Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori

INHABITANTS OF THE WORLDS 29
their origin and functions, does not include, but in fact
excludes, other ideas connoted by the Sanskrit term.
The pitṛ s, or “Fathers,” are a creation (according to
some) separate from the predecessors of humanity, and
are, according to others, the lunar ancestry who are
addressed in prayer with the Devas. From Brahma, who
is known as the “Grandfather,” Pitā Mahā of the human
race, issued Marichi, Atri, and others, his “mental sons”:
the Agniṣvāttāh, Saumsaya, Haviṣmantah, Usmapāh,
and other classes of Pitṛ s, numbering, according to the
Mārkaṇ ḍ eya Purāṇ a, thirty-one. Tarpaṇ am, or oblation,
is daily offered to these pitṛ s. The term is also applied
to the human ancestors of the worshipper generally up
to the seventh generation to whom in śrāddha (the
obsequial rites) piṇ ḍ a and water are offered with the
mantra “svadhā.”
The Ṛ ṣis are seers who know, and by their knowledge
are the makers of Śāstra and “see” all mantras.
The word comes from the root ṛ ṣ; 1 Ṛ ṣati-prāpnoti sarvaṃ
mantraṃ jnānena paśyati sangsārapārangvā, etc.
The seven great Ṛ ṣis or saptaṛ ṣis of the first manvantara
are Marīcī, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya,
and Vaśiṣṭ ha. In other manvantaras there are other
saptaṛ ṣis. In the present manvantara the seven are
Kāśyapa, Atri, Vaśiṣtha, Viśvāmitra, Gautama, Jamadagni,
Bharadvāja. To the Ṛ ṣis the Vedas were
revealed. Vyāsa taught the Ṛ gveda so revealed to Paila,
the Yajurveda to Vaisampayana, the Sāmaveda to
Jaimini, Atharvāveda to Sumantu, and Itihāsa and
Dogm, tom. III. The cabalistic names of the nine orders as given by Archangelus
at p. 728 of his “Interpretationes in artis Cabalistice scriptores“ 1587).
1 Śabdakalpadruma.