Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 25
Devapūjā, Vaiśvadeva Offering, and Bali (देवपूजावैश्वदेवबलिः)
ते काकाः पितृगृहन्तु इमं पिण्डं मयोद्वृतम् काकपिण्डन्तु मन्त्रेण शुनः पिण्डं प्रदापयेत्
te kākāḥ pitṛgṛhantu imaṃ piṇḍaṃ mayodvṛtam kākapiṇḍantu mantreṇa śunaḥ piṇḍaṃ pradāpayet
«Que ces corbeaux—agissant comme les Pères—acceptent ce piṇḍa offert par moi.» Et, avec le mantra prescrit, on doit présenter le “piṇḍa des corbeaux”; de même, on doit donner un piṇḍa à un chien.
Lord Agni (teaching the śrāddha procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Śrāddha protocol involving offering piṇḍas to intermediary beings (crows as pitṛ-representatives) and to a dog, with specified mantra usage—often interpreted as ensuring acceptance and safe passage/appeasement of liminal forces.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kāka-piṇḍa and Śunaḥ-piṇḍa in Pitṛ-kriyā","lookup_keywords":["kāka-piṇḍa","śunaḥ-piṇḍa","pitṛ-grahaṇa","mantra","śrāddha"],"quick_summary":"Offer a piṇḍa requesting crows to accept it as pitṛ-representatives; with the prescribed mantra, give the crow-piṇḍa and also a piṇḍa to a dog, completing the rite’s liminal offerings."}
Concept: Ritual mediation: certain beings function as carriers/signs of acceptance; mantra and offering together complete the transfer of intention (saṅkalpa) to the unseen recipients.
Application: In śrāddha, place designated piṇḍas for crows and a dog with the proper mantra, observing cleanliness and non-violence, and treating the act as part of the rite rather than charity alone.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha-vidhi / Pitṛ-kriyā (Funerary rites and ancestral offerings)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A performer places food-balls on the ground; crows gather to peck at the piṇḍa while a dog waits nearby for its portion; the performer recites a mantra with folded hands or holding a spoon/vessel.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized black crows around a white rice piṇḍa, a dog at the edge; priest in profile chanting; strong outlines, warm background, ritual vessels and kuśa visible.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central offering plate with gold detailing; crows rendered symbolically; dog seated respectfully; rich textile patterns, embossed gold highlights on vessels and borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear narrative scene emphasizing correct placement—separate spots for crow-piṇḍa and dog-piṇḍa; delicate shading, calm domestic background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: realistic crows in motion, dog attentive; fine-grained courtyard textures; the ritualist’s gesture captured mid-recitation, detailed utensils and food-balls."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pitṛ+gṛhṇantu written as pitṛgṛhantu (sandhi); kākapiṇḍam+tu → kākapiṇḍantu; mayā+udvṛtam → mayodvṛtam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 263 (pitṛ-kriyā details around piṇḍa offerings)
FAQs
It prescribes a śrāddha step: offering a designated piṇḍa to crows (as accepted representatives of the Pitṛs) with mantra, and additionally giving a piṇḍa to a dog as part of the rite.
Beyond theology, it records operational ritual detail—who receives offerings, in what form (piṇḍa), and with mantra—showing the text’s catalog-like coverage of dharma practices alongside other sciences.
Feeding crows is treated as a sign of Pitṛ-acceptance of the śrāddha offering, while giving prescribed portions to other beings (like a dog) supports ritual completeness, merit (puṇya), and ancestral appeasement (pitṛ-tarpaṇa).