उदीरतामवर उत्परास उन्मध्यमाः पितरः सोम्यासः।
असुं य ईयुरवृका ऋतज्ञास्ते नोऽवन्तु पितरो हवेषु॥
This is a mantra used to invoke forefathers during shraddha.
Let's look at the meaning of this mantra.
Forefathers, in general, we consider three generations above us:
father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
This mantra talks about three strata where the forefathers reside:
Bhumi, Chandraloka, and Suryaloka.
The forefathers are not just three individuals.
It is not that father is in Bhuloka, grandfather is in Chandraloka...
Not like that.
These are Lokas where forefathers, all the forefathers of everyone reside.
Those on Bhumi are called अवरे.
Those on Chandraloka are called मध्यमाः.
Those on Suryaloka are called परासः.
The world immediately above Suryaloka is called Parameshti.
This is the original world of the forefathers.
This is the original world of all the progenitors.
You can look at it this way.
Bharata is the original world of Hindus.
From here, they have gone to several countries.
Hindus exist here also, in Bharata also.
Parameshti is the original world of Pitrus.
And they are also there in Suryaloka, Chandraloka, and Bhuloka.
Those in Suryaloka are called Parasaha.
Those in Chandraloka are called Madhaymaha.
And those in Bhuloka are called Avare.
The mantra says that they are of the nature of Soma, soft and gentle.
Primarily there are two natures: of Agni and of Soma.
Among huumans, men have got Agneya prakriti.
Women have got Soumya prakriti, externally
Internally, it is the other way round; men are Soumya inside
women are Agneya inside.
It is easy to influence the minds of men.
Women, once they make a resolve, nothing can stop them.
Remember the resolve of Draupadi.
Barbareeka witnessed the complete battle of Kurukshetra.
In the end, he was asked what he saw.
He said I could see only the Sudarshana chakra ripping off heads and Draupadi as Kali drinking blood.
That is the woman's resolve.
Here, forefathers are soft and gentle.
in all these three Lokas, they have bodies.
But in Parameshti, they are just energy.
Forefathers guide the adhyatma of their descendants, they influence.
And they protect their descendants everywhere.
In the Parameshti Loka the forefathers exist even above Surya Mandala.
All the divine energies are in the Surya Mandala.
Devatas exist in the rays of Surya.
But the position of Pitrus is even above that.
that why shastra says
पितृकार्यं द्विजातीनां देवकार्याद्विशिष्यते।
Rites for the forefathers are more important than the worship of Devas.