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== पितृयानम् || Pitruyana (Path to the Realm of Pitrus) ==

== पितृयानम् || Pitruyana (Path to the Realm of Pitrus) ==

[[File:Pitruyanam upwards-page-001.jpg|thumb|538x538px|'''पितृयानमार्गः ।''']]

[[File:Pitruyanam upwards-page-001.jpg|thumb|538x538px|'''पितृयानमार्गः ।''']]

People unable to live a adhyatmik life, a life of meditation, having no knowledge whatsoever of the higher truths of life, yet have done पुण्यकर्माणि ॥ punya karmas (good deeds) in this world, with सात्विक ॥ satvika thoughts, deeds and charities, दानगुणः ॥ danaguna and who are परहितचिन्तकाः ॥ parahitachintaka (ie.who think of the welfare of others), accumulate the merits equivalent to that obtained by performing great yajnas. Such good people by means of virtue do not go along the path of light. Rather, they go along the Southern Path of Return.<ref name=":4" />

People unable to live an adhyatmik life, a life of meditation, having no knowledge whatsoever of the higher truths of life, yet have done punya karmas (पुण्यकर्माणि | good deeds) in this world, with satvika thoughts (सात्विक), deeds and charities, danaguna (दानगुणः) and who are parahitachintaka (परहितचिन्तकाः | who think of the welfare of others), accumulate the merits equivalent to that obtained by performing great yajnas. Such good people by means of virtue do not go along the path of light. Rather, they go along the Southern Path of Return.<ref name=":4" />

They embark on another kind of life journey which involves discharging one’s functional responsibilities or [[dharma]] and fulfilling material desires with no direction towards acquiring Brahmavidya and then eventually death. This is called धूममार्गः ॥ dhuma marga (the path of smoke) or दक्षिणयानपथः ॥ dakshinayana-patha (the Southern movements) which is, again, presided over by divinities as described in Chandogya Upanishad<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>अथ य इमे ग्राम इष्टापूर्ते दत्तमित्युपासते ते धूममभिसम्भवन्ति धूमाद्रात्रिँ रात्रेरपरपक्षमपरपक्षाद्यान्षड्दक्षिणैति मासाँस्तान्नैते संवत्सरमभिप्राप्नुवन्ति ॥ ३ ॥(Chan. Upan. 5.10.3)</blockquote><blockquote>atha ya ime grāma iṣṭāpūrte dattamityupāsate te dhūmamabhisambhavanti dhūmādrātrim̐ rātreraparapakṣamaparapakṣādyānṣaḍdakṣiṇaiti māsām̐stānnaite saṃvatsaramabhiprāpnuvanti ॥ 3 ॥(Chan. Upan. 5.10.3) </blockquote><blockquote>मासेभ्यः पितृलोकं पितृलोकादाकाशमाकाशाच्चन्द्रमसमेष सोमो राजा तद्देवानामन्नं तं देवा भक्षयन्ति ॥ ४ ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.4)</blockquote><blockquote>māsebhyaḥ pitṛlokaṃ pitṛlokādākāśamākāśāccandramasameṣa somo rājā taddevānāmannaṃ taṃ devā bhakṣayanti ॥ 4 ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.4)</blockquote>This path can be summarized as follows<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" />.   

They embark on another kind of life journey which involves discharging one’s functional responsibilities or [[dharma]] and fulfilling material desires with no direction towards acquiring Brahmavidya and then eventually death. This is called dhuma marga (धूममार्गः | the path of smoke) or dakshinayana-patha (दक्षिणयानपथः | the Southern movements) which is, again, presided over by divinities as described in Chandogya Upanishad<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>अथ य इमे ग्राम इष्टापूर्ते दत्तमित्युपासते ते धूममभिसम्भवन्ति धूमाद्रात्रिँ रात्रेरपरपक्षमपरपक्षाद्यान्षड्दक्षिणैति मासाँस्तान्नैते संवत्सरमभिप्राप्नुवन्ति ॥ ३ ॥(Chan. Upan. 5.10.3)</blockquote><blockquote>atha ya ime grāma iṣṭāpūrte dattamityupāsate te dhūmamabhisambhavanti dhūmādrātrim̐ rātreraparapakṣamaparapakṣādyānṣaḍdakṣiṇaiti māsām̐stānnaite saṃvatsaramabhiprāpnuvanti ॥ 3 ॥(Chan. Upan. 5.10.3) </blockquote><blockquote>मासेभ्यः पितृलोकं पितृलोकादाकाशमाकाशाच्चन्द्रमसमेष सोमो राजा तद्देवानामन्नं तं देवा भक्षयन्ति ॥ ४ ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.4)</blockquote><blockquote>māsebhyaḥ pitṛlokaṃ pitṛlokādākāśamākāśāccandramasameṣa somo rājā taddevānāmannaṃ taṃ devā bhakṣayanti ॥ 4 ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.4)</blockquote>This path can be summarized as follows<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" />.   

* Those living in the villages, perform deeds of dharma, works of public utility. Such sadhakas during Utkramana time are received by the smoke (वायुदेवताः ॥ vayu devatas). From there they continue their journey at night time.  

* Those living in the villages, perform deeds of dharma, works of public utility. Such sadhakas during Utkramana time are received by the smoke (वायुदेवताः ॥ vayu devatas). From there they continue their journey at night time.  

* Such an atma moves to the realm of the कृष्णपक्षः || krsnapaksha (dark half of the lunar month) and then onto the southern direction. From here they do not go to the realm of the Samvatsara devatas but move in a different direction.  

* Such an atma moves to the realm of the krsnapaksha (कृष्णपक्षः | dark half of the lunar month) and then onto the southern direction. From here they do not go to the realm of the Samvatsara devatas but move in a different direction.  

* The Atma reaches the dhumabhimani (vayu devatas). Without seeing the संवत्सर-देवताः || samvatsara devata, they reach the पितृलोकः || Pitru loka (realm of the ancestors) instead of the आदित्यलोकः ॥ Aditya loka.  

* The Atma reaches the dhumabhimani (vayu devatas). Without seeing the samvatsara devata (संवत्सर-देवताः), they reach the Pitru loka (पितृलोकः | realm of the ancestors) instead of the Aditya loka (आदित्यलोकः).  

* Then it moves to the आकाशः || Akasha (Sky) and eventually reach सोमः || soma (Moon or the grain of the devatas). Soma is the king, that is the food of the devatas.

* Then it moves to the Akasha (आकाशः | Sky) and eventually reach soma (सोमः | Moon or the grain of the devatas). Soma is the Raja, that is the food of the devatas.

[[File:Pritruyana.jpg|left|thumb|706x706px|'''''Pitruyana Marg : The Jivatma (soul) returning to the earth follows the above path.''''']]

[[File:Pritruyana.jpg|left|thumb|706x706px|'''''Pitruyana Marg : The Jivatma (soul) returning to the earth follows the above path.''''']]

<blockquote>तस्मिन्यवात्संपातमुषित्वाथैतमेवाध्वानं पुनर्निवर्तन्ते यथेतमाकाशमाकाशाद्वायुं वायुर्भूत्वा धूमो भवति धूमो भूत्वाऽभ्रं भवति ॥ ५ ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.5)</blockquote><blockquote>tasminyavātsaṃpātamuṣitvāthaitamevādhvānaṃ punarnivartante yathetamākāśamākāśādvāyuṃ vāyurbhūtvā dhūmo bhavati dhūmo bhūtvā'bhraṃ bhavati ॥ 5 ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.5)</blockquote><blockquote>अभ्रं भूत्वा मेघो भवति मेघो भूत्वा प्रवर्षति त इह व्रीहियवा ओषधिवनस्पतयस्तिलमाषा इति जायन्तेऽतो वै खलु दुर्निष्प्रपतरं यो यो ह्यन्नमत्ति यो रेतः सिञ्चति तद्भूय एव भवति ॥ ६ ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.6)</blockquote><blockquote>abhraṃ bhūtvā megho bhavati megho bhūtvā pravarṣati ta iha vrīhiyavā oṣadhivanaspatayastilamāṣā iti jāyante'to vai khalu durniṣprapataraṃ yo yo hyannamatti yo retaḥ siñcati tadbhūya eva bhavati ॥ 6 ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.6)</blockquote>

<blockquote>तस्मिन्यवात्संपातमुषित्वाथैतमेवाध्वानं पुनर्निवर्तन्ते यथेतमाकाशमाकाशाद्वायुं वायुर्भूत्वा धूमो भवति धूमो भूत्वाऽभ्रं भवति ॥ ५ ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.5)</blockquote><blockquote>tasminyavātsaṃpātamuṣitvāthaitamevādhvānaṃ punarnivartante yathetamākāśamākāśādvāyuṃ vāyurbhūtvā dhūmo bhavati dhūmo bhūtvā'bhraṃ bhavati ॥ 5 ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.5)</blockquote><blockquote>अभ्रं भूत्वा मेघो भवति मेघो भूत्वा प्रवर्षति त इह व्रीहियवा ओषधिवनस्पतयस्तिलमाषा इति जायन्तेऽतो वै खलु दुर्निष्प्रपतरं यो यो ह्यन्नमत्ति यो रेतः सिञ्चति तद्भूय एव भवति ॥ ६ ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.6)</blockquote><blockquote>abhraṃ bhūtvā megho bhavati megho bhūtvā pravarṣati ta iha vrīhiyavā oṣadhivanaspatayastilamāṣā iti jāyante'to vai khalu durniṣprapataraṃ yo yo hyannamatti yo retaḥ siñcati tadbhūya eva bhavati ॥ 6 ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.6)</blockquote>

* They dwell there (in the realm of Moon) till their karma is exhausted and these atmans come back to पृथ्वीलोकः || Prthvi loka using the same path that they had used to go up, through the Akasha, Vayu, Smoke, Cloud and Rain.

* They dwell there (in the realm of Moon) till their karma is exhausted and these atmans come back to Prthvi loka (पृथ्वीलोकः) using the same path that they had used to go up, through the Akasha, Vayu, Smoke, Cloud and Rain.

* Determined by one’s कर्म || karma, they are reborn embodied through  औषधाः || medicinal herbs / varieties of roots, वृक्षः || vrksha (tree) form, अन्नम् || anna (rice, barley, wheat, sesame) which when consumed by man forms the पुरुषबीजः || Purusha beeja (Semen) and then through स्त्रीगर्भः || Stree garbha (Womb of a woman) takes rebirth on the earth.

* Determined by one’s karma (कर्म), they are reborn embodied through  medicinal herbs / varieties of roots (औषधाः), vrksha (वृक्षः | tree) form, anna (अन्नम् | rice, barley, wheat, sesame) which when consumed by man forms the Purusha beeja (पुरुषबीजः | Semen) and then through Stree garbha (स्त्रीगर्भः | Womb of a woman) takes rebirth on the earth.

<blockquote>तद्य इह रमणीयचरणा अभ्याशो ह यत्ते रमणीयां योनिमापद्येरन्ब्राह्मणयोनिं वा क्षत्रिययोनिं वा वैश्ययोनिं वाथ य इह कपूयचरणा अभ्याशो ह यत्ते कपूयां योनिमापद्येरन् श्वयोनिं वा सूकरयोनिं वा चण्डालयोनिं वा ॥७॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.7)</blockquote><blockquote>tadya iha ramaṇīyacaraṇā abhyāśo ha yatte ramaṇīyāṃ yonimāpadyeranbrāhmaṇayoniṃ vā kṣatriyayoniṃ vā vaiśyayoniṃ vātha ya iha kapūyacaraṇā abhyāśo ha yatte kapūyāṃ yonimāpadyeran śvayoniṃ vā sūkarayoniṃ vā caṇḍālayoniṃ vā ॥7॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.7)</blockquote>Meaning : By the power of धर्मः || dharma, कर्म || karma (दैवम् || daiva) and good conduct, through these grains, atmas accept the wombs according to a definite principle and may be born either as a ब्राह्मणः || brahmana, क्षत्रियः || kshatriya or वैश्यः || vaishya. Such pious people are called as रमणीयचरणाः || ramaniya charana.  

 

The Chandogya Upanishad further explains,<blockquote>तद्य इह रमणीयचरणा अभ्याशो ह यत्ते रमणीयां योनिमापद्येरन्ब्राह्मणयोनिं वा क्षत्रिययोनिं वा वैश्ययोनिं वाथ य इह कपूयचरणा अभ्याशो ह यत्ते कपूयां योनिमापद्येरन् श्वयोनिं वा सूकरयोनिं वा चण्डालयोनिं वा ॥७॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.7)</blockquote><blockquote>tadya iha ramaṇīyacaraṇā abhyāśo ha yatte ramaṇīyāṃ yonimāpadyeranbrāhmaṇayoniṃ vā kṣatriyayoniṃ vā vaiśyayoniṃ vātha ya iha kapūyacaraṇā abhyāśo ha yatte kapūyāṃ yonimāpadyeran śvayoniṃ vā sūkarayoniṃ vā caṇḍālayoniṃ vā ॥7॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.7)</blockquote>Meaning : By the power of धर्मः || dharma, कर्म || karma (दैवम् || daiva) and good conduct, through these grains, atmas accept the wombs according to a definite principle and may be born either as a ब्राह्मणः || brahmana, क्षत्रियः || kshatriya or वैश्यः || vaishya. Such pious people are called as रमणीयचरणाः || ramaniya charana.  

If however their accumulated papa (पापम्) during the human birth is high, then they could become  dog, pig or a चाण्डालः || chandala (outcaste). Thus, those atmas who are attached to worldly pleasures but do not do things prohibited by Vedas attain Pitruloka.  After enjoying all the accrued punya there, they return back to earth through the Pitruyana marg.  <blockquote>अथैतयोः पथोर्न कतरेण च न तानीमानि क्षुद्राण्यसकृदावर्तीनि भूतानि भवन्ति जायस्व म्रियस्वेत्येतत्तृतीयँस्थानं तेनासौ लोको न सम्पूर्यते तस्माज्जुगुप्सेत तदेष श्लोकः ॥ ८ ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.8)</blockquote><blockquote>athaitayoḥ pathorna katareṇa ca na tānīmāni kṣudrāṇyasakṛdāvartīni bhūtāni bhavanti jāyasva mriyasvetyetattṛtīyam̐sthānaṃ tenāsau loko na sampūryate tasmājjugupseta tadeṣa ślokaḥ ॥ 8 ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.8)</blockquote>The jivatma of one who does not follow the injunctions of shastras are involved in पापोपासना ॥ papopasana. Leading a wayward life, they do not attain the higher realms and do not traverse either of these paths, the देवयानम् and पितृयानम्. Such atmas are reborn time and again in the lower species of life owing to their great papa (पापम्) attaining a place called Trteeya. Therefore, Pitru loka is not filled all the time.   

If however their accumulated papa (पापम्) during the human birth is high, then they could become  dog, pig or a चाण्डालः || chandala (outcaste). Thus, those atmas who are attached to worldly pleasures but do not do things prohibited by Vedas attain Pitruloka.  After enjoying all the accrued punya there, they return back to earth through the Pitruyana marg.  <blockquote>अथैतयोः पथोर्न कतरेण च न तानीमानि क्षुद्राण्यसकृदावर्तीनि भूतानि भवन्ति जायस्व म्रियस्वेत्येतत्तृतीयँस्थानं तेनासौ लोको न सम्पूर्यते तस्माज्जुगुप्सेत तदेष श्लोकः ॥ ८ ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.8)</blockquote><blockquote>athaitayoḥ pathorna katareṇa ca na tānīmāni kṣudrāṇyasakṛdāvartīni bhūtāni bhavanti jāyasva mriyasvetyetattṛtīyam̐sthānaṃ tenāsau loko na sampūryate tasmājjugupseta tadeṣa ślokaḥ ॥ 8 ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.8)</blockquote>The jivatma of one who does not follow the injunctions of shastras are involved in पापोपासना ॥ papopasana. Leading a wayward life, they do not attain the higher realms and do not traverse either of these paths, the देवयानम् and पितृयानम्. Such atmas are reborn time and again in the lower species of life owing to their great papa (पापम्) attaining a place called Trteeya. Therefore, Pitru loka is not filled all the time.