Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 24
Devapūjā, Vaiśvadeva Offering, and Bali (देवपूजावैश्वदेवबलिः)
तन्मात्रे दक्षिणाग्रेषु कुशेष्वेवं यजेत् पितॄन् इन्द्रवारुणवायव्या याम्या वा नैरृताय ये
tanmātre dakṣiṇāgreṣu kuśeṣvevaṃ yajet pitṝn indravāruṇavāyavyā yāmyā vā nairṛtāya ye
ആ നിശ്ചിത സ്ഥലത്ത്—തെക്കോട്ടു മുനയുള്ള കുശപ്പുല്ലിൽ—ഇങ്ങനെ പിതൃകളെ യജിക്കണം. ഇന്ദ്ര‑വരുണ‑വായു സംബന്ധികളെയോ, യമദിക്കിലെവരെയോ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ നൈഋത (തെക്ക്‑പടിഞ്ഞാറ്) ദിക്കിലെ പിതൃകളെയോ ആവാഹനം ചെയ്ത് പൂജിക്കണം.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Directional and implement-specific protocol for pitṛ worship: kuśa tips southward, measured ritual space, and invocation of pitṛ groups associated with specific dikpāla spheres (Indra/Varuṇa/Vāyu) or Yama/Nairṛta directions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pitṛ Worship with South-pointed Kuśa and Directional Invocation","lookup_keywords":["kuśa-dakṣiṇāgra","dik","Indra Varuṇa Vāyu","Yama","Nairṛta"],"quick_summary":"Prepare the pitṛ seat with kuśa whose tips face south and invoke pitṛs according to directional affiliations—either via Indra/Varuṇa/Vāyu groupings or via Yama/Nairṛta quarters—following the rite’s spatial grammar."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct spatial orientation (dik), materials (kuśa), and invocation mapping between cosmos and rite.
Application: In śrāddha/tarpaṇa, orient kuśa southward and align invocations with the intended pitṛ/directional set to maintain procedural correctness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śrāddha / Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and directional invocation)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A measured ritual area marked on the ground; kuśa grass laid with tips pointing south; the performer invokes pitṛs while indicating directions—east (Indra), west (Varuṇa), north (Vāyu), south (Yama), southwest (Nairṛta).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: top-down ritual mandala with directional guardians subtly suggested; kuśa bundles clearly south-pointed; earthy reds and greens, stylized compass-like layout.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate directional wheel with gold accents; central pitṛ seat of kuśa; small icon-medallions for Indra/Varuṇa/Vāyu/Yama/Nairṛta around the border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional composition showing kuśa orientation and labeled directions; refined linework, minimal ornament, emphasis on clarity of ritual geometry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtyard scene with a drawn square altar-space; performer gestures to directions; fine detailing of kuśa blades and vessels; subtle compass symbolism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kuśeṣu+evam → kuśeṣv evam (v→ṣv sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 263 (directional and pitṛ invocation instructions)
FAQs
It specifies a Śrāddha/Pitṛ-yajana procedure: seat/arrange kuśa with south-pointing tips (dakṣiṇāgra) and invoke Pitṛ-groups by their directional associations (Indra–Varuṇa–Vāyu, Yama, or Nairṛta).
It functions as a compact ritual manual entry—preserving precise liturgical details (orientation, materials, and deity-group mapping)—showing how the Agni Purāṇa catalogs practical rites alongside theology and other sciences.
Correct orientation and invocation are treated as essential for directing offerings to the Pitṛs; performed properly, the rite is understood to support ancestral satisfaction (pitṛ-prīti) and generate purificatory merit for the performer’s lineage.