Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 29
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
श्राद्धं कुर्याच्च प्रत्यब्दं प्रेते कुम्भान्नमब्दकं गङ्गायाः सिकता धारा यथा वर्षति वासवे
śrāddhaṃ kuryācca pratyabdaṃ prete kumbhānnamabdakaṃ gaṅgāyāḥ sikatā dhārā yathā varṣati vāsave
പ്രേതത്തിനായി പ്രതിവർഷം ശ്രാദ്ധം നടത്തണം; പ്രതിവർഷം കുംഭാന്നം (കുടവുമായി അന്നദാനം)യും നൽകണം. ഗംഗയുടെ മണൽധാര എങ്ങനെ ഒഴുകുന്നുവോ, അതുപോലെ വാസവൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) മഴ പെയ്യിക്കുന്നു.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Annual śrāddha observance and yearly kumbhānna offering; uses a simile invoking Gaṅgā and Indra to stress regularity/abundance of the rite’s merit.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pratyabda-śrāddha and Kumbhānna annual offering","lookup_keywords":["pratyabda śrāddha","kumbhānna","annual rite","pitṛ-kriyā","Gaṅgā dṛṣṭānta"],"quick_summary":"Perform śrāddha every year for the departed and offer kumbhānna annually; the verse underscores steady, abundant continuity of giving through a Gaṅgā–Indra simile."}
Alamkara Type: Upama
Concept: Nityatā (regularity) in pitṛ-dharma sustains lineage continuity; dāna/anna offerings are framed as inexhaustible merit through natural imagery.
Application: Fix an annual date (tithi) for pratyabda-śrāddha; include kumbhānna (food with a pot/water-pot offering) as a recurring component.
Khanda Section: Shraddha-vidhi (Ancestor rites and post-death rituals)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yearly śrāddha scene with a kumbha (water-pot/earthen pot) beside plates of food; in the background, a symbolic Gaṅgā stream and a rain-cloud motif associated with Indra illustrate the simile of abundant flow.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, foreground: kumbha and annadāna arrangement, priest performing śrāddha; background: stylized Gaṅgā flow and rain-bearing clouds of Vāsava, earthy reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf on kumbha and offering plates, decorative Gaṅgā ribbon motif, Indra’s rain-cloud emblem above, devotional domestic ritual focus","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear depiction of kumbhānna setup and annual calendar cue (tithi mark), gentle Gaṅgā stream in background, didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard śrāddha with detailed pottery and food, distant riverbank suggesting Gaṅgā, monsoon clouds hinting Indra, refined naturalistic textures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुर्याच्च → कुर्यात् च; कुम्भान्नम् → कुम्भ-अन्नम् (स्वर-सन्धि)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 157 (annual śrāddha obligations; preta-to-pitṛ continuity)
FAQs
It prescribes pratyābdika-śrāddha (annual śrāddha) for the deceased and mentions the yearly “kumbhānna” offering—food given as a śrāddha-related dāna linked with a kumbha (pot) rite.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana catalogs practical dharma: it systematizes recurring ritual schedules (annual śrāddha) and specific ancillary donations (kumbhānna), showing its handbook-like coverage of social-religious duties.
Annual śrāddha and associated dāna are presented as sustaining acts of filial duty that generate merit (puṇya) and are intended to benefit the departed through ritual offering and remembrance.