Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 4
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
प्रात इति क मध्याह्ने सरसीति ग मुच्यते भयादिति छ , झ च बलिं काकशिलायाञ्च कुमारञ्च नमेत्ततः स्वर्गद्वार्यां सोमकुण्डे वायुतीर्थे ऽथ पिण्डदः
prāta iti ka madhyāhne sarasīti ga mucyate bhayāditi cha , jha ca baliṃ kākaśilāyāñca kumārañca namettataḥ svargadvāryāṃ somakuṇḍe vāyutīrthe 'tha piṇḍadaḥ
« Le matin » —marqué par ‘ka’ ; « à midi » —marqué par ‘ga’ ; et, en récitant la formule « on est délivré de la peur » —marqué par ‘cha’ et ‘jha’. Ensuite, qu’on offre un bali (offrande de nourriture), qu’on se prosterne devant le lieu sacré Kākaśilā et devant Kumāra ; puis, à Svargadvārā, à Somakuṇḍa et à Vāyutīrtha, qu’on offre des piṇḍa (boules de riz funéraires du śrāddha).
Lord Agni (in dialogue framework, instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Timing-coded pilgrimage and śrāddha procedure: perform specified recitations at morning/midday with phonetic markers, offer bali, bow at named sacred spots, and perform piṇḍa-dāna at designated tīrthas.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Tīrtha-śrāddha sequence: bali, namaskāra, and piṇḍa-dāna at Svargadvārā–Somakuṇḍa–Vāyutīrtha","lookup_keywords":["tīrtha-śrāddha","bali","piṇḍa-dāna","Svargadvārā","Somakuṇḍa"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives a stepwise śrāddha itinerary: time-specific recitation markers, bali offering, salutations at Kākaśilā and Kumāra, then piṇḍa offerings at Svargadvārā, Somakuṇḍa, and Vāyutīrtha."}
Concept: Pitṛ-yajña through tīrtha-śrāddha: dharma is enacted via correct time (kāla), place (deśa), and act (karma) coordination.
Application: Follow a disciplined itinerary: observe purity rules, perform offerings in prescribed order, and treat phonetic/time markers as mnemonic aids for correct performance.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-yatra & Shraddha-vidhi (Pilgrimage rites and offering of piṇḍa/bali)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pilgrim performs morning and midday rites by a lakeside (sarasi), offers bali on a stone platform, bows at a rock shrine labeled Kākaśilā and a Kumāra shrine, then proceeds to three tīrthas—Svargadvārā, Somakuṇḍa, Vāyutīrtha—placing piṇḍas near water.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sequential panels: morning by lotus lake, bali offering on stone, namaskāra to Kākaśilā rock and Kumāra shrine, then piṇḍa-dāna at three labeled tirthas, stylized water and temple lamps, serene palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold accents on shrine arches and ritual vessels, devotee offering bali and piṇḍas, rich textile details, inscriptions of Svargadvārā and Somakuṇḍa, devotional calm.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting emphasizing procedural clarity: time markers (morning/midday), mantra syllable cues (ka/ga/cha/jha) shown as small calligraphic labels, neat depiction of bali and piṇḍa placement at each tirtha.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature travel-scene: pilgrim entourage moving between distinct water bodies and shrines, fine architectural pavilions for Svargadvārā and Somakuṇḍa, delicate rendering of offerings on leaf plates, soft naturalistic landscape."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सरसीति = सरसि + इति; काकशिलायाञ्च = काक-शिलायाम् + च; कुमारञ्च = कुमारम् + च; नमेत्ततः = नमेत् + ततः; स्वर्गद्वार्यां = स्वर्ग-द्वार्याम्; वायुतीर्थेऽथ = वायु-तीर्थे + अथ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (tīrtha list and śrāddha-vidhi continuum); Agni Purana śrāddha-prakaraṇa (general)
FAQs
It prescribes a tīrtha-based śrāddha routine: timing (morning/midday), recitation of a fear-removing formula, bali offering, salutations at specific shrines, and piṇḍa-offering at named tīrthas.
It functions like a compact ritual manual embedded in the Purāṇa—listing procedure, mantric cues, and a pilgrimage itinerary (named sacred sites) for śrāddha-related acts, showing the text’s breadth beyond mythology into applied dharma.
The verse frames these offerings and salutations as protective and purificatory—especially the stated ‘release from fear’—and as merit-producing acts for ancestors and the performer through tīrtha-śrāddha.