Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 7
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
नत्वा गावं वैतरण्यामेकविंशकुलोद्धृतिः श्राद्धपिण्डप्रदाता स्यात् क्रौञ्चपदे च पिण्डदः
natvā gāvaṃ vaitaraṇyāmekaviṃśakuloddhṛtiḥ śrāddhapiṇḍapradātā syāt krauñcapade ca piṇḍadaḥ
Après s’être incliné (et s’être dûment consacré) devant la vache Vaitaraṇī, on devient le sauveur de vingt et une générations. Qu’on offre les piṇḍa du śrāddha, et qu’au lieu dit Krauñca on devienne aussi donateur de piṇḍa.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Preta/śrāddha support rite: dedicate/bow to the Vaitaraṇī cow (a ritual aid for crossing the Vaitaraṇī), gaining uplift of 21 generations, and perform śrāddha piṇḍa offerings including at Krauñcapada station.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaitaraṇī-go namaskāra and 21-kula-uddhāra with piṇḍa-dāna (Krauñcapada)","lookup_keywords":["Vaitaraṇī-go","ekaviṃśa-kula","kula-uddhāra","śrāddha-piṇḍa","Krauñcapada"],"quick_summary":"By honoring the Vaitaraṇī cow and giving śrāddha piṇḍas—also at Krauñcapada—one is said to uplift twenty-one generations, linking charity/rite with ancestral deliverance."}
Concept: Ancestral uplift (kula-uddhāra) through śrāddha, dāna, and compassionate ritual support symbolized by the Vaitaraṇī cow.
Application: In śrāddha, include go-dāna/ गो-पूजन or at least ritual honoring of a cow (as per capacity and local custom), then complete piṇḍa offerings with focused intention for lineage welfare.
Khanda Section: Shraddha-vidhi (Preta-kriya and Dāna for ancestors)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A śrāddha performer bows to a garlanded cow identified as Vaitaraṇī-go near a riverbank, then offers rice piṇḍas on darbha; a signpost or shrine indicates Krauñcapada as an additional station for offerings, evoking ancestral deliverance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: sacred cow adorned with bells and garlands, devotee in añjali, river motif suggesting Vaitaraṇī, then piṇḍa offerings at a labeled Krauñcapada spot, subdued compassionate palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly ornamented cow with gold highlights, devotee offering flowers and water, piṇḍa plates with gold detailing, temple lamps, emphasis on merit and lineage uplift.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional scene—cow-honoring step followed by piṇḍa placement; small caption ‘ekaviṃśa-kula-uddhāra’; neat composition suitable for ritual manual illustration.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: pastoral river scene with a decorated cow, priest and householder performing śrāddha, attendants holding ritual vessels, fine detailing of grass mats and offerings, gentle melancholic tone."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वैतरण्यामेकविंशकुलोद्धृतिः = वैतरण्याम् + एक-विंश-कुल-उद्धृतिः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (preta/śrāddha tīrtha prescriptions)
FAQs
It prescribes Vaitaraṇī-go-dāna (reverencing/dedicating the Vaitaraṇī cow) and piṇḍa-pradāna within śrāddha, stating the specific merit attributed to correctly performing these ancestral offerings.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs practical dharma-rituals—here, a precise śrāddha component (Vaitaraṇī cow rite and piṇḍa offerings) with stated outcomes, illustrating its manual-like coverage of rites, gifts, and post-death observances.
The verse links the act to kula-uddhāra (uplift of the ancestral line), promising benefit to twenty-one generations and aiding the deceased’s passage associated with the Vaitaraṇī motif through meritorious dāna and śrāddha offerings.