Varaha Purana 14.21 — Adhyaya 14, Shloka 21
Ritual Procedure for Śrāddha: Sequence, Eligibility, and Offerings to Ancestors
अग्नये काव्यवाहनाय स्वाहेति प्रथमा हुतिः । सोमाय वै पितृमते दातव्या तदनन्तरम् ॥ १४.२१ ॥
agnaye kāvyavāhanāya svāheti prathamāhutiḥ | somāya vai pitṛmate dātavyā tadanantaram || 14.21 ||
Die erste Opfergabe ist mit der Formel „svāhā“ Agni darzubringen, dem Träger der Opfergaben. Danach ist Soma, der mit den Pitṛ (Ahnen) verbunden ist, eine Gabe zu geben.
Varāha (default, instructor voice in the Varāha–Pṛthivī dialogue framework)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"shraddha","instruction_summary":"In the śrāddha-associated homa, first offer ‘svāhā’ to Agni (kāvya-vāhana), then offer to Soma who is connected with the Pitṛs.","karmic_consequence":"Following the correct devatā-krama ensures offerings reach their intended recipients and yields śrāddha success; wrong sequence/mantra risks misdirection and diminished fruit."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"Agni and Soma represent the two sacrificial poles—transmission and nourishment; the rite mirrors cosmic circulation where offerings move through Agni and settle as Soma-like sustenance for Pitṛs.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Agni as ‘carrier’ (vāhana) parallels the cosmic mediator; Soma as pitṛ-mata evokes lunar/nectar principle sustaining ancestral realm—yajña as cosmic metabolism.","vedantic_connection":"Ritual deities symbolize functions of consciousness: Agni as transformative discernment, Soma as cooling integration; honoring both balances tapas and śānti in dharma."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ritual hermeneutics","core_concept":"Names and epithets encode function: ‘kāvya-vāhana’ specifies Agni’s role in carrying offerings; ‘pitṛ-mat’ specifies Soma’s ancestral affiliation.","practical_application":"Recite the correct formula with attention to epithet and order; understand the function to avoid rote error."}
Subject Matter: ["Ritual Practice","Ancestral Rites","Vedic Liturgical Formulae","Cultural Heritage"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: ritual space
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 14.14.20 (homa performed thrice with permission)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close-up of the homa: the first oblation offered into Agni with ‘svāhā’; then a second offering dedicated to Soma for the Pitṛs, with ritual precision and solemnity.","item_prompts":["flame altar","ladle pouring ghee/food","mantra scroll/gesture of recitation","moon/Soma symbol (subtle)","pitṛ indication (kusha, piṇḍa nearby)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Iconic Agni flames with stylized tongues; subtle lunar disc motif for Soma; priestly hand mudrā synchronized with ‘svāhā’.","tanjore_prompt":"Gold-leaf fire and a small silvered/luminous moon emblem for Soma; richly ornamented vessels.","mysore_prompt":"Classical priest figure with refined expression; balanced depiction of fire and cool lunar symbolism.","pahari_prompt":"Gentle night-tinged palette hinting Soma; intimate ritual focus with delicate linework and minimal background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn, liturgical","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"measured","voice_tone":"mantric, precise articulation on ‘svāhā’, ‘kāvya-vāhanāya’, and ‘pitṛ-mate’"}
FAQs
It preserves a Purāṇic formulation of śrāddha/pitṛ-yajña procedure, reflecting continuity with older Vedic oblation language (e.g., the use of “svāhā” and the pairing of Agni and Soma in ritual sequences).
No specific geographic site is named in this verse; it is primarily a liturgical instruction concerning the order of offerings.
The verse emphasizes disciplined ritual order and cultural remembrance of ancestors through prescribed offerings, framing ancestral commemoration as a structured social and ethical practice.
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