Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 1
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे गयामाहात्म्ये गययात्रा नाम पञ्चदशाधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ षोडशाधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः गयायात्राविधिः अग्निर् उवाच गायत्र्यैव महानद्यां स्नातः सन्ध्यां समाचरेत् गायत्र्या अग्रतः प्रातः श्राद्धं पिण्डमथाक्षयं
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe gayāmāhātmye gayayātrā nāma pañcadaśādhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ṣoḍaśādhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ gayāyātrāvidhiḥ agnir uvāca gāyatryaiva mahānadyāṃ snātaḥ sandhyāṃ samācaret gāyatryā agrataḥ prātaḥ śrāddhaṃ piṇḍamathākṣayaṃ
Ainsi, dans l’Agni Mahāpurāṇa, dans la section du Māhātmya de Gayā, s’achève le cent quinzième chapitre intitulé « Le pèlerinage à Gayā ». Commence maintenant le cent seizième chapitre : « La procédure du pèlerinage à Gayā ». Agni dit : « Après s’être baigné dans le grand fleuve en ne récitant que la Gāyatrī, qu’on accomplisse le culte de Sandhyā. Puis, le matin, en plaçant la Gāyatrī au premier rang comme mantra directeur, qu’on accomplisse le Śrāddha et qu’on offre le piṇḍa, obtenant un mérite impérissable (akṣaya). »
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Step-by-step Gayā-yātrā: Gāyatrī-recited bath, sandhyā, then morning śrāddha and piṇḍa offering for akṣaya merit.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gayā-yātrāvidhi: Gāyatrī-snāna, Sandhyā, and Akṣaya Śrāddha","lookup_keywords":["Gayā-yātrāvidhi","Gāyatrī","sandhyā","śrāddha","piṇḍa"],"quick_summary":"Begin the Gayā rite with Gāyatrī-recited bathing in the great river, perform sandhyā, and in the morning conduct śrāddha and piṇḍa with Gāyatrī foremost to secure akṣaya fruit."}
Concept: Mantra-led purity (Gāyatrī) and daily sandhyā discipline sanctify pitṛ offerings and stabilize their fruit as akṣaya.
Application: Use Gāyatrī as the leading mantra during snāna and śrāddha; keep sandhyā as the daily anchor before undertaking pitṛ-karmas.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-mahatmya (Gaya-mahatmya) / Shraddha-vidhi (ancestral rites and pilgrimage procedure)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Bhakti
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni instructs the pilgrim: bathing in the river while reciting Gāyatrī, performing sandhyā, then morning śrāddha and piṇḍa offering on the riverbank.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, river ghāṭ at dawn, pilgrim waist-deep in water with prayer gesture, subtle mantra aura, then sandhyā posture on bank, priests preparing piṇḍas; traditional flat perspective and ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, triptych-like scene: Gāyatrī-snāna, sandhyā, and piṇḍa offering; gold leaf highlighting the sun and sacred river, rich textiles and ritual vessels","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional sequence with clear ritual objects: kamaṇḍalu, kuśa, arghya vessel, piṇḍa plate; soft colors, fine outlines, calm faces, sunrise gradient","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed riverside with steps, priests and pilgrims, morning light, small inset showing Agni as narrator, delicate foliage and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity → iti; agnir uvāca → agniḥ + uvāca; gāyatryaiva → gāyatryā + eva; piṇḍamathākṣayam → piṇḍam + atha + akṣayam; 'śatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ' → śatatamaḥ + adhyāyaḥ (avagraha).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (Gayā-yātrāvidhi continuation); Agni Purana 115 (Gayā-māhātmya: akṣaya-phala)
FAQs
It prescribes a ritual sequence for Gayā: bathe in the great river with Gāyatrī-japa, perform Sandhyā worship, and then conduct morning Śrāddha with piṇḍa-offering, emphasizing Gāyatrī as the leading mantra.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s practical ritual manual character by giving procedural guidance for tīrtha-pilgrimage and ancestral rites (Śrāddha/piṇḍa-dāna), alongside mantra and daily observance (Sandhyā), integrating multiple domains of dharma-practice.
The verse links correct preparation (purificatory bath and Sandhyā) and properly performed Śrāddha at Gayā with “akṣaya” results—undiminishing merit—traditionally understood as enduring benefit for the performer and spiritual satisfaction/benefit to ancestors.