18/09/2022
The word ‘पितृ’ is a Sanskrit word, which basically means ancestors of one’s lineage. In the western civilization, especially in Roman culture, the word Pitru is translated as ‘Manes’, which basically interprets as the souls of the deceased ancestors, who are considered to be the beneficial souls to the lineage.
Pitru hold a much esteemed position in oriental civilization & in Hindu civilization too. Vedic scriptures explain that the 'Pitru never die but only change their bodies'. Their existence never ceases to exist. They are believed to be situated in the “Pitru Loka”. Every year a special ceremony called “Pitru Paksha” is celebrated, to respect & offer food to the Pitrus, as in the form of gratitude and in return, the Pitru empowers the person who offers.
*Rationale of Pitru*
In Hindu dharam it's believed that this universe works in a cycle of ever creation and destruction. And this is *Real but Temporary* . 'Jagat-mithya'(The cycle of birth & death as false), which is a claim by a few philosophers, is rejected by the vedic scriptures. Rather the Vedas say that the form changes, but the existence and essence remains the same. An example is given of a seed becoming a tree, and the tree becoming a seed. A seed and a tree are different in terms of shape, form and size, but the very essence that is the existence of that particular plant never ceases to exist. It exists both inside the tree and also inside the seeds. This is explained by the Geeta in the following shlokas :
As Lord Krishna in Bhagawat Geeta says,
‘नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः”—- Geeta 2:23
“The soul cannot be slain by a sword, nor can it be burnt down by fire, nor can it be decomposed by water and nor can it be dried by wind.”
Based on the Geeta, we can infer that the soul is eternal. The things like fire, sword, water and wind can only impact the material form. These can only impact the five basic elements but not the essence of all these. Therefore, we understand that the soul or let's say the Pitru doesn’t die, but only change their body. Their body is not like that of the human body. They have their own body.
The human body is made up of five basic elements i.e earth, air, fire, water and ether. Called as *pancha bhuta sharira*. The body of the Pitru is made up of three basic elements, i.e air, fire & some amount of water, & mind, intelligence, and false ego. Since the elements like earth and water are absent from their body, the body of the Pitru is not materially tangible. *Their body has the absence of matter and compactness*, though due to presence of Intelligence & Ego, they can also feel, will, desire; emotions are also present in them due to presence of mind.
*The Journey after Death*
After their death in this world, depending upon their deeds, they recieve two kinds of bodies, one is called as 'karan-deha' & the other as 'yatna-deha', and the few whose karma are the worst, recieve another body called as 'pret-deha'(The ghostly form).
The ancestor or manes who have not taken rebirth, and are stuck due to some karmic deeds, are basically known as Pitru. Not necessarily are they ghostly always.
*Pitru loka and classification*
Garuda purana explains that the Pitru do not die. They only change their body. After their death, they usually find a new body to be born within the 12th day of their death, based on their karma. But in some instances, the Pitru for various reasons, and also based on their karmic deeds, are unable to find another body. They remain stuck in the form of Pitru. The Pitrus have their own heavenly place to reside, and it is called as Pitru Loka.
It's explained in various puranas that the universe has 14 lokas, i.e the 7 lokas above the earth and the 7 lokas below the earth. *The Pitru loka is the loka just above the earth*. It is also known as the realm between heaven and earth. It is the place where the Pitrus go after their death.
Srimad Bhagavad explains about the pitra lokas as follows :
ततोऽधस्ताद्यक्षरक्षः पिशाचप्रेतभूतगणानां विहाराजिरमन्तरिक्षं यावद्वायुः प्रवाति
यावन्मेघा उपलभ्यन्ते ॥५॥
Beneath the Vidyadhara-loka, Kaaranaloka and Siddhaloka, in the sky called antariksha, are the places of enjoyment for the Yaksas, Rakshasas, Pisachas, ghosts and so on. Antariksha extends as far as the wind blows, and the clouds float in the sky. Above this there is no more air.
ततोऽधस्ताच्छतयोजनान्तर इयं पृथिवी यावद्धंसभासश्येन सुपर्णादयः
पतत्त्रिप्रवरा उत्पतन्तीति ॥६॥
Below the abodes of the Yaksas and Raksasas, by a distance of 100 yojanas [800 miles], is the planet Earth. It's upper limits extend as high as swans, hawks, eagles and similar large birds can fly.
The Pitru loka is considered as the transit point between many lokas. Vedic scriptures say that, when any person dies, the person immediately goes to Pitru loka, and then based on their nature, they either make their journey to the higher lokas, or reincarnate on this earth.
Vedic puranas like Garuda purana, Padma Purana, Vishnu purana, Srimad Bhagavatam, explain that, the Pitru loka is ruled and governed by the god name Aryaman, who is an incarnation of the Supreme lord Sri Vishnu. He is also believed to be one of the 12 Adityas. Lord Krishna says in the Geeta :
*अनन्तश्र्चास्मि नागानां वरुणो यादसामहम्*
*_पितृणामर्यमा_ चास्मि यमः संयमतामहम्* || —- Geeta 10:29
“Amongst the snakes I am Anant; amongst aquatics I am Varun. Amongst the departed ancestors I am Aryama; amongst dispensers of law I am Yamraj, the lord of death.”
Lord Krishna says to Arjuna that amongst the Pitru, he is Aryaman. Aryaman therefore is the best among Pitru, and the ruler among them as he is also one of the 12 Adityas who themselves are kings. So, Aryaman who is an incarnation of Lord Sri Krishna, is the deity who rules the Pitru loka and not Yama. The concept of Yama is that he is one who awards & facilites your deeds, & awards you body depending on one's karma.
*Shradh* *श्राध्द*
Vedic scriptures consider a human birth as a birth of higher consciousness & learning, unlike animals who don't have a higher goal than to eat, sleep, mate...a birth of a human is full of responsibility & mindful actions. Understanding that this birth is so precious, the Vedas have recommended different levels of samskar for this species, so as to help them elevate to a higher consciousness. There are altogether १० samskara which are recommended in Vedas. Which is also called "dasha-samskara", the final of which is "Anteshti-samskar", of which Shradh is one of the rituals.
Shradh is a word derived from Sanskrit root श्रद्धा, which means to have faith, thus Shradh is an action or obligatory ritual, which is done to help the deceased get a new body, or get a path of deliverance from their pain. Shradh is an offering done unto lord Vishnu, who in the form of Aryaman, accepts the share of offerings, on behalf of the pitru.
It is explained in thescriptures :
_padodakena devasya_
_ye kuryuh pitr-tarpanam_
_nAsurAnAm bhayam_ _tasya_
_preta-janyam ca_ _raksasam_
_na rogasya bhayam_ _caivan_
_asti vighna-krtam_ _bhayam_
_na dusta naiva_ _ghoraksah_
_svapa-dottha-bhayam na_ _hi_
The drinking of Lord Hari's charanamrita amounts to offering oblations to the forefathers; removes the fear of demons, ghosts and Rakshasas; and destroys diseases, obstacles, and the fear of poisonous snakes and wild animals. (Haribhaktivilasa 9.41-42)
Nowadays, shradh too have taken a form of festivity, with social entertainment, but that is only degradation of the ritual. Infact there is a ritual in shradh, that even a bell should not be rung while one is performing the shradh ritual; unfortunately the Shradh has now become a ceremony of music, & flaunting of white colour clothes, exactly opposite of what the ritual in reality is meant for.
We can help our pitru get a higher destination, by offering them food offered to the deity Vishnu, also praying to Aryaman, & following the traditional customs of shradh.
Ithi swasti Sri .
The above knowledge has been taken from various vedic literature, with Srimad Bhagavatam and Garuda purana as it's main base.
🙏🙏🙏🙏
Hiranyanayan
