of human beings) can attain the same level of the divine pitrs and live with them in Svarga by righteousness. They are reborn at the end of every thousand mahayugas and revive the worlds. From them all the Manus, and all progeny at the new creation, are said to be produced. Legends The legend of Aurva from the Mahabharata features the sage's pitrs appearing before him to request him to cease his penance, which produces the Vadavagni. A legend from the Devi Bhagavata Purana narrates that the sage Jaratkaru was once travelling through the forest, when he came across his pitrs, hanging over a precipice at the end of a blade of grass. When enquiring regarding their state, the pitrs told Jaratkaru that they experienced this condition due to the latter's childlessness, which resulted in them not being to enter Svarga. To save his pitrs from their ordeal, the sage married Manasa. The Brahmanda Purana narrates the episode of Pururavas propitiating his pitrs. A legend from the Skanda Purana explains the origin of the Shraddha ritual, stating that not offering these rites to one's ancestors during the amavashya (new moon day) will lead to one's pitrs suffering from hunger and thirst. The legend of Bhagiratha features the king performing arduous penances to Ganga and Shiva, to free his ancestors from Patala, where they had been destroyed by Kapila. Classes There are seven classes of the (divine pitrs), three of them are amurtayah (incorporeal) while the other four are samurtayah (corporeal). The three incorporeal orders of the pitrs are Vairajas, Agnishvattas and Barhishadas. The four corporeal orders of the pitrs are Somapas, Havishmanas, Ajyapas, and Sukalins (or Manasas). The Pitṛ-Vaṁśa All seven classes of the divine pitrs had each one mānasī kanyā (mind-born daughter). Mena, the wife of Mount Himavat was the daughter of the Vairajas. Acchoda, the river was the daughter of the Agnishvattas. Pivari, the wife of the sage Shuka was the daughter of the Barhishadas. Narmada, the river was the daughter of the Somapas. Yashoda was the daughter of the Havishmanas was the wife of Vishvamahat and mother of Dilipa. Viraja, the wife of king Nahusha was the daughter of the Ajyapas and Go or Ekshringa, the wife of the sage Shukra was the daughter of the Manasas. See also Ancestor veneration Manes Pitru Paksha Preta Śrāddha References External links Dallapiccola, Anna: Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend