Pitris

The Pitris (Sanskrit: पितृ, 'forefathers') are the spirits of departed ancestors who reside in the celestial realm of Pitriloka. Their origin is traced to the Vedic period; the Rigveda (10.15) contains hymns invoking the Pitris, describing them as guides who dwell in the third heaven. The Manu Smriti (3.192-193) elaborates on the importance of honoring them through shraddha rituals, stating that the ancestors sustain the lineage and grant prosperity. According to the Garuda Purana (Pretakhanda), after death, the soul undergoes a journey and eventually joins the Pitris, who are classified into three groups: the divine Pitris (deva-pitri), the human Pitris (manushya-pitri), and the Pitris of the manes (sapinda).

The Pitris are not depicted anthropomorphically; they are symbolically represented through ritual offerings such as pindas (rice balls), tarpana (water libations), and the feeding of crows, which are considered messengers. The principal myth associated with the Pitris is the story of Karna in the Mahabharata (Vana Parva, chapters 298-299), who, after death, was granted the opportunity to return to earth for a day to perform shraddha for his ancestors, emphasizing the necessity of offerings made by descendants. Another episode from the Skanda Purana (Maheshvara Khanda) narrates how the god Yama, the lord of death, oversees the realm of the Pitris and ensures that those who perform shraddha receive the benefits. In Hindu cosmology, the Pitris occupy a distinct loka (plane) between the earthly realm and the heavens, and they are dependent on the offerings of their living kin for sustenance.

The period of Pitru Paksha (the dark fortnight of the lunar month of Ashvina) is dedicated exclusively to their worship, with rituals prescribed in the Grihya Sutras and Puranas. Regional traditions vary: in South India, elaborate tarpana is performed at sacred rivers, while in North India, the feeding of Brahmins and crows is emphasized. The Pitris are revered as guardians of dharma and lineage, and their blessings are sought for progeny, wealth, and spiritual liberation. The Garuda Purana (Pretakhanda, chapter 10) warns that neglecting the Pitris leads to ancestral curses and karmic imbalance, underscoring their integral role in the cycle of birth and death.

Not depicted anthropomorphically. Represented through ritual offerings and the feeding of crows.