Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 6
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
दत्वोदकं गन्धमाल्यं धूपदानं प्रदीपकं अपसव्यं ततः कृत्वा पितॄणामप्रदक्षिणं
datvodakaṃ gandhamālyaṃ dhūpadānaṃ pradīpakaṃ apasavyaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā pitṝṇāmapradakṣiṇaṃ
জল, গন্ধ, মালা, ধূপ ও প্রদীপ দান করে, তারপর যজ্ঞোপবীত অপসব্য করে পিতৃদের জন্য অপ্রদক্ষিণ পরিক্রমা করবে (তাঁদের বাম দিকে রেখে)।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa instructional narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Pitṛ-upacāra in śrāddha: offer udaka, gandha, mālya, dhūpa, dīpa; then adopt apasavya and perform apradakṣiṇa (leftward circumambulation) appropriate to Pitṛs.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pitṛ-upacāra: apasavya and apradakṣiṇa","lookup_keywords":["śrāddha","apasavya","apradakṣiṇa","dhūpa-dīpa","pitṛ"],"quick_summary":"In Pitṛ rites, after standard offerings (water, fragrance, garlands, incense, lamp), switch to apasavya and circumambulate in the non-rightward (leftward) manner, marking the distinct protocol for ancestors."}
Concept: Ritual polarity: deva-kārya is generally savya/pradakṣiṇa, pitṛ-kārya is apasavya/apradakṣiṇa—dharma is precision in context.
Application: During śrāddha, do not mix deva- and pitṛ-gestures; explicitly change yajñopavīta position and circumambulation direction when addressing Pitṛs.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Pitṛ-kriyā / Śrāddha-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A śrāddha setting with offerings laid out; the performer, with yajñopavīta worn apasavya, moves in a leftward circumambulation around the pitṛ-offering place after presenting water, fragrance, garlands, incense, and lamp.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, solemn śrāddha scene, priest with thread across right shoulder (apasavya), oil lamp glowing, incense smoke curling, floral garlands, leftward movement implied by composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, lamp and incense highlighted with gold, priest in apasavya posture, pitṛ-symbolic presence as subtle ancestral silhouettes, rich maroon background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear depiction of yajñopavīta position change and circumambulation direction arrows, neat arrangement of dhūpa-dīpa and udaka vessel","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic courtyard śrāddha, detailed lamp and incense, priest walking leftward around a small offering platform, restrained palette and fine textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दत्वोदकं = दत्त्वा + उदकम्; पितॄणामप्रदक्षिणं = पितॄणाम् + अप्रदक्षिणम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163 (Śrāddha-vidhi subsequence); Agni Purana chapters on śrāddha and pitṛ-tarpaṇa (where present)
FAQs
It prescribes the Śrāddha/Pitṛ-rite sequence of upacāras—water, fragrance/garlands, incense, and lamp—followed by adopting apasavya (sacred thread reversed) and performing apradakṣiṇa (leftward/non-rightward circumambulation) specifically for the Pitṛs.
It functions as a concise ritual manual entry: the Agni Purāṇa records not only theology but also precise procedural liturgy (gesture/orientation rules like apasavya and apradakṣiṇa), demonstrating its coverage of practical dharma and household rites alongside other sciences.
Correct performance of ancestor offerings with the proper orientation (apasavya and leftward circumambulation) is held to ensure the rite is appropriately directed to the Pitṛs, supporting ancestral satisfaction (tṛpti) and accruing merit through faithful observance of śrāddha-dharma.