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
ເມື່ອເຮັດມັດຫຍ້າກຸຊາໃຫ້ເປັນສອງເທົ່າ (ຈໍານວນ/ຄວາມຍາວ) ພຶງອາວາຫະນາພິຕຣຶ (Pitṛs) ດ້ວຍຣິກ (Ṛk) ທີ່ເລີ່ມວ່າ «uśantas tvā…». ຈາກນັ້ນ ເມື່ອໄດ້ຮັບຄໍາຍິນຍອມແລ້ວ ພຶງຈະປະ (japa) ວ່າ «ຂໍໃຫ້ທ່ານມາຫາພວກເຮົາຈາກທີ່ນັ້ນ».
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.