Thread by @vschanna

Who are Pitru Devatas ? ....

During all the Shraddha ceremony, Pitru Devatas are worshipped, along with Vishve Devatas. Pitru Devatas bless our ancestors. Who are these ?

Seems once Brahma advised Devatas to worship Atma. Devatas started worshipping themselves.

https://twitter.com/haris_blr/status/1309716023327612935

On learning that Devatas are worshipping their Atmas instead of Paramatma, Brahma cursed Devatas to 'lose all the knowledge they had acquired'. Devasted Devatas fell at Brahmas feet, confessed to committing blunder, sought pardon and restoration of their knowledge.

Brahma expressed his helplessness in undoing his curse, but told them to go to their sons who can help them in regaining their knowledge. Devatas approached their sons and narrated the whole episode of losing their knowledge and sought their assistance in regaining knowledge.

Son of Devatas sat on the elevated Vyasa Peethas & asked their fathers Devatasa to sit down on the ground & addressed them as Putras(children). Devatas felt humiliated since their children are calling them as Children. They swallowed their pride & regained the knowledge from sons

After regaining knowledge, Devatas went to Brahma and complained about the humiliation from their Sons. Brahma chided the Devatas and told them that their sons did no wrong by calling them as Putras.

In Knowledge the Devatas sons are indeed Pitrus(Fathers), and Devatas Putras, since they had lost all their knowledge. Brahma told the Devatas that their Sons are not only Pitrus for them, but for the entire world and blessed them to be worshipped in all Shraddha Karma.

So Pitru Devatas are sons of Devatas, and have acquired Pitru status by virtue of their deed of imparting knowledge to their sons. Vasu, Rudra and Adityas are all Pitru Devatas. Uma/Parvati, Vedavyasa are progenies of Pitru Devatas.