Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 20
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
हृषीकेशं नमस्कृत्य तदग्रे पिण्डदो भवेत् माधवं पूजयित्वा च देवो वैमानिको भवेत्
hṛṣīkeśaṃ namaskṛtya tadagre piṇḍado bhavet mādhavaṃ pūjayitvā ca devo vaimāniko bhavet
S’étant incliné devant Hṛṣīkeśa, on doit ensuite offrir devant Lui le piṇḍa (boule de riz funéraire). Et, après avoir adoré Mādhava, on devient un être céleste voyageant en vimāna (char aérien).
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Combine Viṣṇu-namaskāra with piṇḍa-dāna (śrāddha adjunct) and worship of Mādhava for posthumous merit described as vimāna-going celestial status.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Hṛṣīkeśa-namaskāra with Piṇḍa-dāna; Mādhava-pūjā for Vaimānika-phala","lookup_keywords":["Hṛṣīkeśa","piṇḍa-dāna","śrāddha","Mādhava","vaimānika"],"quick_summary":"The verse prescribes offering piṇḍa before Hṛṣīkeśa after bowing, and states that worship of Mādhava yields a heavenly, vimāna-travelling status."}
Concept: Pitṛ-kārya (piṇḍa-dāna) integrated with Viṣṇu-bhakti is portrayed as efficacious for posthumous uplift and divine reward.
Application: Perform śrāddha-style offerings with devotional orientation (before the deity), maintaining ritual sequence: namaskāra → piṇḍa → pūjā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava worship, Śrāddha/Piṇḍa-dāna and posthumous merit)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee bows to Hṛṣīkeśa’s icon, then places rice-ball piṇḍas on a leaf/plate before the deity; later worships Mādhava; a celestial vimāna appears symbolically above.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, shrine interior with Viṣṇu icon, devotee in añjali, piṇḍa offerings on banana leaf in front, sacred lamp glow, a stylized vimāna in the upper corner, traditional mural palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Viṣṇu with gold halo, devotee offering piṇḍa at the pedestal, ornate pūjā vessels, gold-leaf vimāna motif above, rich jewel tones and embossed detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear ritual sequencing: namaskāra posture, then piṇḍa placement, then ārati to Mādhava; neat depiction of offerings and utensils; soft celestial vimāna vignette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic shrine scene with precise utensils and rice-balls, devotee and priestly assistant, architectural niche, small heavenly vimāna scene in sky band, fine linework."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tad agre → tadagre (d + a sandhi); no other required splits.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (piṇḍa/śrāddha-adjacent phala statements)
FAQs
It prescribes a Vaishnava-centered śrāddha act: after saluting Viṣṇu (Hṛṣīkeśa), one should perform piṇḍa-dāna in the deity’s presence, and it also states the fruit (phala) of worshipping Viṣṇu as Mādhava.
It illustrates how the Agni Purāṇa integrates household ritual law (śrāddha and offerings) with devotional theology (Viṣṇu-nāma worship) and karmic cosmology (attaining a deva-status with vimāna travel), blending multiple knowledge-domains in a single instruction.
The verse links reverence and worship of Viṣṇu with the successful performance of piṇḍa-dāna and promises elevated post-mortem merit—rebirth in a celestial condition described as a vaimānika deva (a heavenly being associated with a vimāna).