Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 9
अध्याय ११५ — गयायात्राविधिः
Procedure for the Pilgrimage to Gayā
गन्तुमिति ख , ग , घ , छ , ज च यदि इति घ , ग , झ च अष्टकासु च वृद्धौच गयायां मृतवासरे अत्र मातुः पृथक् श्राद्धमन्यत्र पतिना सह
gantumiti kha , ga , gha , cha , ja ca yadi iti gha , ga , jha ca aṣṭakāsu ca vṛddhauca gayāyāṃ mṛtavāsare atra mātuḥ pṛthak śrāddhamanyatra patinā saha
La leçon «(on peut) aller» se trouve dans les recensions kha-, ga-, gha-, cha- et ja- ; la leçon «si» se trouve dans les recensions gha-, ga- et jha-. De plus, aux jours d’Aṣṭakā, lors d’un accroissement/heureux présage familial, à Gayā et au jour anniversaire du décès : dans ce cas, le śrāddha pour la mère doit être accompli séparément ; ailleurs, il doit être accompli avec l’époux (c’est-à-dire avec le père).
Lord Agni (in dialogue framework, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Text-critical awareness for ritual injunctions (variant readings) and a practical rule for maternal śrāddha: perform mother’s śrāddha separately in specified contexts; otherwise perform jointly with the husband/father.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Pāṭha-bheda and Mātṛ-śrāddha-viniyoga (Separate vs Joint Śrāddha)","lookup_keywords":["pāṭha-bheda","Aṣṭakā-śrāddha","mātṛ-śrāddha","mṛta-vāsara","viniyoga"],"quick_summary":"The verse preserves recension-variants (‘gantum’/‘yadi’) and then states a rule: on Aṣṭakā days, auspicious family occasions, at Gayā, and on death-anniversary, mother’s śrāddha is to be done separately; elsewhere it is done together with the husband."}
Concept: Ritual hermeneutics: dharma depends on correct textual reading and context-sensitive application (deśa-kāla-nimitta).
Application: When conducting śrāddha, consult reliable recensions/teachers for wording; apply the rule of separate maternal śrāddha in the enumerated occasions to avoid ritual mismatch.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha-vidhi (Pitṛ-kārya and ancestral rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A learned priest compares palm-leaf manuscripts showing variant readings, then instructs a householder on arranging separate offerings for the mother during special śrāddha occasions at Gayā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scholar-priest holding palm-leaf manuscript bundles, scribe beside, ritual platform with two distinct offering spots (for mother and father), stylized setting, austere sacred palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central priest with manuscript and gesture of instruction, two decorated offering trays symbolizing separate śrāddha, gold accents on borders and ritual vessels","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene: manuscripts labeled with variant words, clear separation of maternal and joint śrāddha layouts, fine lines and soft colors, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate scholarly setting with manuscripts, marginal notes, then adjacent riverbank ritual scene, realistic textiles and architecture, refined detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वृद्धौच = वृद्धौ + च; श्राद्धमन्यत्र = श्राद्धम् + अन्यत्र. प्रारम्भे ‘गन्तुमिति… यदि इति…’ इत्यादि पाठभेद-सूचकाक्षराणि (ख, ग, घ, छ, ज, झ) ग्रन्थ-सम्पादन-चिह्नरूपेण गृहीतानि।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 115 (Aṣṭakā/śrāddha timing and Gayā rules)
FAQs
It gives śrāddha-kāla guidance: identifies key occasions (Aṣṭakā days, auspicious family increase, Gayā pilgrimage context, death-anniversary) and specifies when the mother’s śrāddha should be performed separately versus jointly with the husband/father.
Alongside theology and myth, the Agni Purana preserves practical dharma-ritual regulations, including calendrical/occasion-based rules and tīrtha-specific instructions (Gayā), reflecting its broad, handbook-like coverage of Hindu life-cycle and ancestral rites.
Correctly timing and structuring śrāddha is held to ensure proper satisfaction of the Pitṛs and to generate puṇya (merit); the separate offering for the mother in the specified case emphasizes precise ritual entitlement and completeness of ancestral obligation.