Pitṛmedha
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Pitṛmedha literally means ‘forefather-sacrifice’.
The word actually means consigning the dead-body of a forefather to the fire of cremation which is similar to medha or sacrifice. This ancient custom comprised four stages:
- Cremation
- Collecting the charred bones
- Depositing them underground in an urn
- Expiatory rites and erection of a monument[1]
Depositing the urn at the root of a tree or casting the contents in the Gaṅgā river were also practiced. If the deceased person was an ācārya[2] or a śrotriya,[3] the rite was called brahmamedha. The special mantras known as caturhotā[4][5][6][7][8][9][10] were chanted on this occasion.
References[edit]
- ↑ This monument is generally a pole or a staff.
- ↑ Ācārya is the spiritual or Vedic preceptor.
- ↑ Śrotriya means a learned in the Vedas.
- ↑ Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa 2.3.11.4
- ↑ Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa 1.3.1.1
- ↑ Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa 3.12.5.1
- ↑ Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa 2.2.3.5
- ↑ Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa 2.3.1.3
- ↑ Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa 2.3.1.1
- ↑ Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa 2.2.8.2
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore