23]
A legend from the
Skanda Purana
explains the origin of the
Shraddha
ritual, stating that not offering these rites to one's ancestors during the
amavasya
(new moon day) will lead to one's pitrs suffering from hunger and thirst.
[24]
The legend of
Bhagiratha
features the king performing arduous penances to
Ganga
and
Shiva
, to free his ancestors from
Patala
, where they had been destroyed by
Kapila
.
[25]
Classes
[
edit
]
There are seven classes of the
dev?? pitara?
(divine pitrs), three of them are
amurtayah
(incorporeal) while the other four are
samurtayah
(corporeal). The three incorporeal orders of the pitrs are
Vairaja
s,
Agnishvatta
s and
Barhishada
s. The four corporeal orders of the pitrs are
Somapa
s,
Havishmana
s,
Ajyapa
s, and
Sukalin
s (or
Manasa
s).
[26]
The Pit?-Va??a
[
edit
]
All seven classes of the divine pitrs had each one
m?nas? kany?
(mind-born daughter).
Mena
, the wife of Mount
Himavat
was the daughter of the
Vairaja
s.
Acchoda
, the river was the daughter of the
Agnishvatta
s.
Pivari
, the wife of the sage
Shuka
was the daughter of the
Barhishada
s.
Narmada
, the river was the daughter of the
Somapa
s.
Yashoda
was the daughter of the
Havishmana
s was the wife of
Vishvamahat
and mother of Dilipa.
Viraja
, the wife of king
Nahusha
was the daughter of the
Ajyapa
s and
Go
or
Ekshringa
, the wife of the sage
Shukra
was the daughter of the
Manasa
s.
[27]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Cush, Denise; Robinson, Catherine; York, Michael (2012-08-21).
Encyclopedia of Hinduism
. Routledge. p. 599.
ISBN
978-1-135-18978-5
.
- ^
Bhatt, Dr G. P.; Deshpande, Dr N. A. (2013-01-01).
The Padma-Purana Part 2: Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology Volume 40
. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 688.
ISBN
978-81-208-3907-6
.
- ^
Buck, Cecil Henry (1977).
Faiths, Fairs & Festivals of India
. Asian Educational Services. p. 98.
ISBN
978-81-206-1304-1
.
- ^
Melton, J. Gordon (2011).
Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations
. ABC-CLIO. p. 698.
ISBN
978-1-59884-205-0
.
- ^
The Vish?u Pura?a (Vish?upur??am), a System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition, Translated from the Original Sanscrit, and Illustrated by Notes Derived Chiefly from Other Pura?as, by H. H. Wilson
. 1840. p. 329.
- ^
Mani, Vettam (2015-01-01).
Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature
. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 36.
ISBN
978-81-208-0597-2
.
- ^
Michaels, Axel (2021-08-10).
Hinduism: Past and Present
. Princeton University Press. p. 144.
ISBN
978-0-691-23401-4
.
- ^
Garg, Ga?g? R?m (1992).
Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World
. Concept Publishing Company. p. 443.
ISBN
978-81-7022-375-7
.
- ^
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Religious Doctrines in the Mah?bh?rata
. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 90.
ISBN
978-81-208-1700-5
.
- ^
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Vedic Mythology
. APH Publishing. p. 97.
ISBN
978-81-7024-867-5
.
- ^
www.wisdomlib.org (2021-08-27).
"Rig Veda 10.16.11 [English translation]"
.
www.wisdomlib.org
. Retrieved
2022-11-26
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- ^
Seaford, Richard (2019-12-05).
The Origins of Philosophy in Ancient Greece and India: A Historical Comparison
. Cambridge University Press. p. 168.
ISBN
978-1-108-49955-2
.
- ^
www.wisdomlib.org (2016-10-28).
"Manusmriti Verse 3.37"
.
www.wisdomlib.org
. Retrieved
2022-11-26
.
- ^
Jo??, Lakshma?a??str? (1996).
Critique of Hinduism and Other Religions
. Popular Prakashan. p. 92.
ISBN
978-81-7154-832-3
.
- ^
Cush, Denise; Robinson, Catherine; York, Michael (2012-08-21).
Encyclopedia of Hinduism
. Routledge. p. 597.
ISBN
978-1-135-18978-5
.
- ^
www.wisdomlib.org (2018-11-03).
"The power of the Manes (pit?) [Chapter 40]"
.
www.wisdomlib.org
. Retrieved
2022-11-26
.
- ^
www.wisdomlib.org (2014-09-07).
"Pitri, Pit?: 26 definitions"
.
www.wisdomlib.org
. Retrieved
2022-11-26
.
- ^
www.wisdomlib.org (2014-08-30).
"Origin of the four castes [Chapter VI]"
.
www.wisdomlib.org
. Retrieved
2022-11-26
.
- ^
www.wisdomlib.org (2021-08-18).
"Section LXXXVII [Mahabharata, English]"
.
www.wisdomlib.org
. Retrieved
2022-11-26
.
- ^
Pargiter, F.E (1922, reprint 1972).
Ancient Indian Historical Tradition
, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, pp. 46-7
- ^
www.wisdomlib.org (2019-01-28).
"Story of Aurva"
.
www.wisdomlib.org
. Retrieved
2022-11-26
.
- ^
Mani, Vettam (2015-01-01).
Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature
. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 94.
ISBN
978-81-208-0597-2
.
- ^
www.wisdomlib.org (2019-06-19).
"Meeting of Pur?ravas and Pit?s [Chapter 28]"
.
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. Retrieved
2022-11-26
.
- ^
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.
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. Retrieved
2022-11-26
.
- ^
Vaswani, J. P. (2019-06-20).
Stories with a difference from the Bhagavata Purana
. Gita Publishing House. p. 119.
ISBN
978-93-86004-23-9
.
- ^
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"Story of Pit?"
.
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. Retrieved
2022-11-26
.
- ^
Pargiter, F.E (1922, reprint 1972).
Ancient Indian Historical Tradition
, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.69
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