Pitrgāthā
By Swami Harshananda
Pitrgāthā literally means ‘song of the manes’.
In religion, the pitṛs[1] have always been respected. Normally, once a year, the descendants are expected to pay homage to them through religious rites known as Śrāddhas. It seems that, even as the descendants are eager to appease their pitṛs, the pitṛs too hanker for such appeasement.
The Matsyapurāṇa,[2] one of the eighteen Mahāpurāṇas, contains an interesting piece, depicting such hankering. This has come to be known as the Pitrgāthā or the Song of the Manes. It is to be chanted as a part of śrāddha ceremonies, thus making the brāhmaṇas invited for food listen to it. The gāthā expresses the desire of the pitṛs to get good food in the śrāddhas, receive oblations of water in holy rivers and get a śrāddha performed at the holy pilgrim centre Gayā in Bihar. They will bless their descendants who perform the following:
- Donate a milch-cow and a deerskin to a good brāhmaṇa
- Set free a bull to roam about as it likes
- Donate gold or cow or a piece of land to a deserving and needy person
- Perform public service activities such as digging a well for drinking water and raising a nice garden
However, they are pleased immensely if their descendants become scholars in the scriptures and great devotees of Lord Viṣṇu.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore