PITRIS – The ancestors

The pitris were first a class of demigods (not quite full devas, gods), as well as the “fathers” or “ancestor spirits.” As a class of demigods they were connected with the ritualistic offerings to the spirits of the dead. One of the earliest con­cepts of an afterlife spoke of the way of the fathers (pitri-yana) as distinguished from the way of the gods (deva-yana). Pitri-yana was associated with the moon, while deva-yana was the solar way.
Their origin had several explanations. In one version the pitris were created by the seven sages (Sapta-Rishis) who were created by Brahma. Another version stated that Brahma himself created the pitris, including three classes of embod­ied and four classes of disembodied spirits. The embodied pitris were called Agnishvattas, Barhishads, and Somapas. The disembodied pitris were the indi­vidual deities Yama, Anala, Soma, and Aryaman.
In both household (grihatya) and public (srauta) rituals, the lineage, even today, is mentioned back three generations—father, grandfather, and great­grandfather. The pitris are offered water and rice balls (pandas).