Line 2: |
Line 2: |
| | | |
| == परिचयः ॥ Introduction == | | == परिचयः ॥ Introduction == |
− | It is said that, the sages, forefathers, gods, Bhutas, and guests look up to the householders for offerings and gifts that help them sustain. Hence, he who knows this, must give to them what is their due.<blockquote>ऋषयः पितरो देवा भूतान्यतिथयस्तथा । आशासते कुटुम्बिभ्यस्तेभ्यः कार्यं विजानता ॥ ३.८० ॥<ref name=":0">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 3]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>r̥ṣayaḥ pitaro devā bhūtānyatithayastathā । āśāsate kuṭumbibhyastebhyaḥ kāryaṁ vijānatā ॥ 3.80 ॥</blockquote>And the forefathers are to be worshiped by funeral offerings or Shraddha. पितॄञ् श्राद्धैश्च | pitr̥̄ñ śrāddhaiśca | (Manu 3.81)<ref name=":0" /> Infact, for dvijas (brahmanas), the rite in honour of the ancestors is more important than the rite in honour of the gods; for the offering to the gods which precedes (the Shraddhas), has been declared to be a means of fortifying (the latter).<ref name=":2">Pt. Sri Rama Ramanuja Acharya, [http://www.srimatham.com/uploads/5/5/4/9/5549439/manu_for_modern_times.pdf The Laws of Manu for the 21st Century], srimatham.com </ref><blockquote>दैवकार्याद्द्विजातीनां पितृकार्यं विशिष्यते । दैवं हि पितृकार्यस्य पूर्वं आप्यायनं स्मृतम् || ३.२०३ ||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>daivakāryāddvijātīnāṁ pitr̥kāryaṁ viśiṣyate । daivaṁ hi pitr̥kāryasya pūrvaṁ āpyāyanaṁ smr̥tam || 3.203 ||</blockquote> | + | It is said that, the sages, forefathers, gods, bhutas (भूत-s), and guests look up to the householders for offerings and gifts that help them sustain. Hence, he who knows this, must give to them what is their due.<blockquote>ऋषयः पितरो देवा भूतान्यतिथयस्तथा । आशासते कुटुम्बिभ्यस्तेभ्यः कार्यं विजानता ॥ ३.८० ॥<ref name=":0">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 3]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>r̥ṣayaḥ pitaro devā bhūtānyatithayastathā । āśāsate kuṭumbibhyastebhyaḥ kāryaṁ vijānatā ॥ 3.80 ॥</blockquote>And the forefathers are to be worshiped by funeral offerings or Shraddha. पितॄञ् श्राद्धैश्च | pitr̥̄ñ śrāddhaiśca | (Manu 3.81)<ref name=":0" /> In fact, for dvijas (brahmanas), the rite in honour of the ancestors is more important than the rite in honour of the gods; for the offering to the gods which precedes the Shraddhas, has been declared to be a means of fortifying the latter.<ref name=":2">Pt. Sri Rama Ramanuja Acharya, [http://www.srimatham.com/uploads/5/5/4/9/5549439/manu_for_modern_times.pdf The Laws of Manu for the 21st Century], srimatham.com </ref><blockquote>दैवकार्याद्द्विजातीनां पितृकार्यं विशिष्यते । दैवं हि पितृकार्यस्य पूर्वं आप्यायनं स्मृतम् || ३.२०३ ||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>daivakāryāddvijātīnāṁ pitr̥kāryaṁ viśiṣyate । daivaṁ hi pitr̥kāryasya pūrvaṁ āpyāyanaṁ smr̥tam || 3.203 ||</blockquote> |
| | | |
| == पितृवंशः ॥ The Clan of Ancestors == | | == पितृवंशः ॥ The Clan of Ancestors == |
Line 8: |
Line 8: |
| Manusmrti talks about the lineage of ancestors leading upto the origin of human clan. | | Manusmrti talks about the lineage of ancestors leading upto the origin of human clan. |
| | | |
− | According to Manusmrti, there are various lineages of forefathers. They are the sons of sages like Marichi who are children of Manu, the son of Hiranyagarbha (Manu Smrt. 3.194). So, from the sages like Marichi came the forefathers, from the forefathers the Devatas and Manavas. From the Devatas, the whole world, both the movable and the immovable came into existence (Manu Smrt. 3.201).<ref name=":1">Pt. Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/ManusmrtiHindiTranslationGirijaPrasadDvivediNavalKishore The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Naval Kishore Press.</ref> <blockquote>मनोर्हैरण्यगर्भस्य ये मरीच्यादयः सुताः । तेषां ऋषीणां सर्वेषां पुत्राः पितृगणाः स्मृताः || ३.१९४ ||</blockquote><blockquote>ऋषिभ्यः पितरो जाताः पितृभ्यो देवमानवाः । देवेभ्यस्तु जगत्सर्वं चरं स्थाण्वनुपूर्वशः || ३.२०१ ||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>manorhairaṇyagarbhasya ye marīcyādayaḥ sutāḥ । teṣāṁ r̥ṣīṇāṁ sarveṣāṁ putrāḥ pitr̥gaṇāḥ smr̥tāḥ || 3.194 ||</blockquote><blockquote>r̥ṣibhyaḥ pitaro jātāḥ pitr̥bhyo devamānavāḥ । devebhyastu jagatsarvaṁ caraṁ sthāṇvanupūrvaśaḥ || 3.201 ||</blockquote>The Vedas call fathers as Vasus, grandfathers as Rudras, and the great-grandfathers as Adityas.<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>वसून्वदन्ति तु पितॄन्रुद्रांश्चैव पितामहान् । प्रपितामहांस्तथादित्यान्श्रुतिरेषा सनातनी || ३.२८४ ||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>vasūnvadanti tu pitr̥̄nrudrāṁścaiva pitāmahān । prapitāmahāṁstathādityānśrutireṣā sanātanī || 3.284 ||</blockquote>It says, <blockquote>विराट्सुताः सोमसदः साध्यानां पितरः स्मृताः । अग्निष्वात्ताश्च देवानां मारीचा लोकविश्रुताः || ३.१९५ ||</blockquote><blockquote>दैत्यदानवयक्षाणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् । सुपर्णकिन्नराणां च स्मृता बर्हिषदोऽत्रिजाः || ३.१९६ ||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>virāṭsutāḥ somasadaḥ sādhyānāṁ pitaraḥ smr̥tāḥ । agniṣvāttāśca devānāṁ mārīcā lokaviśrutāḥ || 3.195 ||</blockquote><blockquote>daityadānavayakṣāṇāṁ gandharvoragarakṣasām । suparṇakinnarāṇāṁ ca smr̥tā barhiṣado'trijāḥ || 3.196 ||</blockquote>Meaning: Somasads, the sons of Virat, are the forefathers of the Sadhyas, and the Agnishvattas, children of Marichi, are known as the forefathers of the gods (Manu Smrt. 3.195). The Barhishads, born of Atri, are the forefathers of the Daityas, Danavas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Snake-deities, birds and Kinnaras (Manu Smrt. 3.196)<ref name=":1" />[[File:Pitr vamsha-page-001.jpg|thumb|500x500px|left]] | + | According to Manusmrti, there are various lineages of forefathers. They are the sons of sages like Marichi who are children of Manu, the son of Hiranyagarbha. So, from the sages like Marichi came the forefathers, from the forefathers the Devatas and Manavas. From the Devatas, the whole world, both the movable and the immovable came into existence (Manu Smrt. 3.194 and 201).<ref name=":1">Pt. Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/ManusmrtiHindiTranslationGirijaPrasadDvivediNavalKishore The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Naval Kishore Press.</ref> <blockquote>मनोर्हैरण्यगर्भस्य ये मरीच्यादयः सुताः । तेषां ऋषीणां सर्वेषां पुत्राः पितृगणाः स्मृताः || ३.१९४ ||</blockquote><blockquote>ऋषिभ्यः पितरो जाताः पितृभ्यो देवमानवाः । देवेभ्यस्तु जगत्सर्वं चरं स्थाण्वनुपूर्वशः || ३.२०१ ||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>manorhairaṇyagarbhasya ye marīcyādayaḥ sutāḥ । teṣāṁ r̥ṣīṇāṁ sarveṣāṁ putrāḥ pitr̥gaṇāḥ smr̥tāḥ || 3.194 ||</blockquote><blockquote>r̥ṣibhyaḥ pitaro jātāḥ pitr̥bhyo devamānavāḥ । devebhyastu jagatsarvaṁ caraṁ sthāṇvanupūrvaśaḥ || 3.201 ||</blockquote>The Vedas call fathers as Vasus, grandfathers as Rudras, and the great-grandfathers as Adityas.<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>वसून्वदन्ति तु पितॄन्रुद्रांश्चैव पितामहान् । प्रपितामहांस्तथादित्यान्श्रुतिरेषा सनातनी || ३.२८४ ||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>vasūnvadanti tu pitr̥̄nrudrāṁścaiva pitāmahān । prapitāmahāṁstathādityānśrutireṣā sanātanī || 3.284 ||</blockquote>It says, <blockquote>विराट्सुताः सोमसदः साध्यानां पितरः स्मृताः । अग्निष्वात्ताश्च देवानां मारीचा लोकविश्रुताः || ३.१९५ ||</blockquote><blockquote>दैत्यदानवयक्षाणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् । सुपर्णकिन्नराणां च स्मृता बर्हिषदोऽत्रिजाः || ३.१९६ ||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>virāṭsutāḥ somasadaḥ sādhyānāṁ pitaraḥ smr̥tāḥ । agniṣvāttāśca devānāṁ mārīcā lokaviśrutāḥ || 3.195 ||</blockquote><blockquote>daityadānavayakṣāṇāṁ gandharvoragarakṣasām । suparṇakinnarāṇāṁ ca smr̥tā barhiṣado'trijāḥ || 3.196 ||</blockquote>Meaning: Somasads, the sons of Virat, are the forefathers of the Sadhyas, and the Agnishvattas, children of Marichi, are known as the forefathers of the gods (Manu Smrt. 3.195). The Barhishads, born of Atri, are the forefathers of the Daityas, Danavas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Snake-deities, birds and Kinnaras (Manu Smrt. 3.196)<ref name=":1" />[[File:Pitr vamsha-page-001.jpg|thumb|500x500px|left]] |
| | | |
| The Manusmrti also elborates the lineage of ancestores of each of the four Varnas. | | The Manusmrti also elborates the lineage of ancestores of each of the four Varnas. |
Line 14: |
Line 14: |
| It says, <blockquote>सोमपा नाम विप्राणां क्षत्रियाणां हविर्भुजः । वैश्यानां आज्यपा नाम शूद्राणां तु सुकालिनः || ३.१९७ ||</blockquote><blockquote>सोमपास्तु कवेः पुत्रा हविष्मन्तोऽङ्गिरःसुताः । पुलस्त्यस्याज्यपाः पुत्रा वसिष्ठस्य सुकालिनः || ३.१९८ ||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>somapā nāma viprāṇāṁ kṣatriyāṇāṁ havirbhujaḥ । vaiśyānāṁ ājyapā nāma śūdrāṇāṁ tu sukālinaḥ || 3.197 ||</blockquote><blockquote>somapāstu kaveḥ putrā haviṣmanto'ṅgiraḥsutāḥ । pulastyasyājyapāḥ putrā vasiṣṭhasya sukālinaḥ || 3.198 ||</blockquote>Meaning : The Somapas are forefathers of the Brahmanas, the Havirbhujs are of the Kshatriyas, the Ajyapas are of the Vaishyas and the Sukalins are of the Shudras. The Somapas are the sons of Bhrigu, the Havishmantas are the children of Angira, the Ajyapas are the offspring of Pulastya and the Sukalins are the progeny of Vasishtha (Manu Smrt. 3.197 and 3.198). | | It says, <blockquote>सोमपा नाम विप्राणां क्षत्रियाणां हविर्भुजः । वैश्यानां आज्यपा नाम शूद्राणां तु सुकालिनः || ३.१९७ ||</blockquote><blockquote>सोमपास्तु कवेः पुत्रा हविष्मन्तोऽङ्गिरःसुताः । पुलस्त्यस्याज्यपाः पुत्रा वसिष्ठस्य सुकालिनः || ३.१९८ ||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>somapā nāma viprāṇāṁ kṣatriyāṇāṁ havirbhujaḥ । vaiśyānāṁ ājyapā nāma śūdrāṇāṁ tu sukālinaḥ || 3.197 ||</blockquote><blockquote>somapāstu kaveḥ putrā haviṣmanto'ṅgiraḥsutāḥ । pulastyasyājyapāḥ putrā vasiṣṭhasya sukālinaḥ || 3.198 ||</blockquote>Meaning : The Somapas are forefathers of the Brahmanas, the Havirbhujs are of the Kshatriyas, the Ajyapas are of the Vaishyas and the Sukalins are of the Shudras. The Somapas are the sons of Bhrigu, the Havishmantas are the children of Angira, the Ajyapas are the offspring of Pulastya and the Sukalins are the progeny of Vasishtha (Manu Smrt. 3.197 and 3.198). |
| | | |
− | It further says that the Agnidagdhas, the Anagnidagdhas, the Kavyas, the Barhishads, the Agnishvattas, and the Saumyas, are the forefathers of the Brahmanas (Manu Smrt. 3.199) These are some of the clans of forefathers and there exist in this world countless sons and grandsons of these forefathers. (Manu Smrt. 3.200).<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>अग्निदग्धानग्निदग्धान्काव्यान्बर्हिषदस्तथा । अग्निष्वात्तांश्च सौम्यांश्च विप्राणां एव निर्दिशेत् || ३.१९९ ||</blockquote><blockquote>य एते तु गणा मुख्याः पितॄणां परिकीर्तिताः । तेषां अपीह विज्ञेयं पुत्रपौत्रं अनन्तकम् || ३.२०० ||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>agnidagdhānagnidagdhānkāvyānbarhiṣadastathā । agniṣvāttāṁśca saumyāṁśca viprāṇāṁ eva nirdiśet || 3.199 ||</blockquote><blockquote>ya ete tu gaṇā mukhyāḥ pitr̥̄ṇāṁ parikīrtitāḥ । teṣāṁ apīha vijñeyaṁ putrapautraṁ anantakam || 3.200 ||</blockquote> | + | It further says that the Agnidagdhas, the Anagnidagdhas, the Kavyas, the Barhishads, the Agnishvattas, and the Saumyas, are the forefathers of the Brahmanas (Manu Smrt. 3.199) And that, these are some of the clans of forefathers and there exist in this world countless sons and grandsons of these forefathers. (Manu Smrt. 3.200).<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>अग्निदग्धानग्निदग्धान्काव्यान्बर्हिषदस्तथा । अग्निष्वात्तांश्च सौम्यांश्च विप्राणां एव निर्दिशेत् || ३.१९९ ||</blockquote><blockquote>य एते तु गणा मुख्याः पितॄणां परिकीर्तिताः । तेषां अपीह विज्ञेयं पुत्रपौत्रं अनन्तकम् || ३.२०० ||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>agnidagdhānagnidagdhānkāvyānbarhiṣadastathā । agniṣvāttāṁśca saumyāṁśca viprāṇāṁ eva nirdiśet || 3.199 ||</blockquote><blockquote>ya ete tu gaṇā mukhyāḥ pitr̥̄ṇāṁ parikīrtitāḥ । teṣāṁ apīha vijñeyaṁ putrapautraṁ anantakam || 3.200 ||</blockquote> |
| | | |
| == श्राद्धकर्ता ॥ Shraddha Karta == | | == श्राद्धकर्ता ॥ Shraddha Karta == |
− | Manusmrti says, an agnihotri brahmana, having completed the Pitruyajna on a new moon day, should offer Pindanvaharya Shraddha (the funeral sacrifice) every month (Manu Smrt. 3.122).<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>पितृयज्ञं तु निर्वर्त्य विप्रश्चन्द्रक्षयेऽग्निमान् । पिण्डान्वाहार्यकं श्राद्धं कुर्यान्मासानुमासिकम् ॥ ३.१२२ ॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>pitr̥yajñaṁ tu nirvartya vipraścandrakṣaye'gnimān । piṇḍānvāhāryakaṁ śrāddhaṁ kuryānmāsānumāsikam ॥ 3.122 ॥</blockquote> | + | Manusmrti says, an agnihotri brahmana, having completed the Pitruyajna on a new moon day, should offer Pindanvaharya Shraddha (पिण्डान्वाहार्य-श्राद्धम् । the funeral sacrifice) every month (Manu Smrt. 3.122).<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>पितृयज्ञं तु निर्वर्त्य विप्रश्चन्द्रक्षयेऽग्निमान् । पिण्डान्वाहार्यकं श्राद्धं कुर्यान्मासानुमासिकम् ॥ ३.१२२ ॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>pitr̥yajñaṁ tu nirvartya vipraścandrakṣaye'gnimān । piṇḍānvāhāryakaṁ śrāddhaṁ kuryānmāsānumāsikam ॥ 3.122 ॥</blockquote> |
| | | |
| == श्राद्धसमयः ॥ Appropriate time for Shraddha == | | == श्राद्धसमयः ॥ Appropriate time for Shraddha == |