Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 32
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
पिण्डदो धेनुकारण्ये पदे धेनोर् नमेच्च गाम् पूजयित्वाथेति क , घ , ङ , ज च नमेद्बुद्धिविनायकमिति ख , ग , छ च नमेद्वृद्धविनायकमिति घ सर्वान् पितॄंस्तारयेच्च सरस्वत्याञ्च पिण्डदः
piṇḍado dhenukāraṇye pade dhenor namecca gām pūjayitvātheti ka , gha , ṅa , ja ca namedbuddhivināyakamiti kha , ga , cha ca namedvṛddhavināyakamiti gha sarvān pitṝṃstārayecca sarasvatyāñca piṇḍadaḥ
Der Darbringer des piṇḍa (Piṇḍada) soll im «Dhenukāraṇya» (Wald der Dhenukā) am Abdruck des Kuhhufs ehrfürchtig niederfallen und, nachdem er die Kuh verehrt hat, sodann die vorgeschriebenen Formeln rezitieren. Er soll sich verneigen und sprechen: «Ehrerbietung Buddhi-Vināyaka», und sich verneigen und sprechen: «Ehrerbietung Vṛddhi-Vināyaka». So erlöst der piṇḍa-Darbringer alle Pitṛs (Ahnen) und verehrt zugleich Sarasvatī.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the Agni Purāṇa’s primary didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Stepwise śrāddha/piṇḍadāna at Dhenukāraṇya: worship of the cow and its footprint as a sanctifying act, followed by specific Vināyaka salutations (Buddhi- and Vṛddhi-Vināyaka) to secure efficacy and ‘deliver’ pitṛs; Sarasvatī is also propitiated for right recitation and ritual correctness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dhenukāraṇya Piṇḍadāna: Go-pūjā, Go-pada-vandana, Buddhi/Vṛddhi-Vināyaka Namaskāra, Pitṛ-tāraṇa, Sarasvatī-ārādhana","lookup_keywords":["Dhenukāraṇya","go-pūjā","Buddhi-Vināyaka","Vṛddhi-Vināyaka","pitṛ-tāraṇa"],"quick_summary":"The rite integrates go-sevā symbolism (cow worship and footprint veneration) with targeted Gaṇeśa invocations for intellect and prosperity, culminating in the stated aim of uplifting ancestors and invoking Sarasvatī for correct speech/ritual performance."}
Concept: Ritual dharma is supported by auspicious supports (go-pūjā), obstacle-removal and right cognition (Buddhi-Vināyaka), growth of merit (Vṛddhi-Vināyaka), and sanctified speech (Sarasvatī).
Application: Perform go-pūjā and Vināyaka namaskāra before key offerings; invoke Sarasvatī to avoid mantra/recitation errors and to keep the rite mentally steady.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śrāddha–Piṇḍadāna and Ancestor-Rites)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Sacred Forest/Tirtha-spot
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a sacred forest clearing (Dhenukāraṇya), a performer of piṇḍadāna worships a cow and bows at a marked cow-footprint stone; nearby are small icons of Buddhi-Vināyaka and Vṛddhi-Vināyaka, and Sarasvatī is invoked as the rite proceeds.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, forest backdrop with stylized trees, sacred cow adorned with garlands, a prominent footprint stone (go-pada) being bowed to, two Gaṇeśa forms in small shrine niches labeled Buddhi and Vṛddhi, Sarasvatī with vīṇā in a side panel, warm earthy palette and bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central decorated cow with gold ornaments, footprint stone with gold halo, flanking Buddhi-Vināyaka and Vṛddhi-Vināyaka with embossed gold crowns, Sarasvatī above with vīṇā, rich reds/greens and heavy gold leaf","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear ritual sequence depiction: (1) go-pūjā (2) go-pada namaskāra (3) Buddhi-Vināyaka salutation (4) Vṛddhi-Vināyaka salutation (5) piṇḍadāna with Sarasvatī invocation; fine linework and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed forest-tīrtha scene with cow, priest, footprint stone, small shrines, delicate rendering of offerings and textiles, balanced composition and refined palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: namecca = नमेत् + च; पूजयित्वाथ = पूजयित्वा + अथ; namedbuddhivināyakam = नमेत् + बुद्धिविनायकम्; namedvṛddhavināyakam = नमेत् + वृद्धविनायकम्; pitṝṃstārayecca = पितॄन् + तारयेत् + च; sarasvatyāñca = सरस्वत्याम् + च।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (Vināyaka invocations and Gayā śrāddha stations); Agni Purana sections on Gaṇeśa-stotra/mantra and śrāddha-vidhi elsewhere
FAQs
It prescribes a piṇḍadāna/śrāddha adjunct: worship of the cow at its footprint in a sacred spot (Dhenukāraṇya), followed by salutations to specific Vināyaka forms (for intellect and increase) and invocation that aids the upliftment of the ancestors.
It functions like a compact ritual manual: it links place-based sanctity (a named tīrtha/forest), ritual sequence (worship → salutations), deity-functional theology (Vināyaka as buddhi/vṛddhi giver), and śrāddha’s soteriological goal (pitṛ-tāraṇa), illustrating the text’s practical, multi-domain coverage.
By honoring the cow, invoking obstacle-removing and boon-granting Vināyaka, and propitiating Sarasvatī for correct sacred speech, the rite is held to become effective and merit-bearing—supporting the ‘crossing over’ (tāraṇa) and satisfaction of the ancestors.