Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 32
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
पिण्डदो धेनुकारण्ये पदे धेनोर् नमेच्च गाम् पूजयित्वाथेति क , घ , ङ , ज च नमेद्बुद्धिविनायकमिति ख , ग , छ च नमेद्वृद्धविनायकमिति घ सर्वान् पितॄंस्तारयेच्च सरस्वत्याञ्च पिण्डदः
piṇḍado dhenukāraṇye pade dhenor namecca gām pūjayitvātheti ka , gha , ṅa , ja ca namedbuddhivināyakamiti kha , ga , cha ca namedvṛddhavināyakamiti gha sarvān pitṝṃstārayecca sarasvatyāñca piṇḍadaḥ
L’officiant qui offre le piṇḍa (Piṇḍada), dans le « Dhenukāraṇya » (forêt de Dhenukā), doit se prosterner au lieu de l’empreinte de la vache et, après avoir honoré la vache, réciter les formules prescrites. Qu’il se prosterne en disant : « Hommage à Buddhi-Vināyaka », puis se prosterne en disant : « Hommage à Vṛddhi-Vināyaka ». Ainsi l’officiant délivre tous les Pitṛs (ancêtres) et apaise aussi Sarasvatī.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the Agni Purāṇa’s primary didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Stepwise śrāddha/piṇḍadāna at Dhenukāraṇya: worship of the cow and its footprint as a sanctifying act, followed by specific Vināyaka salutations (Buddhi- and Vṛddhi-Vināyaka) to secure efficacy and ‘deliver’ pitṛs; Sarasvatī is also propitiated for right recitation and ritual correctness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dhenukāraṇya Piṇḍadāna: Go-pūjā, Go-pada-vandana, Buddhi/Vṛddhi-Vināyaka Namaskāra, Pitṛ-tāraṇa, Sarasvatī-ārādhana","lookup_keywords":["Dhenukāraṇya","go-pūjā","Buddhi-Vināyaka","Vṛddhi-Vināyaka","pitṛ-tāraṇa"],"quick_summary":"The rite integrates go-sevā symbolism (cow worship and footprint veneration) with targeted Gaṇeśa invocations for intellect and prosperity, culminating in the stated aim of uplifting ancestors and invoking Sarasvatī for correct speech/ritual performance."}
Concept: Ritual dharma is supported by auspicious supports (go-pūjā), obstacle-removal and right cognition (Buddhi-Vināyaka), growth of merit (Vṛddhi-Vināyaka), and sanctified speech (Sarasvatī).
Application: Perform go-pūjā and Vināyaka namaskāra before key offerings; invoke Sarasvatī to avoid mantra/recitation errors and to keep the rite mentally steady.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śrāddha–Piṇḍadāna and Ancestor-Rites)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Sacred Forest/Tirtha-spot
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a sacred forest clearing (Dhenukāraṇya), a performer of piṇḍadāna worships a cow and bows at a marked cow-footprint stone; nearby are small icons of Buddhi-Vināyaka and Vṛddhi-Vināyaka, and Sarasvatī is invoked as the rite proceeds.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, forest backdrop with stylized trees, sacred cow adorned with garlands, a prominent footprint stone (go-pada) being bowed to, two Gaṇeśa forms in small shrine niches labeled Buddhi and Vṛddhi, Sarasvatī with vīṇā in a side panel, warm earthy palette and bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central decorated cow with gold ornaments, footprint stone with gold halo, flanking Buddhi-Vināyaka and Vṛddhi-Vināyaka with embossed gold crowns, Sarasvatī above with vīṇā, rich reds/greens and heavy gold leaf","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear ritual sequence depiction: (1) go-pūjā (2) go-pada namaskāra (3) Buddhi-Vināyaka salutation (4) Vṛddhi-Vināyaka salutation (5) piṇḍadāna with Sarasvatī invocation; fine linework and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed forest-tīrtha scene with cow, priest, footprint stone, small shrines, delicate rendering of offerings and textiles, balanced composition and refined palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: namecca = नमेत् + च; पूजयित्वाथ = पूजयित्वा + अथ; namedbuddhivināyakam = नमेत् + बुद्धिविनायकम्; namedvṛddhavināyakam = नमेत् + वृद्धविनायकम्; pitṝṃstārayecca = पितॄन् + तारयेत् + च; sarasvatyāñca = सरस्वत्याम् + च।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (Vināyaka invocations and Gayā śrāddha stations); Agni Purana sections on Gaṇeśa-stotra/mantra and śrāddha-vidhi elsewhere
FAQs
It prescribes a piṇḍadāna/śrāddha adjunct: worship of the cow at its footprint in a sacred spot (Dhenukāraṇya), followed by salutations to specific Vināyaka forms (for intellect and increase) and invocation that aids the upliftment of the ancestors.
It functions like a compact ritual manual: it links place-based sanctity (a named tīrtha/forest), ritual sequence (worship → salutations), deity-functional theology (Vināyaka as buddhi/vṛddhi giver), and śrāddha’s soteriological goal (pitṛ-tāraṇa), illustrating the text’s practical, multi-domain coverage.
By honoring the cow, invoking obstacle-removing and boon-granting Vināyaka, and propitiating Sarasvatī for correct sacred speech, the rite is held to become effective and merit-bearing—supporting the ‘crossing over’ (tāraṇa) and satisfaction of the ancestors.