Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 13
Chapter 166: वर्णधर्मादिकथनं
Exposition of Varṇa-Dharma and Related Topics
पार्वणश्राद्धं श्रावण्याग्रहायणी च चैत्र्यपि आश्वयुजी सप्तहविर्यज्ञसंस्थास्ततः स्मृताः
pārvaṇaśrāddhaṃ śrāvaṇyāgrahāyaṇī ca caitryapi āśvayujī saptahaviryajñasaṃsthāstataḥ smṛtāḥ
पार्वणश्राद्ध, श्रावणी, आग्रहायणी, चैत्री आणि आश्वयुजी—हे हविर्यज्ञांच्या सात संस्थारूप प्रकार म्हणून स्मृत आहेत.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Calendar-based classification of śrāddha and haviryajña forms; used to schedule periodic offerings aligned with lunar/seasonal observances.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Saptahaviryajña-saṃsthā: Pārvaṇa-śrāddha and Seasonal Iṣṭis","lookup_keywords":["pārvaṇa śrāddha","śrāvaṇī","āgrahāyaṇī","caitrī","āśvayujī"],"quick_summary":"Lists key periodic rites—Pārvaṇa-śrāddha and seasonal observances—identified as established haviryajña forms. Serves as a ritual calendar index for pitṛkārya and havis offerings."}
Concept: Pitṛ-ṛṇa is addressed through time-bound rites; dharma is practiced as regular remembrance and offering aligned to sacred time.
Application: Maintain a yearly/seasonal schedule: perform Pārvaṇa-śrāddha and the named seasonal rites at their proper months to sustain ancestral and cosmic reciprocity.
Khanda Section: Shraddha-vidhi (Pitṛkārya and Haviryajña classifications)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual calendar tableau: a priest and householder performing śrāddha with piṇḍa and water offerings, with five seasonal month-panels labeled Śrāvaṇa, Āgrahāyaṇa, Caitra, Āśvina, plus the Pārvaṇa marker.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, śrāddha scene with pitṛs depicted subtly in the upper register, month-panels as decorative medallions around, traditional lamps and banana leaves, earthy reds and yellows","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central śrāddha offering with gold foil highlights on vessels and haloed pitṛ-symbols, surrounding circular month emblems, ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional depiction of śrāddha setup (kuśa, piṇḍa, pātra) with labeled seasonal rites, soft palette and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard śrāddha with detailed utensils and textiles, a marginal calendar strip naming the rites, refined linework and muted tones"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: श्रावणी+आग्रहायणी→श्रावण्याग्रहायणी (य्-सन्धि); चैत्री+अपि→चैत्र्यपि (य्-सन्धि); यज्ञसंस्थाः+ततः→यज्ञसंस्थास्ततः (विसर्ग-लोप/सन्धि)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 166.12 (yajña taxonomy preceding this list)
FAQs
It classifies specific month-linked śrāddha/rites—Pārvaṇa, Śrāvaṇī, Āgrahāyaṇī, Caitrī, and Āśvayujī—as recognized haviryajña-saṃsthās (formal categories of havis-offering rites), helping a practitioner choose the correct observance by calendrical timing.
By cataloging ritual institutions (saṃsthā) and mapping them to sacred time (months/parvans), it functions like a compact reference index—typical of the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging, handbook-style organization of dharma, rites, and religious practice.
Correctly timed śrāddha and havis offerings are presented as tradition-sanctioned means of pitṛ-tarpaṇa (satisfying ancestors) and self-purification, supporting continuity of lineage duties (pitṛ-ṛṇa) and generating merit (puṇya) through properly ordered ritual action.