History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.20

v5.c73.20

The word '*pitṛ*' means 'father', but the word '*pitarah*' is used in two senses, viz. (1) a man's three immediate deceased ancestors, (2) the early or ancient ancestors of the human race that were supposed to inhabit a separate world (*loka*) by themselves.⁷⁶² For this second meaning, vide Ṛg. X 14. 2 and 7, X.15.2 (translated above pp. 191–92, 194) and Ṛg. IX.97.39.762a 'That Soma which becomes stronger and stronger and makes others strong, that is strained through a strainer, that flows in a stream, protected us by means of the luminary (the Sun)—that Soma with whose help our ancestors knowing the place (where the cows were kept concealed) and the higher regions, harassed the mountain for (the sake of recovering) the cows.' In Ṛg. X. 15 1 the *pitṛs* are said to be of three grades, lower, middling or higher. They are also said to be earlier and later ones (Ṛg. X. 15 2). They are all known to Agni, though all *pitṛs* are not known to their descendants (Ṛg. X. 15 13). The *pitṛs* are divided into several groups such as Aṅgirasas, Vairūpas, Atharvans, Bhṛgus, Navagvas and Daśagvas (Ṛg. X. 14. 5–6), the Aṅgirasas being particularly associated with Yama who is invoked to come to the sacrifice along with the Aṅgirasas (Ṛg. X. 14. 3–5). In Ṛg. I.⁷⁶³ 62. 2 it is said: 'through whose (Indra's) help our ancient ancestors (*pitaraḥ*), the Aṅgirasas, who sang his praises and who knew the place, found out the cows.' The *pitṛs* called Aṅgiras were, it appears, again subdivided into two classes viz. Navagva and Daśagva⁷⁶⁴ both of which words occur in Ṛg. I. 62 4, V. 39. 12 and X. 62. 6. In several passages the ancient fathers are identified with the seven sages⁷⁶⁵ as in Ṛg. IV. 42.8 and VI. 22. 2 and sometimes the Navagvas and Daśagvas also are said to be the seven sages (Ṛg I. 62 4). Aṅgirasas are said to be the sons of Agni (Ṛg. X. 62. 5) and also of Heaven (Ṛg. IV. 2. 15). The *pitṛs* are often said to regale themselves in the company of gods, particularly of Yama (Ṛg VII. 76. 4, X. 14 10, X. 15. 8-10) ⁷⁶⁶ The *pitṛs* are said to be fond of Soma drink (Ṛg. X. 15. 1 and 5, IX. 97 39), they lie down on kuśa grass (Ṛg X. 15.5), they come with Agni and Indra to partake of the offerings (Ṛg X. 15. 10 and X. 16. 12) and Agni is also said to carry the offerings to the *pitṛs* (Ṛg X. 15. 12). Fire is supposed to take the spirit of a cremated person to the *pitṛs* (Ṛg. X 16. 1-2, 5 = A. V. 18. 2. 10, Ṛg X. 17. 3). In later works also (e. g. in Mārk. chap. 45), Brahmā is supposed to have created in the beginning four classes viz. gods, asuras, pitṛs and human beings Vide also Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa, Prakriyā, chap. 8, and upodghāta chap. 9. 35 (ityete pitaro devā devāśca pitaraḥ punaḥ anyonyapitaro hyete).