Pitrigana, Pitṛgaṇa, Pitri-gana, Pitṛgaṇā: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Pitrigana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit terms Pitṛgaṇa and Pitṛgaṇā can be transliterated into English as Pitrgana or Pitrigana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationPitṛgaṇa (पितृगण) refers to the “manes”, that came into existence from the drops of sweat from Brahmā’s body, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.3. Accordingly, as Brahmā perspired on account of fear from Śiva:—“[...] from the drops of sweat that fell from my body rose the manes (Pitṛgaṇas) who did not perform the sacrifices while they were living on earth [viz., Agniṣvāttas], who shone like split collyrium, had eyes resembling the full-bown lotus, were meritorious ascetics and were averse to worldly activities. These were sixty-four thousand in number, O sage, and the manes called Barhiṣads, lit. seated on grass, were eighty-six thousand”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexPitṛgaṇa (पितृगण).—(Pitṛs, Pūrvadevatas)—seven, in heaven, three without form and four with form; the formless are Vairājas; their mind-born daughter is the wife of Himavān whose sons are Krauñca and Maināka;1 two classes of Devas and Laukikas; to them one full day is equal to our one month, our dark half being their day and bright half their night; our 100 years their 3 years;2 the places prescribed for srāddha offerings are said to be fire, the hand of a Brahmana, water, cattle-shed, and ears of goat or horse; always southern direction preferred;3 to be worshipped in house building.4
- 1) Matsya-purāṇa 13. 1-7; 15. 42; Vāyu-purāṇa 72. 1-5.
- 2) Matsya-purāṇa 132. 3; 141. 57, 60; 142. 6-8.
- 3) Ib. 15. 32-33.
- 4) Ib. 253. 25.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts (shilpa)Pitṛgaṇa (पितृगण) refers to a group of “subsidiary deities” (parivāradevatā), as discussed in chapter 10 (Kriyāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—Description of the chapter [parivārādidevatā-kalpana]: [...] In each of the five courtyards it is proper to install certain aspects of the Lord [parivāradevatā]. For examples, Garuḍa, Viṣvaksena, Śaṅkara, Kṣetrapāla, Ṣaṇmukha, etc., are in the first courtyard (94-99); Sūrya, Candra, Hayagrīva, and others will be located in the second courtyard (100-105); the twelve Ādityas, Manmatha, the Pitṛgaṇas, Gaṇeśa, etc., will be found in the third courtyard (106-1102); Upendra, the Gaṇadevatās, etc., will be placed in the fourth courtyard (110b-144a—no mention is made of the fifth courtyard).
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarypitṛgaṇa (पितृगण).—n (S) The body collectively of ancestors to whose manes Shraddha must be performed. 2 A common term for the several classes of progenitors.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishpitṛgaṇa (पितृगण).—n The body collectively of ances- tors to whose manes Shra'ddh must be performed.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryPitṛgaṇa (पितृगण).—
1) the whole body of ancestors taken collectively.
2) a class of Manes or deceased progenitors who were sons of the Prajāpati; मनोर्हैरण्यगर्भस्य ये मरीच्यादयः सुताः । तेषा- मृषीणां सर्वेषां पुत्राः पितृगणाः स्मृताः ॥ विराट्सुताः सोमसदः साध्यानां पितरः स्मृताः । अग्निष्वात्ताश्च देवानां मारीचा लोकविश्रुताः (manorhairaṇyagarbhasya ye marīcyādayaḥ sutāḥ | teṣā- mṛṣīṇāṃ sarveṣāṃ putrāḥ pitṛgaṇāḥ smṛtāḥ || virāṭsutāḥ somasadaḥ sādhyānāṃ pitaraḥ smṛtāḥ | agniṣvāttāśca devānāṃ mārīcā lokaviśrutāḥ) || Manusmṛti 3. 194-195.
Derivable forms: pitṛgaṇaḥ (पितृगणः).
Pitṛgaṇa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms pitṛ and gaṇa (गण).
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Pitṛgaṇā (पितृगणा).—Name of of Durgā.
Pitṛgaṇā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms pitṛ and gaṇā (गणा).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPitṛgaṇa (पितृगण).—m.
(-ṇaḥ) A class of progenitors, the sons of the Rishis or Prajapatis: the principal classes are the Somasads descended from Virat, the Agnishwattas from Marichi, Barhishads from Atri, Somapas from Bhrigu, Havishmats from Angiras, Ajyapas from Pulastya, Sukalins from Vashistha; there are also the Agnidaghas and Anagnidagdhas, Kavyas and Saumyas. E. pitṛ father, (of mankind,) gaṇa a troop.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Pitṛgaṇa (पितृगण):—[=pitṛ-gaṇa] [from pitṛ] m. a group or class of P°s [Manu-smṛti iii, 194]
2) Pitṛgaṇā (पितृगणा):—[=pitṛ-gaṇā] [from pitṛ-gaṇa > pitṛ] f. Name of Durgā (?), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryPitṛgaṇa (पितृगण):—[pitṛ-gaṇa] (ṇaḥ) 1. m. The fathers.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Ends with: Mantra-deva-manuja-bhuta-pitrigana.
Full-text: Mantra-deva-manuja-bhuta-pitrigana, Agnishvatta, Barhishad, Nandimukha, Kalin, Havishmanta, Ajyapa, Ganadevata, Pitri, Somapa, Parivaradevata, Parivaradidevatakalpana.
Relevant text
Search found 11 books and stories containing Pitrigana, Pitṛ-gaṇa, Pitr-gana, Pitṛ-gaṇā, Pitṛgaṇa, Pitrgana, Pitṛgaṇā, Pitri-gana, Pitriganas; (plurals include: Pitriganas, gaṇas, ganas, gaṇās, Pitṛgaṇas, Pitrganas, Pitṛgaṇās, Pitriganases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.17.51-52 < [Chapter 17 - The Lord’s Travel to Gayā]
Verse 1.17.67 < [Chapter 17 - The Lord’s Travel to Gayā]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 3.194 < [Section XI - Origin of the Pitṛs and the Mode of Worshipping them]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 200 < [Volume 13 (1898)]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Isanasivagurudeva Paddhati (study) (by J. P. Prajith)
26. Pratishtha and Nityotsava-vidhi of Sarasvati < [Chapter 4 - Worship of Gods and Goddesses]
Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana (by Chaitali Kadia)
Classification of the Purāṇas < [Chapter 1 - An Introduction of the Purāṇas]