RG ST 12 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Pitrs, Upanishads, Vedas
Document Summary
Pitrs ( fathers, ancestors ) intercede with gods for family that performs death rites properly. Pretas ( the departed, ghosts ) turn against family that fails to do so. Living relatives up to six degrees of separation . In sacrifice, fire (=agni) transfer medium between worlds. In post-200ce death rites, water becomes a 2nd transfer medium. Direct transfer to world of the fathers through cremation (ancient system) Long journey to world of the fathers, and gradual construction of an ancestral body (revised system). Rebirth according to karma (if death rites successful) One born as debt to three groups, which repaid as follows: Yama loans body + plot of land. After 100 years, yama takes back body. The new system (200 ce - 2017 ce) Doubts about automatic transfer to world of fathers. New system : transfer a long, dangerous journey. Journey ends with preta >> pitr (for 6 generations) Failure: preta a wandering ghost for eternity.
