Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 14
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
पित्रे तिलोदकं क्षीरं वृक्षजं दन्तधावनं दौवारिकाय देवाय प्रदद्याद् धेनुमुद्रया
pitre tilodakaṃ kṣīraṃ vṛkṣajaṃ dantadhāvanaṃ dauvārikāya devāya pradadyād dhenumudrayā
Dem Pitṛ (Ahnengeist) soll man Sesamwasser und Milch darbringen; und dem Gott Dauvārika soll man ein aus einem Baum gewonnenes Zahnreinigungszweiglein überreichen, wobei man die Mudrā „dhenu“ (Kuh-Handgeste) vollzieht.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual instructions to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Śrāddha/pitṛ-tarpaṇa sequencing: what to offer to Pitṛs and to the threshold-guardian deity, including the correct mudrā while gifting.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pitṛ-tarpaṇa dravya and Dauvārika-dāna with Dhenu-mudrā","lookup_keywords":["pitṛ-tarpaṇa","tilodaka","kṣīra","dauvārika","dhenu-mudrā"],"quick_summary":"Offer sesame-water and milk to ancestors; give a tree-derived tooth-cleaning twig to the Dauvārika deity while forming the dhenu hand-gesture to sanctify the gift."}
Concept: Pitṛ-ṛṇa (debt to ancestors) is discharged through correctly specified offerings and respectful gifting.
Application: Maintain śrāddha discipline: correct dravya, correct recipient, and correct ritual gesture to avoid doṣa in offerings.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śrāddha / Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and ritual gifts)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder performs pitṛ-tarpaṇa with a small water vessel, offering sesame-water and milk; nearby, at the doorway shrine, a twig for tooth-cleaning is presented with the dhenu-mudrā hand gesture.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat warm palette, ritualist in white dhoti offering tilodaka and milk to pitṛs, doorway guardian deity niche (dauvārika) at temple entrance, clear dhenu-mudrā hand pose, sacred lamps, stylized lotus motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, central ritual scene of pitṛ-tarpaṇa, ornate doorway shrine for Dauvārika, gleaming vessels of milk and sesame-water, highlighted dhenu-mudrā, rich reds and greens, embossed jewelry on deity icon","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, instructional clarity: labeled offerings (tilodaka, kṣīra, dantadhāvana twig), priest demonstrating dhenu-mudrā, doorway altar composition, soft pastel background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed domestic courtyard, ritualist seated with lotā and bowls, attendants holding twig, doorway with small guardian icon, delicate textiles, naturalistic vessels, precise hand gesture depiction"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: No major external sandhi beyond standard euphony; compounds resolved: तिलोदकम् = तिल-उदकम्, वृक्षजम् = वृक्ष-जम्, दन्तधावनम् = दन्त-धावनम्, धेनुमुद्रया = धेनु-मुद्रया.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on śrāddha/tarpaṇa and mudrā usage (same khanda context)
FAQs
It prescribes specific śrāddha-related offerings—tilodaka (sesame-water) and milk for the Pitṛs—and instructs a separate offering of a tree-derived tooth-cleaning twig to the doorkeeper/threshold deity (Dauvārika), performed with the Dhenu-mudrā.
It combines multiple practical domains in one instruction: ancestral rites (pitṛ-tarpaṇa), household purity practices (dantadhāvana with a twig), deity propitiation at liminal spaces (doorkeeper/threshold worship), and tantric-ritual technique (mudrā usage).
Offering tilodaka and milk is traditionally held to satisfy and uplift the Pitṛs, supporting lineage well-being; honoring the threshold deity and using Dhenu-mudrā is associated with ritual protection, purity, and the unobstructed fruition of the rite.