Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.420

c5.420

DEVAŚARMĀ V. A Brahmin, who used to perform rites for the dead at the confluence of the sea every fortnight. On every such occasion souls of the departed used to appear and bless him. Once Devaśarman went to Pitṛloka with his pitṛs, and he got restless and sorry to find other pitṛs living in greater comfort than the pitṛs of his parents. When he was told that the better fate of the other pitṛs was due to their sons performing Śrāddha at Mahīsāgarasaṅgama he returned to earth and with the help of other people did Śrāddha at the saṅgamaand thus raised the condition of his pitṛs. (Skandha Purāṇa. Skandhas 1, 2 and 3).