Shraddha is a form of ancestor worship. It is based on the belief in after-death survival of the deceased ancestors and their residence in a particular region called Pitri-loka. It is an important topic and forms an integral part of Hindu Dharmashastra. This belief is pre-Vedic as it dates back to the Indo-Iranian period (vide S.B.E. IV, p. 262). Ancestor-worship was regarded essential for the continuation of one’s race and prosperity to one’s family. The Gruhya Sutras and old Smrutis like Manu and Yajnavalkya prescribe the procedure of Shraddha which is generally followed in Puranas such as A.P. 163.2-42, G.P.I-210, K.P. II. 22.20-62, N.P. Ch. 28., Bd.P. 2.3-Chs. 9-20.
1. After hearing this narrative of Suta, the knower of Atman, the Brahmanas, subsequently asked him as follows:
Shamshapayana said:
2. How was Bhavani who was formerly Sati, born for the second time? She was Dakshayani at first. How did she become Uma?
3. The king of mountains begot her of Mena, the daughter of Pitris. Who were these Pitris whose mental daughter was Mena?
4-5. (Who are the Pitris) whose grandson was Mainaka and whose grand-daughters were Uma, Ekaparna, Ekapatala and Ganga, the most excellent one among rivers as well as the eldest of them all? Even before this, all this has been already desired to be pointed out (by you). Please listen to all my requests.
6. Are there many Pitris?1 And then where do they stay? Welfare unto you. I wish to hear the great procedure of Shraddha.
1. Verses 6-13 record all questions, doubts etc. about the performance of Shraddha.
7. Whose sons are they (Pitris) remembered to be? How are they the Pitris? How were the Pitris born and whose sons were they? Of what nature are they?
8. Are there other Pitris who are deities (i.e. worthy of worship) unto the Devas in heaven? Thus, I wish to hear the excellent creation of Pitris and how the Shraddha performed by us (as per prescribed injunctions) propitiates Pitris.
9. What is regarded (in the Smrutis) as the reason of their being not visible? What types of Pitris stay in heaven and what types in hell?
10-11. What Shraddhas are to be offered (to Pitris)? How do these Shraddhas reach Pitris-the Shraddhas that are offered uttering the names of father, father’s father and great grandfathter against the three rice-balls (Pindas)? How are they (Pitris), if stationed in hell, competent to grant benefits?
12. Who are these called by the name Pitris? Whom shall we worship again? We have heard that even Devas in heaven worship Pitris.
13. O extremely learned one, we wish to hear this in detail. It behoves you to explain the significance of this clearly.
14. On hearing the words of the sages, Suta, the seer of reality, said in accordance with the questions and the desire in the minds of the sages.
Suta said:
15. I shall describe to you (in detail) what I have heard (regarding Shraddha), in accordance with my intellectual ability. In every Manvantara, Pitris are born as the sons of Devas.
16. In the past and the future Manvantaras, they are respectively the eldest and the youngest. I shall precisely recount the Pitris who have gone in the past Manvantaras along with Devas and who exist at present.
17. A Shraddha of the human beings is what is offered with faith. Brahma created Devas but they did not worship him. They forsook him and desirous of fruits for themselves created themselves * (?)
*Bd. P. 2.3.9.16 reads ayajan ‘They worshipped themselves (instead of god Brahma)’- a better reading than asrujan of our text.
18. They were cursed by Brahma “O deluded ones! You will all become devoid of sense.” They did not know anything. Then the whole world became deluded.
19. All of them bowed to god Brahma and implored him. In order to bless the worlds, the lord spoke to them again.
20. “Perform expiatory rites for the transgression which has been committed. Ask your sons and therefrom you will attain knowledge.”
21. Desirous of knowing (the procedure of) expiatory rites, Devas controlled themselves duly and asked their own sons mutually.
22. Those sons who were conversant with real Dharma and possessed self-control, explained to them the various modes of expiatory rites-verbal, mental and physical.
23. The heaven-dwellers who regained their senses became delighted and spoke to their sons- “You are our fathers (Pitris), since we are enlightened by you. What boon should be granted- virtue, knowledge or love?”.
24. Then Brahma spoke to them- “You are the speakers of truth. Hence, what is spoken by you shall be so and not otherwise.
25. This is what is uttered by you-your own sons have been mentioned by you as your Pitris (fathers). They will be your Pitris. Let this boon be given to them.”
26. On account of the words of Brahma, Paramehsthin, the sons (Pitris) attained the status of fathers (of Devas) and Devas, the real fathers, the status of sons.
27. Hence, it is declared (in Dharma-Shastra) that the sons (of Devas) are Pitris and the status of Pitri-hood is proclaimed about them.
After declaring in this manner that the fathers are the sons and the sons as Pitris (fathers), god Brahma addressed to them again for the development of their own selves.
28. “If anyone will perform any holy rite without worshipping Pitris in a Shraddha, Rakshasas and Danavas will obtain the fruit (good results) thereof.
29. The Pitris propitiated and developed by means of Shraddhas (develop) the imperishable Soma. Propitiated and developed by you all, they will always increase.
30. Soma (the Moon-god) strengthened and developed by means of Shraddhas, will develop the people and the entire world, along with mountains and forests surrounded (= inhabited) by mobile and immobile beings.
31. Those men, who, desirous of nourishment, perform Shraddhas are always granted development and progeny by Pitris.
32-33. Those (Pitris) to whom they (the performers of Shraddha) offer three balls of rice (Pindas) mentioning their names and Gotra up to great-grandfather, they (Pitris) who are present (everywhere), strengthen and develop their progeny by that offering of Shraddha.”
Such a behest has been declared formerly by the supreme god (Parameshthi) Brahma. It is by their grace that Dana (charitable gift), Adhyayana (Vedic Study) and Tapas (Penance) fructify.
34. There is no doubt in this that Pitris grant you perfect knowledge.
In this manner Pitris are Devas and Devas are Pitris. Devas and Pitris are reciprocally Pitris.1
1. Verses 20-34 explain the paradox why Pitris who were the sons of Devas became the fathers of their own fathers? Manu III. 201, however, differs and states that Pitris sprang from Sages and from Pits were born Devas (gods) and human beings.
35. After hearing these words of Suta possessing self knowledge, the sages asked him again subsequently:
The Sages said:
36. How many are the groups of these Pitris? At what time did those groups (come into existence)-Pitris who were the excellent ancestors of Devas and who developed and strengthened Soma? Suta said:
37. I shall recount to you the most excellent creation of Pitris. This is the same question which had been formerly put to his father Bruhaspati by Shamyu.
38. As Bruhaspati, the great expert in all fields of knowledge, was seated, his son Shamyu endowed with humility, put this question.
39. “Who are these Pitris? What are their names? How were they born? How did they attain Pits-hood?
40. What is the reason for which Pitris are worshipped at the outset in every Yajna? All the holy rites of noble souls begin with the performance of Shraddhas.
41. To whom all these Shraddhas are to be offered? What is the great benefit when they are offered? In which of the holy centres and sacred rivers does the Shraddha performance yield ever-lasting benefit?
42. What are those holy centres in Which excellent Brahmanas (ought to) perform Shraddha to obtain all (desired) benefits? What is the (proper) time for Shraddha? What is the procedure to be followed?
43. O holy sire, I wish that what has been enquired by me be explained in detail in the proper sequence.”
44. On being asked thus clearly and specifically, the highly intelligent Bruhaspati, the most excellent of those who understand (the implications of) questions, answered all the questions in the proper order.
Bruhaspati said:
45. O dear one! I shall explain the solemn excellent question which you ask me with due propriety and proper humility.
46-47. At that time, there was neither the heaven nor the firmament, neither the earth nor the stars nor the quarters, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the day, nor the night. O dear, the whole Universe was in complete darkness. Brahma alone performed an austere penance difficult for others to perform.
48. Shamyu again spoke to his father who was the most excellent among the knowers of Brahman, who always performed holy ablutions in the form of rites and who was the most excellent of all knowers of perfect knowledge.
49. “What sort of a penance did Prajapati, the lord of all living beings perform?”
Thus addressed, Bruhaspati of excessive refulgence, spoke to him.
50. Of all types of penance, Yukti i.e. Yoga penance is the most excellent. Meditating on it, the lord then created all the worlds by means of that Yoga.
51. The past and future (items of) knowledge, the entire worlds and Vedas were created after practising Yoga by Brahma, by means of his Yogic vision.
52. The worlds, the heaven are named ‘Santanikas’ where the shining deities of the Devas well-known as ‘Vairajas’ stay.
53. Even at the outset then, the lord Brahma, endowed with Yoga and penance, had created Devas after practising the eternal Yoga.
54. They are well known as Adidevas (the primordial Devas). They have great splendour and energy. They are the bestowers of all desires. They are worthy of being worshipped by Devas, Danavas and human beings.
55. There are seven groups of those Devas. They are worshipped by all the three worlds. Three of them are Amurtis (devoid of forms) and four of them have splendid forms.
56. The three sets which have conceptual forms (Bhava murtis) are stationed above. The four Sukshmamurtis (having subtle forms) are stationed beneath them.
57. Thereafter, the (common) Devas are stationed and then the earth. This is the situation of the series of worlds. They (the groups of Devas) are stationed in this world. The clouds take their origin from them, rain-showers are due to them and, thanks to rain showers, the worlds (and people) are created again.
58. Since they develop and strengthen the moon and the food-grains and make them flourish by means of Yogic power, they called them the Pitris of the world. They (Pitris) are the most excellent ones in the world.
59. They are as speedy as mind. Svadha constitutes their diet. They have every requisite they desire. They are devoid of greed, delusion and fear. They are certainly devoid of sorrow.
60. After giving up Yoga, they have attained the worlds beautiful and pleasant to look at. They become divine, meritorious and sinless noble souls.
61. At the end of a thousand Yugas, they become expounders of Brahman. Regaining the Yogic power once again., they attain salvation in a bodiless state.
62. They forsake both the manifestand unmanifest (bodies) by means of their great Yogic power and perish (vanish) like a meteor or like the fading flash of lightning in the sky.
63. By abandoning all the bodies (and other adjuncts) by means of their great Yogic power, they attain the state of namelessness like rivers merging into the ocean.
64. Engaged everyday in holy rites and the worship of preceptors, Pitris develop their Yogic power and satisfyall (make them flourish).
65. Propitiated in Shraddha, Pitris nourish Soma (the Moon) making use of their Yogic power whereby the three worlds sustain their lives.
66. Hence, Shraddhas must always be offered to Yogins1 with (special efforts). Indeed, the mainstay of Pitris is Yoga and from (thanks to) Yoga the Moon functions.
1. Verses 66-64 emphasize the importance of feeding a Yogin at the time of Shraddha. This is specifically re-iterated in a later chapter. It shows the deep regard for Yogins in ancient times.
Cf. VP.15.23-24, Varaha P. 14.18-19.
67. One may feed thousands of Brahmanas or as many as do come, but listen that one knower of Yogas, if delighted, deserves all (propitiating a Yogin is as fruitful as feeding thousands of Brahmanas).
68. What is taken in by a thousand invited (ordinary Brahmanas), or by a hundred Snatakas (Brahmanas initiated into householder’s life) or by one master of Yoga saves one from great fear.
69. One Yogin excels a thousand householders, a hundred Vanaprasthas (Forest-hermits) and a thousand Brahmacharins (celibate students).
70. Prajapati has ordained: “(One may be) an atheist, an evil-doer, a person of mixed caste or a thief, (but) he cannot have redemption2 (Taranam) from anything else, except (by offering) a charitable gift unto those who have Yogic power.
2. Karanam in the text is irrelevant and obscure. Hence, Taranam, the reading in Bd, P. ibid V. 71 is accepted.
71. His ancestors are delighted like the husbandmen by a good timely rain, even if his son or grandson feeds a (Yogic) meditator.
72. If meditating mendicants are not available, one should feed two Brahmacharins. When they too are not available, one should feed a householder not much engrossed in worldly affairs.”
73. It is the injunction of Brahma that a meditating Yogin is greater than one who (performs penance) for a hundred years standing on one leg and taking in nothing but air.
74-76. The Siddhas roam over the Earth in the guise of Brahmanas. Hence, one should approach the in-coming guest with palms joined in reverence. He should honour him with the vessel containing materials of worship. He shall offer him place of residence and food. The masters of Yoga assume diverse forms and always roam over the ocean-girt earth. They are (no less than) Devas. They protect the people righteously. Hence, every man should offer charitable gifts to a Brahmana guest. I shall recount those charitable gifts and the fruits thereof.
77-79. Housing the Yogins is far better than thousands of horse-sacrifices, hundreds of Rajasuya sacrifices and thousands of Pundarika sacrifices. The first of those seven groups of Pitris of unmeasured brilliance, has been recounted. This group exists always with the conception of Time1 (?) Henceforth I shall narrate again all the groups of Pitris, their progeny, their situation and their Bhavana (conception) in the proper order.
1.‘Sanctifying the worlds’ -Bd. P. V.76.