Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 9
Chapter 154: विवाहः
Vivāha — Marriage
आहूय दानं ब्राह्मः स्यात् कुलशीलयुताय तु पुरुषांस्तारयेत्तज्जो नित्यं कन्यप्रदानतः
āhūya dānaṃ brāhmaḥ syāt kulaśīlayutāya tu puruṣāṃstārayettajjo nityaṃ kanyapradānataḥ
वर को बुलाकर कन्या का दान किया जाए तो वह ब्राह्म-विवाह है, जो कुल और शील से युक्त पुरुष को दिया जाता है। उस संयोग से उत्पन्न संतान कन्यादान के पुण्य से अपने पुरुष-पूर्वजों का नित्य उद्धार करती है।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purāṇa’s dharma teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Defines the Brāhma form of marriage (invited groom; gifting the maiden to a qualified man) and states its claimed ancestral merit, guiding ritual/legal classification of vivaha.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Brāhma Vivāha: āhūya-kanyādāna to kula-śīla-yukta groom; pitṛ-tāraṇa phala","lookup_keywords":["brahma-vivaha","kanyadana","ahuyadana","kula-shila","pitr-tarana"],"quick_summary":"Brāhma marriage is the formal invitation and gifting of the maiden to a groom of good family and conduct; it is praised with merit said to benefit paternal ancestors through kanyādāna."}
Concept: Saṃskāra as merit-bearing social sacrament: the ethical qualification of the groom and the sanctity of kanyādāna are central; progeny is framed as continuing ritual benefit to ancestors.
Application: Classify marriages for ritual/legal purposes; emphasize character and lineage suitability in spouse selection and saṃskāra performance.
Khanda Section: Dharma-śāstra / Saṃskāra-vidhi (Vivāha—Forms of Marriage)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: shraddha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A formal Brāhma wedding: the groom is ceremonially invited, seated with the bride under a marriage pavilion; the father performs kanyādāna with water-pot and sacred thread, priests recite mantras.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, vivaha-mandapa with stylized pillars, father pouring water for kanyādāna, priests with fire altar, serene devotional-dharma tone","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, lavish wedding pavilion with gold-leaf ornaments, bride and groom richly jeweled, kanyādāna moment central, sacred fire glowing with gold highlights","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step saṃskāra depiction: invitation, seating, kanyādāna, fire ritual; fine lines and clear ritual implements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed wedding court scene with musicians and attendants, priests near fire altar, intimate kanyādāna gesture emphasized"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: puruṣāṃstārayet → puruṣān + tārayet; tajjo → tad-jaḥ; kanyapradānataḥ → kanyā-pradānataḥ
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vivaha-bheda enumeration (adjacent verses); Agni Purana: Śrāddha/pitṛ-kārya sections (for pitṛ-tāraṇa framing)
FAQs
It defines the Brāhma form of marriage as the formal invitation and gifting of the bride to a groom of good lineage and conduct, highlighting kanyā-pradāna as the core rite.
It preserves dharmaśāstra-style social and ritual classifications (vivāha-bheda) alongside other Agni Purāṇa subjects, showing the text’s coverage of law, ethics, and household rites in addition to theology.
It states that offspring from a properly performed Brāhma marriage aid in the deliverance of male ancestors, attributing enduring merit to the act of kanyā-dāna.