Pitri

The pitris ( , ) 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. The amavasya (new moon day), as well as the occasion of Pitri Paksha during the Hindu month of Ashvin is recommended for the veneration of pitrs.

The pitris ( , ) 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. The amavasya (new moon day), as well as the occasion of Pitri Paksha during the Hindu month of Ashvin is recommended for the veneration of pitrs. ==Literature== 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. 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. 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. The Smriti texts of Hinduism state that any person who does not perform the Shraddha ritual is not entitled to inheritance. 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. 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 (divine pitrs) and the (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. The Vishnu Purana states that the most devout of Brahmins go to Pitrloka. 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. The pitrs are most primeval deities and they never cease to exist. The (ancestors of human beings) can attain the same level of the divine pitrs and live with them in Svarga by righteousness. They are reborn at the end of every thousand mahayugas and revive the worlds. From them all the Manus, and all progeny at the new creation, are said to be produced. ==Classes== There are seven classes of the (divine pitrs), three of them are amurtayah (incorporeal) while the other four are samurtayah (corporeal). The three incorporeal orders of the pitrs are Vairajas, Agnishvattas and Barhishadas. The four corporeal orders of the pitrs are Somapas, Havishmanas, Ajyapas, and Sukalins (or Manasas). ===The Pitṛ-Vaṁśa=== All seven classes of the divine pitrs had each one mānasī kanyā (mind-born daughter). Mena, the wife of Mount Himavat was the daughter of the Vairajas. Acchoda, the river was the daughter of the Agnishvattas. Pivari, the wife of the sage Shuka was the daughter of the Barhishadas. Narmada, the river was the daughter of the Somapas. Yashoda was the daughter of the Havishmanas was the wife of Vishvamahat and mother of Dilipa. Viraja, the wife of king Nahusha was the daughter of the Ajyapas and Go or Ekshringa, the wife of the sage Shukra was the daughter of the Manasas. ==See also== Ancestor veneration Manes Pitri Paksha Preta Śrāddha ==References== ==External links== Dallapiccola, Anna: Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend ( ).

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