Shloka 24

Gayā-yātrā-vidhi: Multi-day Śrāddha Route, Pitṛ-devatās, and Akṣaya Merit at Gayā

Devanagari script

श्राद्धं तु नवदेवत्यं कुर्याद्द्वादशदैवतम् / अन्वष्टकासु वृद्धौ च गयायां मृतवासरे

Transliteration

śrāddhaṃ tu navadevatyaṃ kuryāddvādaśadaivatam / anvaṣṭakāsu vṛddhau ca gayāyāṃ mṛtavāsare

Translation

But Śrāddha should be performed with nine deities as the presiding divinities; and in the Anvaṣṭakā rites, on occasions of prosperity and increase, at Gayā, and on the day of death, it should be performed with twelve deities.

Word by Word

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; emphasis/contrast)

• नवदेवत्यम्: having nine deities (as presiding)
• नवदेवत्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नवदेवतानां सम्बन्धि)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्वादशदैवतम्: (or) having twelve deities
• द्वादशदैवतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश + दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्वादशदैवतसम्बन्धि)

• अन्वष्टकासु: on the Anvaṣṭakā days
• अन्वष्टकासु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्वष्टका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• वृद्धौ: at a time of increase/auspicious growth (vṛddhi)
• वृद्धौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गयायाम्: in Gayā
• गयायाम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मृतवासरे: on the day of death (death-anniversary day)
• मृतवासरे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत + वासर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मृतस्य वासरः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Anvaṣṭakā rites; vṛddhi (prosperity/augmentation occasions); at Gayā; on mṛta-vāsara (day of death)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness includes devatā-count/arrangement and context-sensitive procedure; śrāddha varies by occasion and place.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as a harmonizing order (ṛta/niyati) expressed through precise observance; karma becomes sattva-supporting when aligned with śāstra.

Application: Follow tradition-specific manuals (gṛhya/smārta paddhati) for devatā-vidhāna; consult competent priest for anvaṣṭakā, vṛddhi-śrāddha, Gayā-śrāddha, and death-anniversary observances.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha-kṣetra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha chapters detailing devatā-vidhāna and special śrāddhas (anvaṣṭakā, vṛddhi, gayā)

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Gayā (tīrtha)

FAQs

What is the importance of navadevatya and dvādaśadaivata Śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse distinguishes standard Śrāddha (nine-deity arrangement) from specific occasions where a twelve-deity arrangement is prescribed, indicating that timing and context change the ritual form.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death?

By prescribing Śrāddha—especially on the death-day and at Gayā—the text emphasizes timely ancestral rites as supportive dharmic acts connected with post-death transitions and obligations to the Pitṛs.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing Śrāddha, follow tradition-specific guidance on the correct occasion and format (nine vs. twelve deities), and treat Gayā and death-anniversary rites as especially significant within orthodox practice.