Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 7
Dānādi-māhātmya — The Glory of Gifts, Manuscript-Donation, and Purāṇic Transmission
सारस्वतस्त कल्पस्य प्रोष्ठपद्यान्तु तद्ददेत् अष्टादशसहस्राणि हेमसिंहसमन्वितं
sārasvatasta kalpasya proṣṭhapadyāntu taddadet aṣṭādaśasahasrāṇi hemasiṃhasamanvitaṃ
Dalam tata-ritus Sārasvata (kalpa), pada kesempatan Proṣṭhapadā hendaknya diberikan persembahan itu: delapan belas ribu (harta/keping) disertai lambang atau arca singa emas.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Calendar-tied dāna prescription: during the Sārasvata kalpa/rite at Proṣṭhapadā, donate a specified wealth-amount with an attached golden lion emblem/figure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Proṣṭhapadā Sārasvata-kalpa dāna with Hema-siṃha","lookup_keywords":["Sārasvata kalpa","Proṣṭhapadā","hema-siṃha","aṣṭādaśa-sahasra","dāna-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"On the Proṣṭhapadā occasion within the Sārasvata rite, the donor should give a fixed endowment (18,000 units) accompanied by a golden lion figure/emblem."}
Concept: Dāna is intensified by kāla (proper time) and saṃyoga (auspicious adjuncts like hema-siṃha), reflecting dharma as ordered practice.
Application: Plan charitable endowments around vrata/nakṣatra occasions; include symbolic adjuncts that signify protection, royalty, or dharmic strength.
Khanda Section: Dana-dharma (Ritual Gifts & Sacred Charity)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual charity scene on Proṣṭhapadā: donor presents a heap of coins/wealth and a small golden lion figurine as an auspicious emblem to a brāhmaṇa in a ceremonial setting.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: donor offering a gold lion figurine (hema-siṃha) atop a tray of coins; brāhmaṇa receiving; subtle Proṣṭhapadā lunar/asterism motif in the sky; bold outlines, warm palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central tray with gold lion rendered with heavy gold leaf; donor and brāhmaṇa with ornate jewelry; rich red background, embossed gold detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear depiction of the hema-siṃha object and counted wealth; minimal background with calendar notation ‘Proṣṭhapadā’; fine lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed goldsmith-like lion figurine, coins in neat stacks; pavilion setting with attendants; night-sky band indicating the lunar occasion; intricate textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional-ritual","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सारस्वतस्त = सारस्वतः + तत् (visarga+t→st); प्रोष्ठपद्यान्तु = प्रोष्ठपद्याम् + तु (m+t→ntu); तद्ददेत् = तत् + ददेत् (t+d→dd); अष्टादशसहस्राणि = अष्टादश-सहस्राणि; हेमसिंहसमन्वितं = हेम-सिंह-समन्वितम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana dāna sections listing dravya, kāla, and phala; Agni Purana kalpa/vṛtta references to Sārasvata observances
FAQs
It prescribes a specific dāna (charitable gift) within the Sārasvata ritual context, timed to Proṣṭhapadā, including a fixed quantity (eighteen thousand) and an accompanying golden lion emblem/figure.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s catalog-like treatment of dharma: precise calendrical timing (nakṣatra-based observance), standardized donation amounts, and specified gift-forms—practical ritual guidance alongside theology.
Such time-specific, rule-governed dāna is presented as a merit-generating act (puṇya) that supports purification and auspicious outcomes by aligning charity with sacred timing and prescribed ritual form.