History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c72.31

v5.c72.31

⁴³⁷ The words 'devayāna' and 'pitṛyāna' are a legacy from the hoary past. Even in the Ṛg. there are frequent references to them. In Ṛg III. 58 5 the Aśvins are addressed a prayer 'may you come here (to this sacrifice) by the paths leading to the abode of the gods' (eha yātaṁ pathibhirdevayānaiḥ). Ṛg. VII 38 8 also has a similar idea 'may you, being gratified, go by the devayāna paths' (tṛptā yātaṁ pathibhir-devayānaiḥ). In Ṛg- VII 76.2 (addressed to Uṣas) the sage Vasiṣṭha exclaims that he has seen the Devayāna paths when the dawn shone in the East (pra me panthā devayānā adṛśran). Agni is asked to make the devayāna paths easily accessible and to carry the offerings in a pleased mood (Ṛg. X 51.5, sugān pathaḥ kṛṇuhi devayānān vaha havyāni sumanasyamānaḥ) Ṛg. X 98 11 describes Agni as knowing the devayāna paths according to the seasons and a prayer is offered to him to place Aulāna (son of Śaṁtanu) in heaven among the gods (vidvān patha ṛtuśo devayānān-apyaulānaṁ divi deveṣu dhehi). In Ṛg. X 18.1 it is stated that the path of Death is different from devayāna (paraṁ mṛtyo anu parehi panthāṁ yaste sva itaro devayānāt). In Ṛg X 2.7 Agni is said to know the pitṛyāna path (panthāmanu pra vidvān pitṛyāṇam). In the Tai. Br II 6 3 5 it is said 'I have heard of two paths of the Fathers; I have heard about the paths of the gods and mortals' (dve srutī aśṛṇavaṁ pitṝṇām ahaṁ devānām-uta martyānām). The Śat Br. I 9.3 2 remarks 'this is the path called Devayāna or Pitṛyāna.' In the Bṛ. Up. I.5.16 it is said 'there are indeed three worlds, viz. the world of men, the world of *pitṛs* and the world of gods'.