According to Hinduism, the souls of three preceding generations of one's ancestor reside in Pitru–loka, a realm between heaven and earth. This realm is governed by Yama, the god of death, who takes the soul of a dying man from earth to Pitru–loka. Hindus are expected to propitiate the ancestors(let the ancestors be in peace) in the first half, during the dark fortnight i.e Pitru Paksha and let the soul of their ancestors reach the Heaven from the Pitru-loka.