34 - The Origin of Pitris

Mahatapas said:

1. O king, listen to the origin of Pitris I am going to tell you now.

2. Formerly Brahma, the lord of all beings, desirous of performing creation in all its variety, thought of keeping all Tanmatras out of his mind and engaged himself in deep meditation.

3. When he was thus in meditation, there came out of his body the Tanmatras tawny in colour.

4. They were all horizontal in form, moving upwards and telling gods that they would drink the soma juice.

5. Seeing them who were remaining in a horizontal position and moving upwards, Brahma told them, “May you be the Pitris (manes) for all householders.

6. Those among you whose faces are upwards are named ‘Nandimukhas’.” So saying Brahma defined their path.

7. He created for them the Dakshinayana (the southward movement of the sun), and continued the other creations silently. They then asked Brahma to give them their means of sustenanace so that they could remain happy.

Brahma said:

8. Amavasi (New moon day) be your day. You will derive great satisfaction by the water given to you with the Kusha (darbha) grass and sesamum seeds by the people.

9. On that day if people give gifts of sesamum, fasting and with devotion to the Pitris, they will get boons from them early.

Summary of chapter 34 of the Varāha Mahā Purana is as follows:

While residing peacefully upon Mount Kailāsa, Mother Parvatī creates a radiant boy from the divine fragrant paste of Her own body and endows him with life, naming him Her beloved son and appointing him as the guardian of Her inner chambers. When Parameśvara Śiva approaches and is stopped at the entrance by the dutiful young guardian, a battle ensues in which the boy's head is severed by Śiva's trident, causing immense grief to Mother Parvatī. To restore cosmic harmony and comfort the Mother Divine, Parameśvara Śiva replaces the head with that of a mighty elephant, resurrecting the child as Vināyaka Gaṇeśa and crowning him as the supreme leader of all gaṇas and the remover of all obstacles.