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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