Swamins I am sorry to find the attachment I sent has not been carried
with my mail on the subject. I am now giving the text of the extract
mentioned in my earlier mail now your attetion.
With regards,
Dasan Srinivasan
Extract From
?Puranic Encyclopaedia? (Published by Motilal Banarsidass) :-
Pitrus are a set of
demigods. From Manuprajapathi, son of Brahma, were born the Saptarisis like
Marici and they in turn created the Pitrus. Besides Marici his set, many
others like Virat Purana and Brahma have created Pitrs.
Some Puranas state that Pirus are of daily creation. Brahma in the
beginning created three sets of Pitrus with form and four with brightness
making ths seven sets. The three sets of bodied pitrs are Agnisvattas,
Barhisadas and Somapas and the four bright ones are Yama, Anala, Soma and
Aryaman (10th Skanda, Devi Bhagavata).
A quotation from
Mansmriti, Sloka 194, Chapter 8. It may be seen from the text of
Manusmriti.
Pitrus
(manes) are classified into two types: The Agniavattas and Barhisadas. Of
these, the Agnivattas do not perform Yagas and the Barhisadas are those who
perform yagas. Besides these two major divisions they are classified into
many other groups. . .. ?.
Performing a
Sraddha (offering obsequial oblations to the departed) is just a yagna. The
oblations should be offered in either silver or silver cum copper
pots. Visvadevas are the guardians of Pitrus. Therefore,
the oblations should be offered after worshipping the Visvadevas first and
then the Pitrus and then Vishnu.
SRAADDHA ? The
offering given to pitrus. According to Puranas, Sraaddha is a very important
ceremony. Here, ?pitrus? does not mean ?the souls of the dead?. Pitrus
belong to special class of gods.
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