Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 13
Chapter 166: वर्णधर्मादिकथनं
Exposition of Varṇa-Dharma and Related Topics
पार्वणश्राद्धं श्रावण्याग्रहायणी च चैत्र्यपि आश्वयुजी सप्तहविर्यज्ञसंस्थास्ततः स्मृताः
pārvaṇaśrāddhaṃ śrāvaṇyāgrahāyaṇī ca caitryapi āśvayujī saptahaviryajñasaṃsthāstataḥ smṛtāḥ
Pārvaṇa-śrāddha, Śrāvaṇī, Āgrahāyaṇī, Caitrī und Āśvayujī — diese werden als die sieben fest begründeten Formen der Havis-Opfer (haviryajña) überliefert.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Calendar-based classification of śrāddha and haviryajña forms; used to schedule periodic offerings aligned with lunar/seasonal observances.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Saptahaviryajña-saṃsthā: Pārvaṇa-śrāddha and Seasonal Iṣṭis","lookup_keywords":["pārvaṇa śrāddha","śrāvaṇī","āgrahāyaṇī","caitrī","āśvayujī"],"quick_summary":"Lists key periodic rites—Pārvaṇa-śrāddha and seasonal observances—identified as established haviryajña forms. Serves as a ritual calendar index for pitṛkārya and havis offerings."}
Concept: Pitṛ-ṛṇa is addressed through time-bound rites; dharma is practiced as regular remembrance and offering aligned to sacred time.
Application: Maintain a yearly/seasonal schedule: perform Pārvaṇa-śrāddha and the named seasonal rites at their proper months to sustain ancestral and cosmic reciprocity.
Khanda Section: Shraddha-vidhi (Pitṛkārya and Haviryajña classifications)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual calendar tableau: a priest and householder performing śrāddha with piṇḍa and water offerings, with five seasonal month-panels labeled Śrāvaṇa, Āgrahāyaṇa, Caitra, Āśvina, plus the Pārvaṇa marker.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, śrāddha scene with pitṛs depicted subtly in the upper register, month-panels as decorative medallions around, traditional lamps and banana leaves, earthy reds and yellows","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central śrāddha offering with gold foil highlights on vessels and haloed pitṛ-symbols, surrounding circular month emblems, ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional depiction of śrāddha setup (kuśa, piṇḍa, pātra) with labeled seasonal rites, soft palette and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard śrāddha with detailed utensils and textiles, a marginal calendar strip naming the rites, refined linework and muted tones"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: श्रावणी+आग्रहायणी→श्रावण्याग्रहायणी (य्-सन्धि); चैत्री+अपि→चैत्र्यपि (य्-सन्धि); यज्ञसंस्थाः+ततः→यज्ञसंस्थास्ततः (विसर्ग-लोप/सन्धि)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 166.12 (yajña taxonomy preceding this list)
FAQs
It classifies specific month-linked śrāddha/rites—Pārvaṇa, Śrāvaṇī, Āgrahāyaṇī, Caitrī, and Āśvayujī—as recognized haviryajña-saṃsthās (formal categories of havis-offering rites), helping a practitioner choose the correct observance by calendrical timing.
By cataloging ritual institutions (saṃsthā) and mapping them to sacred time (months/parvans), it functions like a compact reference index—typical of the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging, handbook-style organization of dharma, rites, and religious practice.
Correctly timed śrāddha and havis offerings are presented as tradition-sanctioned means of pitṛ-tarpaṇa (satisfying ancestors) and self-purification, supporting continuity of lineage duties (pitṛ-ṛṇa) and generating merit (puṇya) through properly ordered ritual action.