Varaha Purana 188.67 — Adhyaya 188, Shloka 67
Section on the Origin and Procedure of Piṇḍa-Rites and Śrāddha: Rules of Mourning Impurity
Aśauca
दद्याच्छय्यानं देवि तथैवाञ्जनकङ्कणम् ॥ अञ्जनं कङ्कणं गृह्य शय्यामाक्रम्य स द्विजः ॥
dadyāc chayyānaṃ devi tathaivāñjanakaṅkaṇam || añjanaṃ kaṅkaṇaṃ gṛhya śayyām ākramya sa dvijaḥ ||
One should give a bed, O Goddess, and likewise collyrium (añjana) and a bracelet. Taking the collyrium and the bracelet, that brāhmaṇa, stepping onto the bed, …
Varāha (default dialogue framework)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Varāha addresses Bhūdevī (‘देवि’) while prescribing dāna items; interaction is didactic within the dialogue frame."}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"Attentive; receiving detailed material-culture instructions tied to merit-making.","key_question":"Implicit: what gifts should be given and how are they ritually handled in the śrāddha/nivāpa sequence?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Give a bed (śayyā), and also collyrium (añjana) and a bracelet (kaṅkaṇa); the brāhmaṇa takes these and steps onto the bed as part of the rite.","karmic_consequence":"Proper dāna with correct procedure yields increased puṇya and supports the pitṛ rite’s completeness; stinginess or improper gifting reduces merit and is censured as adharma."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"dharma-of-giving","core_concept":"Material gifts become vehicles of merit when aligned with right intention and proper recipients; comfort given outwardly refines inner detachment.","practical_application":"Practice dāna with respect and completeness—choose useful items, give with humility, and avoid transactional pride; see giving as purification of possessiveness."}
Subject Matter: ["Ritual Practice","Material Culture","Ethics"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: dāna-śṛṅgāra (auspiciousness/beauty)
Type: ritual-space
Related Themes: Sequence continues into resting, returning to nivāpa place, and cow-tail rite (next verse)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A donor presents a bed along with a small container of collyrium and a bracelet; a brāhmaṇa recipient accepts them and ceremonially steps onto the bed.","item_prompts":["wooden bed/charpoy with cloth","small añjana box/applicator","bracelet (kaṅkaṇa)","brāhmaṇa receiving gifts","ritual donor with offering posture"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: bold outlines; bed rendered decoratively; ornaments emphasized; donor and brāhmaṇa in formal poses; Bhūdevī/Varāha as witnessing deities optional.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf highlights on jewelry and bed textiles; rich ornamentation; symmetrical composition with donor and recipient.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: fine detailing of objects (añjana box, bracelet); soft shading; calm ceremonial mood.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: domestic ritual scene with patterned textiles; delicate depiction of ornaments; gentle narrative flow."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional, auspicious","suggested_raga":"Bihag","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, steady"}
FAQs
It evidences a Purāṇic list of dāna-items (gifts) associated with rites, valuable for understanding ritual material culture and patronage norms.
No geographic location is named; the verse enumerates objects used in ritual gifting.
Ritual generosity includes tangible support (a bed) and personal items, framed as proper dāna within the rite.
Ask anything about this verse
Curious about the meaning, context, or a word? Ask, and continue the conversation in the Vedapath app.
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Varaha Purana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.