Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 17
Chapter 109 — Tīrtha-mahātmya
The Glory of Sacred Pilgrimage Places
तीर्थं कणखलं पुण्यं भद्रकर्णह्रदन्तथा गङ्गासस्वतीसङ्गं ब्रह्मावर्तमघार्दनं
tīrthaṃ kaṇakhalaṃ puṇyaṃ bhadrakarṇahradantathā gaṅgāsasvatīsaṅgaṃ brahmāvartamaghārdanaṃ
Il y a le tīrtha sacré nommé Kaṇakhala, ainsi que le lac Bhadrakarṇa, la confluence de la Gaṅgā et de la Sarasvatī, et Brahmāvarta : tous sont destructeurs de péché.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Creating a pilgrimage itinerary of specific tīrthas (Kaṇakhala, Bhadrakarṇa-hrada, Gaṅgā–Sarasvatī saṅgama, Brahmāvarta) for pāpa-kṣaya rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Kaṇakhala, Bhadrakarṇa-hrada, Gaṅgā–Sarasvatī-saṅgama, Brahmāvarta: pāpa-nāśaka tīrthas","lookup_keywords":["Kaṇakhala","Bhadrakarṇa hrada","Gaṅgā Sarasvatī saṅgama","Brahmāvarta","aghārdana"],"quick_summary":"A compact list of renowned tīrthas, each praised as sin-destroying; useful as a smaraṇa-list or travel sequence for ritual bathing and offerings."}
Concept: Pāpa-kṣaya through tīrtha-sevā: snāna, dāna, and remembrance at sanctified waters and confluences.
Application: Perform snāna at hrada/saṅgama, offer tarpaṇa to ancestors, and undertake vrata-like restraint during yātrā to intensify merit.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya (Sacred Geography and Pilgrimage Merit)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A map-like sacred panorama showing Kaṇakhala ghats, a serene lake labeled Bhadrakarṇa-hrada, two rivers meeting (Gaṅgā and Sarasvatī), and a pastoral Brahmāvarta landscape with sages.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized confluence with swirling river bands, ghats with lamps, sages in Brahmāvarta under banyan trees, labels in traditional script panels, ornate floral borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central confluence with gold-highlighted water ripples, side vignettes of Kaṇakhala ghat and sacred lake, embossed gold for tīrtha names, jewel-toned palette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, diagrammatic yet elegant depiction of four tīrthas in quadrants, fine lines, soft shading, small ritual actions (snāna, tarpaṇa) shown clearly.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed riverscape with confluence, architectural ghats, small figures performing ablutions, cartouches naming Kaṇakhala and Brahmāvarta, delicate foliage."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भद्रकर्णह्रदन्तथा = भद्रकर्णह्रदम् + तथा (मकार-लोप/अनुस्वार-प्रयोग in transmission).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 109 tīrtha lists continuing in 109.18–109.20
FAQs
It conveys tīrtha-vidyā: identifying specific pilgrimage sites (Kaṇakhala, Bhadrakarṇa-hrada, Gaṅgā–Sarasvatī confluence, Brahmāvarta) whose visitation and associated rites (bathing, offerings, vows) are traditionally taught as sin-destroying.
It catalogs sacred geography (tīrthas, rivers, regions) as a practical dharma-resource—an index-like listing of places and their spiritual utility—showing the Purāṇa’s wide scope beyond theology into pilgrimage mapping and karmic practice.
The verse states that these tīrthas are aghārdana—“sin-crushers,” implying that contact with them through pilgrimage observances supports purification (pāpa-kṣaya) and the accumulation of merit (puṇya).
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