Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 1
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे धर्मशास्त्रं नाम द्विषष्ट्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ त्रिषष्ठ्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः श्राद्धकल्पकथनं पुष्कर उवाच श्राद्धकल्पं प्रवक्ष्यामि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं शृणु निमन्त्र्य विप्रान् पूर्वेद्युः स्वागतेनापराह्णतः
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe dharmaśāstraṃ nāma dviṣaṣṭyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha triṣaṣṭhyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ śrāddhakalpakathanaṃ puṣkara uvāca śrāddhakalpaṃ pravakṣyāmi bhuktimuktipradaṃ śṛṇu nimantrya viprān pūrvedyuḥ svāgatenāparāhṇataḥ
So endet im Agni-Mahāpurāṇa das Kapitel namens «Dharmaśāstra», das einhundertzweiundsechzigste (162.). Nun beginnt das einhundertdreiundsechzigste (163.) Kapitel: «Darlegung der Śrāddha-Vorschrift». Puṣkara sprach: «Ich werde das rituelle Verfahren des Śrāddha darlegen, das sowohl weltlichen Genuss als auch Befreiung verleiht—höre. Nachdem man die Brāhmaṇas am Vortag eingeladen hat, soll man sie am Nachmittag mit gebührendem Empfang aufnehmen und ehren»।
Puṣkara
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Initiating and sequencing the Śrāddha procedure: prior-day invitation, proper reception timing, and framing Śrāddha as both bhukti- and mukti-bestowing.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śrāddha-kalpa: Invitation and Afternoon Reception","lookup_keywords":["śrāddha-kalpa","nimantraṇa","aparāhṇa","atithi-satkāra","pitṛ-kārya"],"quick_summary":"Introduces the Śrāddha rite as a structured procedure: invite qualified brāhmaṇas the previous day and honorably receive them in the afternoon, establishing the rite’s auspicious timing and intent."}
Concept: Pitṛ-yajña as a dharmic bridge between worldly welfare (bhukti) and spiritual good (mukti) through gratitude and correct ritual.
Application: Perform śrāddha with intentionality: plan ahead (previous-day invitation), keep timing (aparāhṇa), and uphold respectful reception as part of the rite.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra & Pitṛ-kārya (Śrāddha-kalpa / Ancestor rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder prepares for śrāddha: sending invitations the previous day, then welcoming brāhmaṇas in the afternoon with water, seat, and respectful gestures; ritual vessels and kuśa visible, atmosphere solemn.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; courtyard scene with gṛhastha offering arghya and welcoming brāhmaṇas, ritual vessels (kalaśa, pātra) and kuśa bundles; warm tones, stylized faces, temple-like backdrop suggesting Puṣkara tīrtha.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore with gold; central śrāddha welcome scene—brāhmaṇas seated, host offering pādya/arghya—gold halo-like ornamentation around ritual vessels; rich maroons and emerald greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style; stepwise narrative: left panel invitation (nimantraṇa) with messenger/host, right panel afternoon reception (aparāhṇa) with orderly seating; fine linework and didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; detailed domestic veranda, brāhmaṇas arriving with staffs and manuscripts, host greeting with folded hands; afternoon light, intricate textiles, copper vessels and offerings rendered finely."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति + (अ) (यणादेश/लोप); ऽध्यायः = अध्यायः (अवग्रहः); पूर्वेद्युः = पूर्व + एद्युः (अव्ययीभाव); स्वागतेनापराह्णतः = स्वागतेन + अपराह्णतः (न + अ → ना).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163 (Śrāddha-kalpa section continuing with seating, offerings, and mantras); Agni Purana 162 (transition from prāyaścitta/ācāra to pitṛ-kārya)
FAQs
It introduces the Śrāddha-kalpa (procedural manual for ancestor-offerings) and gives a key protocol point: invite the brāhmaṇas a day in advance and receive/honor them properly in the afternoon (aparāhṇa), the preferred time for Śrāddha.
It shows the Agni Purāṇa functioning as a compendium of practical Dharmaśāstra—moving from chapter colophons into a specialized, stepwise ritual topic (Śrāddha), including timing, invitation etiquette, and the promise of results.
Śrāddha is framed as yielding both bhukti (worldly welfare) and mukti (liberation); correct observance—especially proper timing and respectful hospitality to qualified brāhmaṇas—supports the rite’s merit, purification, and ancestral satisfaction.