Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 7
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
द्विगुणांस्तु कुशान् कृत्वा ह्य् उशन्तस्त्वेत्यृचा पितॄन् आवाह्य तदनुज्ञातो जपेदायान्तु नस्ततः
dviguṇāṃstu kuśān kṛtvā hy uśantastvetyṛcā pitṝn āvāhya tadanujñāto japedāyāntu nastataḥ
ಕುಶವನ್ನು ದ್ವಿಗುಣವಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿ ‘ಉಶಂತಸ್ತ್ವಾ…’ ಎಂಬ ಋಚೆಯಿಂದ ಪಿತೃಗಳನ್ನು ಆವಾಹಿಸಬೇಕು. ನಂತರ ಅವರ ಅನುಜ್ಞೆ ಪಡೆದ ಮೇಲೆ ‘ಆಯಾಂತು ನಃ ತತಃ’ ಮಂತ್ರವನ್ನು ಜಪಿಸಬೇಕು.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Pitṛ-āvāhana and tarpaṇa setup: prepare doubled kuśa bundles, invoke Pitṛs with the Ṛk “uśantas tvā…”, then after anujñā recite the welcoming mantra “āyāntu naḥ tataḥ”.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pitṛ-āvāhana with doubled kuśa and assent-based japa","lookup_keywords":["pitṛ-āvāhana","kuśa-dviguṇa","uśantas tvā","anujñā","āyāntu naḥ"],"quick_summary":"Double the kuśa bundles for Pitṛ rites, invoke with the specified Ṛg-verse, and only after receiving ritual assent proceed with the japa inviting the ancestors to arrive."}
Concept: Āvāhana is relational: prepare an appropriate āsana (kuśa) and seek anujñā before proceeding; mantra is performed as invitation and welcome.
Application: In pitṛ-tarpaṇa, ensure kuśa arrangement is correct (dviguṇa) and pause for anujñā (internal confirmation/ritual cue) before continuing japa.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha-vidhi (Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and ancestral invocation rites)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The performer arranges doubled kuśa bundles on a clean surface, chants the Ṛk for invocation, then performs japa inviting the Pitṛs to come, with a respectful pause indicating assent.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up of doubled kuśa bundles laid symmetrically, priest chanting with rosary-like japa gesture, faint ancestral glow behind, muted browns and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, kuśa bundles rendered with stylized clarity, gold accents on ritual plate and water pot, priest in solemn posture, subtle ancestral halos","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: doubled kuśa placement, priest seated, mantra recitation indicated by scroll motif, clean instructional layout","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor ritual, detailed grass bundles and vessels, priest pausing mid-chant as if awaiting assent, delicate shading and patterned floor"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: द्विगुणांस्तु = द्विगुणान् + तु; त्वेत्यृचा = त्वा + इति + ऋचा; तदनुज्ञातो = तत् + अनुज्ञातः; जपेदायान्तु = जपेत् + आयान्तु; नस्ततः = नः + ततः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163 (pitṛ-kriyā progression: upacāra → āvāhana → tarpaṇa)
FAQs
It teaches the precise śrāddha-prayoga: doubling the kuśa arrangement, invoking the Pitṛs using a specific Ṛgvedic ṛc (“uśantas tvā…”), and then performing japa only after receiving their ritual ‘anujñā’ (assent).
Alongside theology and narratives, the Agni Purana preserves step-by-step liturgical micro-procedures—materials (kuśa), mantra-cues (opening words of an ṛc), and sequence rules (invoke → obtain assent → japa)—showing its coverage of practical ritual science.
Correct invocation and mantra-recitation with the Pitṛs’ assent is intended to make the offering effective, ensuring ancestral satisfaction (pitṛ-tṛpti) and generating merit (puṇya) for the performer through properly authorized śrāddha.