Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 43
अध्याय ११५ — गयायात्राविधिः
Procedure for the Pilgrimage to Gayā
तत्र पिण्डप्रदानेन कुलानां शतमुधरेत् मुण्डपृष्ठे पदं न्न्यास्तं महादेवेन धीमता
tatra piṇḍapradānena kulānāṃ śatamudharet muṇḍapṛṣṭhe padaṃ nnyāstaṃ mahādevena dhīmatā
Dort erhebt man durch die Darbringung des piṇḍa hundert Generationen der eigenen Linie. Dies ist der heilige Fußabdruck, auf den Rücken der mūṇḍa-Effigie (des preta) gesetzt, niedergelegt vom weisen Mahādeva (Śiva).
Lord Agni (narrating the śrāddha/preta-kriyā instructions to a sage, traditionally Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Motivation and doctrinal assurance for piṇḍa-dāna at Gayā—ancestral uplift and sanctity tied to Śiva’s establishment of a sacred footprint.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Piṇḍa-dāna Phala: Śata-kula-uddhāra and Mahādeva’s Pāda-pratiṣṭhā","lookup_keywords":["piṇḍa-pradāna","śata-kula","Mahādeva","Rudra-pāda","Muṇḍa-pṛṣṭha"],"quick_summary":"At this spot, piṇḍa-offering is said to uplift a hundred generations; the place is sanctified by Mahādeva’s wise establishment of a sacred footprint."}
Concept: Pitṛ-sevā through śrāddha is magnified by tīrtha and īśvara-saṃbandha (divine consecration).
Application: Perform piṇḍa-dāna with faith at the Śiva-sanctified spot; treat the footprint as a dharma-pramāṇa for place-selection.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha–Preta-kriyā (Funerary rites, piṇḍa-dāna, ancestral uplift)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacred footprint (Rudra/Mahādeva) on a stone slab atop a hillside; a devotee offers piṇḍas while elders and priests witness, symbolizing uplift of many generations.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, prominent stylized Śiva-footprint on a pedestal, priests in white dhoti performing piṇḍa-dāna, ancestral figures faintly suggested in upper register, bold outlines and flat color fields","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central gilded footprint emblem with ornamental frame, devotees offering rice-balls and water, gold highlights on vessels and pedestal, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear depiction of footprint icon with labeled ritual items (piṇḍa, kuśa, water pot), calm instructional composition, soft shading and fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, hillside setting with detailed crowd of pilgrims, close-up of footprint stone, delicate rendering of offerings and textiles, atmospheric depth"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shivaranjani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शतमुधरेत् = शतम् + उद्धरेत्; न्न्यास्तं = न्यस्तम् (द्वित्व/अनुस्वार-लोपयुक्त पाठभेद).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 115.46 (Rudrapāda touch and liberation)
FAQs
It teaches the śrāddha/preta-kriyā principle that piṇḍa-dāna is a lineage-uplifting rite, and it references a specific ritual mark/“footprint” (pada) placed on the preta-related effigy/body-symbol as part of the procedure.
Beyond theology, it functions like a ritual handbook—quantifying results (uplift of “a hundred” generations) and preserving procedural details connected with śrāddha and preta rites, showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of dharma, ritual technology, and after-death practices.
The verse frames piṇḍa-dāna as a powerful act of merit that benefits not only the deceased but also a wide span of ancestors, emphasizing collective karmic purification and ancestral deliverance (pitṛ-uddhāra).
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