Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 12
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
मूलक्षेत्रे महेशस्य धारायां पिण्डदो भवेत् घ च कपिलेशमित्यादिः, गोप्रचारे च पिण्डद इत्य् अन्तः पाठो ग पुस्तके नास्ति श्राद्धे पिण्डप्रदतेति ख भवेदाकाशगङ्गायामैत्यादिः, क्रौञ्चपादे च पिण्डद इत्य् अन्तः पाठः छ पुस्तके नास्ति नमेद्भूतेश्वरं नर इति घ गृध्रकूटे गृध्रवटे धौतपादे च पिण्डदः
mūlakṣetre maheśasya dhārāyāṃ piṇḍado bhavet gha ca kapileśamityādiḥ, gopracāre ca piṇḍada ity antaḥ pāṭho ga pustake nāsti śrāddhe piṇḍapradateti kha bhavedākāśagaṅgāyāmaityādiḥ, krauñcapāde ca piṇḍada ity antaḥ pāṭhaḥ cha pustake nāsti namedbhūteśvaraṃ nara iti gha gṛdhrakūṭe gṛdhravaṭe dhautapāde ca piṇḍadaḥ
Dans le Mūla-kṣetra de Maheśa (Śiva) et à Dhārā, on devient offrandeur de piṇḍas (c’est-à-dire qu’on acquiert le mérite d’accomplir les offrandes de piṇḍa). De même à Kapileśa et dans les autres tīrthas mentionnés. (Certaines recensions ajoutent : « et à Go-pracāra aussi on devient offrandeur de piṇḍas », mais cette leçon est absente du manuscrit ‘ga’.) Dans le śrāddha, il convient d’offrir des piṇḍas (ainsi lit une autre recension). À Ākāśa-gaṅgā aussi, on devient offrandeur de piṇḍas. (Certaines recensions ajoutent : « et à Krauñca-pāda aussi », mais cette leçon interne est absente du manuscrit ‘cha’.) L’homme doit se prosterner devant Bhūteśvara (selon la recension ‘gha’). À Gṛdhra-kūṭa, Gṛdhra-vaṭa et aussi à Dhauta-pāda, (on devient) offrandeur de piṇḍas.
Lord Agni (narrating the tīrtha-śrāddha section to a sage, traditionally Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"A tīrtha-index for śrāddha: identifies multiple named sites where piṇḍa-dāna is especially efficacious; also preserves variant readings useful for ritual manuals and recensional comparison.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Piṇḍa-dāna tīrthas: Mūla-kṣetra, Dhārā, Kapileśa, Ākāśa-gaṅgā, Gṛdhra-kūṭa, Gṛdhra-vaṭa, Dhauta-pāda (with variants)","lookup_keywords":["Mūla-kṣetra Maheśa","Dhārā tīrtha","Kapileśa","Ākāśa-gaṅgā","Gṛdhra-kūṭa"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates several kṣetras where offering piṇḍas yields the merit of proper śrāddha; it also notes manuscript variants, indicating a living ritual-text tradition."}
Concept: Place-sanctity (kṣetra-śakti) amplifies pitṛ-karman; correct śrāddha is both act (piṇḍa) and locus (tīrtha).
Application: Use the list as a route-plan for tīrtha-śrāddha; follow local prayoga (including bowing to kṣetra-devatā like Bhūteśvara where applicable).
Khanda Section: Tirtha-shraddha and Pinda-dana (Pilgrimage rites for ancestors)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A map-like procession through multiple sacred sites—Śiva kṣetra, river-source Ākāśa-gaṅgā, hill (kūṭa), banyan (vaṭa)—with the pilgrim offering piṇḍas at each; marginal notes indicate variant readings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, multi-panel tīrtha circuit with stylized shrines and a sacred banyan, hill peak labeled Gṛdhra-kūṭa, river-source labeled Ākāśa-gaṅgā, pilgrim offering piṇḍas, manuscript-variant notes as decorative script borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Maheśa kṣetra shrine with gold arch, surrounding medallions for Dhārā, Kapileśa, Ākāśa-gaṅgā, Gṛdhra-vaṭa, Gṛdhra-kūṭa, Dhauta-pāda; gold highlights on shrine frames and ritual vessels","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, schematic pilgrimage chart with labeled vignettes for each tīrtha, clear depiction of piṇḍa-dāna at each stop, small side-notes for variant readings (Go-pracāra, Krauñca-pāda, Bhūteśvara)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, travel narrative scene with pilgrims moving across varied terrain—river source, hill, banyan grove, temple courtyards—each stop showing piṇḍa offering; marginalia-like captions for place names"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Item 116.12 contains extensive critical apparatus/variant readings (घ/ग/ख/छ etc.). Pada-analysis provided for the main readable verse-segment: ‘मूलक्षेत्रे… पिण्डदो भवेत् … गृध्रकूटे… धौतपादे च पिण्डदः’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (tīrtha lists and śrāddha-vidhi)
FAQs
It identifies specific tīrthas—especially Śaiva sites—where performing śrāddha with piṇḍa-offerings (piṇḍa-dāna) is said to confer the merit of being a ‘piṇḍa-giver,’ i.e., successfully completing ancestral offerings at pilgrimage locations.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana catalogs practical ritual geography: it lists named pilgrimage sites and ties them to concrete rites (śrāddha/piṇḍa-dāna), preserving a ritual map and variant manuscript readings—an encyclopedic blend of dharma, tīrtha-tradition, and ritual procedure.
Piṇḍa-dāna at these tīrthas is presented as a high-merit act that supports ancestors (pitṛs) and purifies the performer; additionally, bowing to Bhūteśvara emphasizes devotion to Śiva as a sanctifying complement to ancestral rites.