Shloka 5
Śrāddha-bheda-nirūpaṇa: Nitya, Vṛddhi, Nāndīmukha, and Ekoḍḍiṣṭa Procedures
देवपितृसर्वदेवब्राह्मणं श्राद्धकरणानुज्ञापनम् / आसने ॐ विश्वेदेवास आगत शृणुताम इमंर्ठ इवम् / तं बर्हिर्निषीदत / ॐ विश्वेदेवाः शृणुतेमं इवं ये मे अन्तरिक्षे य उदद्यविष्ट / पे अग्निजिह्वा उतवा यदत्रा आसाद्यास्मिन्बर्हिषि मादयध्वम् / ॐ आगच्छन्तु इति विश्वेदेवावाहनं-गन्धादिदानम् / अच्छिद्रावधारणवाचनम्
devapitṛsarvadevabrāhmaṇaṃ śrāddhakaraṇānujñāpanam / āsane oṃ viśvedevāsa āgata śṛṇutāma imaṃrṭha ivam / taṃ barhirniṣīdata / oṃ viśvedevāḥ śṛṇutemaṃ ivaṃ ye me antarikṣe ya udadyaviṣṭa / pe agnijihvā utavā yadatrā āsādyāsminbarhiṣi mādayadhvam / oṃ āgacchantu iti viśvedevāvāhanaṃ-gandhādidānam / acchidrāvadhāraṇavācanam
Permission for performing the Śrāddha is sought from the gods, the Pitṛs, all deities, and the Brāhmaṇas. Seated upon the ritual seat, one recites: “O Viśvedevās, come; hear this intended rite; sit down upon this sacred darbha-seat (barhis). O Viśvedevās, listen to this—those who are in my mid-region (antarikṣa), those of flaming tongues (like Agni), and whoever is present here—having arrived, rejoice upon this barhis.”
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda) — ritual prescription style
Ritual Type: Parvana
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: At the commencement of śrāddha, before food offering; during āsana and āvāhana of Viśvedevās
Concept: Śrāddha begins with seeking adhikāra (permission/assent) and establishing an ‘unbroken’ rite through correct invitation and offerings.
Vedantic Theme: Ritual as niyama: ordered action (karma) performed with śraddhā purifies the doer and supports cosmic reciprocity (ṛta).
Application: Before any ancestral offering, formally invite the intended divine witnesses (Viśvedevās), offer gandha etc., and explicitly safeguard correctness via an ‘acchidra’ resolve/mantra.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: ritual space (vedi/āsana)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: śrāddha-vidhi sections around 1.219 (Viśvedevāhvāna, āsana, gandha-dāna, ‘acchidra’ formulas); Garuda Purana 1.219.6-1.219.8 (continuation: permissions, saṅkalpa, ekoddiṣṭa procedure); Garuda Purana 1.220.1 (transition to sapiṇḍīkaraṇa after one year)
FAQs
This verse frames Viśvedevās as the collective divine witnesses and recipients who are formally invited to “sit on the barhis” and hear the rite, establishing ritual legitimacy and auspiciousness for offerings made toward the ancestors.
It outlines a procedural order: seek permission, seat the rite, invite Viśvedevās with mantras, offer gandha (fragrance) and related upacāras, and then recite the ‘acchidra’ affirmation to ensure the rite is complete and without defect.
Perform ancestral rites with clarity of intention, respectful invitation (āvāhana), and careful completion (acchidra)—even simplified home śrāddha benefits from mindful order, cleanliness, and honoring elders and qualified officiants.