Pitri

 

Pitris: The Pitris are divided into two classes, called the Agnisvattas and the Barhisadas.

I Pitris are a set of demigods.

From Manuprajapati; son of Brahma, were born the Saptarsis like Marici and they in turn created the Pitrs.

Besides Marici and his set many others like Virat Purusa and Brahma have created Pitrs.

Some Puranas state that Pitrs are of daily creation. Brahma in the beginning created three sets of Pitrs with form and four with brightness making thus 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 Skandha, Devi Bhagavata).

“Manor hairanyagarbhasya
ye maricyadayah sutah
Tesamrsinam sarvesam
putrah pitrganah smrtah” //
(Sloka 194, Chapter 8, Manusmrti).

Pitrs (manes) are classified into two types :
The Agnisvattas and Barhisadas. Of these the Agnisvattas do not perform Yajnas and the Barhisadas are those who perform yagas. Besides these two major divisions they are classified into many other groups as follows

1. Somasadasya (s). Virat Purusa is the creator of these Pitrs. Somasadasyas are the Pitrs of Sadhyadevas.

2. Agnisvatta (s) . They are the pitrs of devas.

3. Barhiyadas. These Pitrs are the creation of the sage Atri. They are the manes of daityas, danavas, yaksas, gandharvas, uragas (serpents), raksasas (demons), suvarnas and kinnaras.

4. Somapa (s). They are the sons of the sage Bhrgu and are the manes of brahmins.

5. Havirbhuk (s). The sage Angiras is the father of these Pitrs who are the manes of Ksatriyas.

6. Ajyapa (s) . These are the sons of the sage Pulastya and are the manes of Vaisyas.

7. Sukalika (s). Sons of the sage Vasistha, these Pitrs are the manes of the Sudras.

To the seven sages like Marici were born the pitrs and to the pitrs were born the devasuras (devas and asuras ) and to the devasuras were born everything else in this universe, animate and inanimate.
(Chapter 3, Manusmrti).

Performing a Sraddha (offering obsequial oblations to the departed) is just like a yajna. The oblations should be offered in either silver or silver cum copper pots. Visvadevas are the guardians of the pitrs. Therefore the oblations should be offered after worshipping the Visvadevas first and then the pitrs and then Visnu.
(See under Sraddha).

 

 

 

 

 

Pitris are a set of demigods. To the seven sages like Marici were born the pitrs and to the pitrs were born the devasuras (devas and asuras ) and to the devasuras were born everything else in this universe, animate and inanimate. (Chapter 3, Manusmrti). They are classified in a different way according to authorities. The Manu Smriti divides them in seven classifications.

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