Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 5
गङ्गामाहात्म्यं
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
अन्धादयस्तु तां सेव्य देवैर् गच्छन्ति तुल्यतां गङ्गातीर्थसमुद्भूतमृद्धारी सो ऽघहार्कवत्
andhādayastu tāṃ sevya devair gacchanti tulyatāṃ gaṅgātīrthasamudbhūtamṛddhārī so 'ghahārkavat
Selbst Blinde und andere erlangen, wenn sie sich an die Gaṅgā-tīrtha wenden, die selbst von den Göttern geehrt wird, Gleichheit mit ihnen. Was aus der heiligen Furt der Gaṅgā hervorgeht, schenkt Gedeihen und tilgt Sünde—wie die Sonne (die Dunkel vertreibt).
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s teachings to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tirtha-yatra Mahatmya (Pilgrimage and Sacred Geography)","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Encourages inclusive access to tīrtha merit—even the disadvantaged (e.g., blind) gain divine-like status through Gaṅgā-tīrtha; motivates pilgrimage and faith-based practice.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Gaṅgā-tīrtha as prosperity-giving and sin-destroying like the Sun","lookup_keywords":["Gaṅgā-tīrtha","andha","deva-tulya","ṛddhi-dā","aghahāri","sūrya-dṛṣṭānta"],"quick_summary":"Gaṅgā-tīrtha is praised as honored by the gods, granting devotees—even those with impairments—divine parity; it bestows prosperity and removes sin, compared to the Sun dispelling darkness."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā (Gaṅgā-tīrtha like the Sun)
Concept: Bhakti and tīrtha-sevā override limitations of bodily condition; sacred merit is accessible beyond physical capability.
Application: Promote accessible pilgrimage practices (assisted darśana/snānā, guided worship) and community support so all can participate in tīrtha observances.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya (Sacred Geography and Merit of Pilgrimage)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Type: Tirtha/River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At a Gaṅgā ghat, a blind devotee is guided to the water; gods in the sky honor the tīrtha; the Sun’s rays metaphorically dispel a dark haze of sin, while prosperity symbols appear.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: blind devotee with attendant at the river; Gaṅgā as luminous presence; small devas above with folded hands; strong sun-disc motif; bold outlines and traditional color blocks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: radiant sun with gold foil rays above Gaṅgā; devotee scene at bottom; prosperity motifs (grain, lotus) subtly included; ornate borders and halos.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: compassionate instructional scene—assisted pilgrimage for the blind; clear gestures of guidance and worship; soft shading; emphasis on inclusivity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: bustling ghat with varied pilgrims including an infirm devotee; sunlit atmosphere; devas as faint celestial figures; intricate architectural steps and river reflections."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: अन्धादयस्तु→अन्धादयः + तु; देवैर्→देवैः; गङ्गातीर्थसमुद्भूतम्→गङ्गातीर्थ + समुद्भूतम्; सोऽघहार्कवत्→सः + अघहा + अर्कवत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: Gaṅgā-māhātmya sequence (verses on darśana/sparśana/pāna/kīrtana)
FAQs
It teaches tīrtha-sevā (resorting to and honoring a sacred ford of the Gaṅgā) as a practical means of purification and merit, emphasizing that its efficacy applies even to socially or physically disadvantaged persons.
It exemplifies the Purana’s tirtha-māhātmya material—mapping sacred places and codifying their spiritual ‘results’ (puṇya, agha-kṣaya, ṛddhi), alongside the text’s many other domains like ritual, polity, medicine, and aesthetics.
The verse asserts that Gaṅgā-tīrtha removes sin (agha-hā) and confers prosperity (ṛddhi), elevating devotees toward divine-like status—portrayed through the simile of the Sun dispelling darkness.