History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.52

v5.c73.52

In the post-Vedic literature, particularly in the Purāṇas, a great deal is said about the origin and classes of pitṛs. For example, the Vāyupurāṇa 56. 18 speaks of three classes of pitṛs viz 'kavyāḥ, barhiṣadaḥ and agniṣvāttāḥ', while the same Purāṇa, chap. 73, Varāha 13. 16 ff, Padma (Sṛṣṭi 9. 2-4) and Brahmāṇḍa III. 10 1 speak of the origin of pitṛs of seven classes that dwell in heaven, four of which have a form (*mūrtimat*) and three of which are without form (*amūrta*). The Śātātapa-smṛti (6. 5-6) speaks of 12 pitṛs viz. piṇḍabhājaḥ, lepabhājaḥ, nāndīmukhāḥ and aśrumukhāḥ. All such descriptions have to be passed over from considerations of space.