Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 3
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
मातामहानामप्येवन्तन्त्रं वा वैश्यदेविकं प्राणिप्रक्षालनं दत्त्वा विष्टरार्थं कुशानपि
mātāmahānāmapyevantantraṃ vā vaiśyadevikaṃ prāṇiprakṣālanaṃ dattvā viṣṭarārthaṃ kuśānapi
ເຊັ່ນດຽວກັນ ສຳລັບປູ່ຕາຝ່າຍແມ່ (mātāmahā) ກໍຄວນປະຕິບັດຕາມພິທີເດີມນີ້, ຫຼືຕາມລະບຽບ «ໄວສະວະເທວະ» (Vaiśvadeva). ເມື່ອໄດ້ຖວາຍ «ປຣານິ-ປຣັກຊາລະນະ» (prāṇi-prakṣālana) ແລ້ວ ຈຶ່ງວາງຫຍ້າກຸຊະ (kuśa) ເພື່ອຈັດເຮັດບ່ອນນັ່ງ (viṣṭara) ດ້ວຍ।
Lord Agni (in dialogue instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Extending śrāddha procedure to maternal ancestors and integrating vaiśvadeva elements, including prāṇi-prakṣālana offering and kuśa arrangement for seats.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śrāddha for Maternal Line: Vaiśvadeva, Prāṇi-prakṣālana, and Kuśa Viṣṭara","lookup_keywords":["mātāmaha śrāddha","vaiśvadeva","prāṇi-prakṣālana","kuśa","viṣṭara"],"quick_summary":"States that the same ritual framework applies to maternal grandfathers; includes the vaiśvadeva-style sequence, an offering termed prāṇi-prakṣālana, and placing kuśa for preparing the ritual seat."}
Concept: Inclusivity of lineage duties: pitṛ-kārya extends to maternal ancestors; domestic rites (vaiśvadeva) harmonize human, ancestral, and living-being obligations.
Application: When performing śrāddha, remember maternal-line offerings; prepare kuśa seats properly and include the specified prāṇi-prakṣālana step as part of the domestic-rite continuum.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śrāddha & Vaiśvadeva domestic ritual procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A domestic altar scene: the host lays kuśa grass to form a viṣṭara seat, performs a small purificatory offering labeled prāṇi-prakṣālana, and indicates offerings for maternal grandfathers alongside the main śrāddha setup.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; close-up of hands arranging kuśa into a seat, small offering bowl for prāṇi-prakṣālana, and a secondary panel showing maternal-line invocation; earthy palette, decorative borders of kuśa motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore with gold; ornate ritual tray, gold-highlighted kuśa seat (viṣṭara) and vessels; host in traditional attire performing offering, with subtle icon panels indicating maternal ancestors; rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting; didactic focus on objects—kuśa placement sequence, labeled prāṇi-prakṣālana bowl, and seating arrangement; fine detailing of ritual implements and clean composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; intimate household ritual with detailed utensils, kuśa grass rendered finely, host making offering; marginal cartouches naming ‘mātāmaha’ and ‘vaiśvadeva’; delicate shading and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Sahana","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मातामहानामपि = मातामहानाम् + अपि; (पाठे) अप्येवं = अपि + एवम् (इ + ए → ये); विष्टरार्थं = विष्टर + अर्थम् (समास/सन्धि).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163 (continued śrāddha details: offerings, mantras, feeding, dakṣiṇā)
FAQs
It specifies a domestic-ritual sequence: extend the same Vaiśvadeva-style procedure to the maternal-grandfather line, including a preliminary purificatory ‘prāṇi-prakṣālana’ offering and arranging kuśa grass as the viṣṭara (ritual seat/spread).
It preserves precise household liturgy—who is included in ancestor-related observances (maternal lineage) and the exact implements and preliminaries (kuśa, viṣṭara, purificatory offering)—showing the Purāṇa’s practical ritual manual dimension alongside theology.
By correctly including maternal ancestors and performing purification and seating rites, the practitioner is understood to secure ritual purity and generate merit (puṇya) through proper honoring (tarpana/śrāddha-related respect) of forebears and deities.