Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 5
अध्याय ११७ — श्राद्धकल्पः
The Procedure for Śrāddha
उपवेशयेत्त्रीन् पित्र्यादीनेकैकमुभयत्र वा एवं मातामहादेश् च शाकैर् अपि च कारयेत्
upaveśayettrīn pitryādīnekaikamubhayatra vā evaṃ mātāmahādeś ca śākair api ca kārayet
Il doit faire asseoir trois (représentants), en commençant par les ancêtres paternels (Pitṛ), soit l’un après l’autre, soit des deux côtés (en deux rangées de sièges). De la même manière, il doit aussi ordonner le rite pour les grands-pères maternels et les autres, et il peut l’accomplir même avec des mets de légumes.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa frame narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Seating arrangement and acceptable food substitutions (including śāka/vegetable offerings) for śrāddha honoring paternal and maternal ancestor lines.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śrāddha: Seating of Pitṛs and Mātāmahas; Śāka-śrāddha option","lookup_keywords":["śrāddha","pitṛ-pāṅkti","mātāmaha","upaveśana","śāka"],"quick_summary":"Seat three representatives for the paternal line (in one or two rows), and similarly for the maternal grandfathers; the rite may be validly performed even with vegetable dishes when needed."}
Concept: Pitṛ-ṛṇa (debt to ancestors) is discharged through properly ordered offerings to both paternal and maternal lines, with allowance for practical constraints.
Application: When resources are limited or circumstances require, perform śrāddha with permissible substitutes (e.g., vegetable preparations) without abandoning the core duty.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha-vidhi (Pitṛ-kṛtya and ancestral offering rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder arranging two lines of seats for three pitṛ-representatives and three mātāmaha-representatives, with leaf-plates and simple vegetable dishes prepared for śrāddha.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, warm earthy palette, domestic śrāddha scene: yajamāna in white dhoti seating three pitṛ-brāhmaṇas and three mātāmaha-brāhmaṇas in two rows, banana-leaf plates with śāka dishes, ritual vessels, serene faces, temple-mural composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style with gold work: central yajamāna offering respectful seating to pitṛ representatives, ornate borders, stylized banana leaves and vegetable offerings, subtle gold highlights on vessels and textiles","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework: instructional layout showing one-row vs two-row seating, labels implied by gesture, vegetable dishes on leaf plates, calm ritual interior","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed household courtyard, two neat dining rows, attendants bringing vegetable preparations, the patron directing seating with measured gesture, intricate textiles and utensils"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: upaveśayettrīn = upaveśayet trīn; pitryādīnekaikamubhayatra = pitryādīn eka-ekam ubhayatra; mātāmahādeś = mātāmahān (visarga/anusvāra sandhi in transmission); śākair api = śākaiḥ api; kārayet is causative optative of √kṛ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 117 (Śrāddha-vidhi sections on pāṅkti, āvāhana, tarpaṇa, anna-vidhi)
FAQs
It specifies the Śrāddha protocol for seating three ancestral representatives (paternal and maternal lines), allowing either sequential seating or a two-sided arrangement, and permits vegetable-based offerings.
Alongside theology and myth, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical dharma-ritual manuals—here, a precise procedural rule for Pitṛ rites, including options for arrangement and permissible food substitutes.
Correctly honoring both paternal and maternal ancestors through proper seating and offerings is treated as a dharmic act that supports ancestral satisfaction (pitṛ-tṛpti) and is believed to yield purification and merit for the performer.