Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 8
अध्याय ११७ — श्राद्धकल्पः
The Procedure for Śrāddha
विश्वान्देवानावाहयिष्ये पृच्छेदावाहयेति च विश्वेदेवास आवाह्य विकीर्याथ यवान् जपेत्
viśvāndevānāvāhayiṣye pṛcchedāvāhayeti ca viśvedevāsa āvāhya vikīryātha yavān japet
„Ich werde die Viśvedevas anrufen“; dann lasse man fragen: „Rufe an!“. Nachdem die Viśvedevas angerufen sind, soll er die Gabe ausstreuen und danach das yava-mantra im Japa mit Gerstenkörnern rezitieren.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Liturgical call-and-response for invoking Viśvedevas, followed by scattering the offering and performing yava-mantra japa with barley grains in śrāddha/homa context.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Viśvedevas-āvāhana and Yava-mantra japa (barley rite)","lookup_keywords":["viśvedevas","āvāhana","vikīrya","yava","japa"],"quick_summary":"Invoke the Viśvedevas with the prescribed prompt, scatter the offering, and then perform japa using barley grains—linking deva-invocation with pitṛ-rite sanctification."}
Concept: Mantra and kriyā (action) operate together: āvāhana (invitation), vikīraṇa (scattering), and japa (repetition) form a single efficacious sequence.
Application: Use a structured liturgy: announce intent, receive the ritual cue, invoke, perform the offering action, then complete with grain-counted japa for steadiness and correctness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Yajna & Homa Ritual Procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist invoking the Viśvedevas, then scattering offerings, holding barley grains for japa beside a small fire-altar or śrāddha setup.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: priest with raised hand in āvāhana mudrā, stylized flames or offering space, barley grains in a small bowl, scattering gesture frozen mid-motion, divine presence suggested as subtle luminous forms","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central priest before a small altar, gold-leaf aura indicating Viśvedevas, barley grains highlighted with gold accents, ornate ritual vessels and lamps","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: step-by-step instructional composition—panel 1 āvāhana, panel 2 vikīraṇa, panel 3 yava-japa with counting gesture—fine lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed ritual courtyard, priest scattering grains, assistants holding bowls of yava, delicate depiction of smoke and offerings, refined costumes and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viśvāndevānāvāhayiṣye = viśvān devān āvāhayiṣye; pṛcchedāvāhayeti = pṛcchet āvāhaya iti; viśvedevāsa = viśve-devāsaḥ; vikīryātha = vikīrya atha.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 117 (Viśvedevas role in śrāddha; yava usage)
FAQs
It teaches a concrete homa sequence: formally invoke the Viśvedevas (āvāhana), perform the act of ritual scattering/strewing (vikīrya) of the offering material, and then do mantra-japa using barley grains (yava) as the counted/handled ritual medium.
By preserving step-by-step liturgical mechanics—dialogue cues (“I shall invoke…”, “Invoke!”), deity-class invocation (Viśvedevas), and material-ritual integration (yava in japa)—it functions as a practical ritual manual alongside the Purana’s many other disciplines.
Invoking the Viśvedevas aligns the rite with a comprehensive divine witness, while disciplined japa with a sanctified grain (yava) supports purification, steadiness of intention (saṅkalpa), and the accrual of ritual merit associated with correctly performed fire worship.
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