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