Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 24
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
एकोद्दिष्टं दैवहीनमेकार्घैकपवित्रकं आवाहनाग्नौकरणरहितं ह्य् अपसव्यवत्
ekoddiṣṭaṃ daivahīnamekārghaikapavitrakaṃ āvāhanāgnaukaraṇarahitaṃ hy apasavyavat
एकोद्दिष्ट श्राद्ध देवताओं को अर्पण किए बिना किया जाता है; इसमें एक ही अर्घ्य और एक ही पवित्र (कुश-वलय) होता है, ‘आवाहन-अग्नि’ का संस्कार नहीं होता, और इसे अपसव्य विधि से (जनेऊ दाहिने) करना चाहिए।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"To correctly distinguish ekoddiṣṭa-śrāddha from other śrāddhas by its defining ritual omissions and markers (no deva-offering, single arghya/pavitra, no āvāhana-agni, apasavya).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ekoḍḍiṣṭa-Śrāddha: Lakṣaṇa (defining features)","lookup_keywords":["ekoddiṣṭa","śrāddha","apasavya","eka-arghya","pavitra-kuśa"],"quick_summary":"Ekoḍḍiṣṭa for a single departed is characterized by deva-hīnatā (no offerings to gods), one arghya and one kuśa-pavitra, omission of āvāhana-agni, and performance in apasavya mode."}
Concept: Ritual differentiation: specific saṃskāra/śrāddha types are defined by inclusions/omissions (vidhi-niṣedha) and orientation (savyāpasavya).
Application: Avoids doṣa (ritual fault) by applying the correct markers for ekoddiṣṭa, especially apasavya and the single-offering structure.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śrāddha and ancestral offering procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder performs ekoddiṣṭa-śrāddha: sacred thread worn apasavya, a single arghya vessel and a single kuśa-pavitra ring visible; no deva-offering setup and no āvāhana-fire rite shown.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, warm earthy palette, a Brahmin householder in apasavya yajñopavīta posture offering a single arghya to pitṛs, one kuśa-pavitra ring on finger, minimal altar, no deva icons, stylized domestic ritual space, traditional ornamented borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on ritual vessels, householder with apasavya sacred thread, single arghya pot and kuśa ring emphasized, serene śrāddha setting, rich reds and greens, embossed detailing on utensils","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and instructional clarity: label-like emphasis on 'eka-arghya' vessel and 'pavitra' kuśa ring, householder wearing thread to the right, simplified altar without deva offerings","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of domestic courtyard, a single offering vessel, priestly figure with apasavya thread, attendants absent, restrained palette, focus on precise ritual gesture and objects"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दैवहीनम्+एकार्घैकपवित्रकम् → दैवहीनमेकार्घैकपवित्रकम्; हि+अपसव्यवत् → ह्य् अपसव्यवत्; ekārgha+eka+pavitrakam contracted in IAST as ekārghaikapavitrakam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163 (Śrāddha-vidhi: general rules preceding ekoddiṣṭa); Agni Purana 163.27 (sapiṇḍīkaraṇa as ekoddiṣṭa)
FAQs
It defines the procedural markers of ekoddiṣṭa-śrāddha: no deva-offerings, one arghya, one kuśa-pavitra, no āvāhana fire-rite, and performance in apasavya (pitṛ) orientation.
It catalogues fine-grained ritual taxonomy—distinguishing a specific śrāddha subtype by concrete operational rules—showing the text’s manual-like coverage of dharma, domestic rites, and liturgical detail alongside other sciences.
By prescribing the correct pitṛ-oriented form (apasavya) and excluding deva-elements, it ensures the offering is properly directed to the intended departed ancestor, supporting ancestral satisfaction (pitṛ-tṛpti) and the performer’s ritual purity and merit.