Question


What is meant by “the world of the Manes”?

Answer


अथ त्रयो वाव लोकाः—मनुष्यलोकः पितृलोको देवलोक इति; सोऽयं मनुष्यलोकः पुत्रेणैव जय्यः, नान्येन कर्मणा; कर्मणा पितृलोकाः, विद्यया देवलोकः; देवलोको वै लोकानां श्रेष्ठः, तस्माद्विद्यां प्रशंसन्ति। ॥ १६ ॥

atha trayo vāva lokāḥ—manuṣyalokaḥ pitṛloko devaloka iti; so'yaṃ manuṣyalokaḥ putreṇaiva jayyaḥ, nānyena karmaṇā; karmaṇā pitṛlokāḥ, vidyayā devalokaḥ; devaloko vai lokānāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ, tasmādvidyāṃ praśaṃsanti || 16 ||

There are indeed three worlds, the world of men, the world of the Manes and the world of the gods. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.5.16

Pitriloka has been translated as 'World of Manes'. Pitris are the ancestors who departed from this world and reside in Pitriloka. One may attain Manushya Loka or Pitri loka or Deva Loka as per their Karma.


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