The Procedure for Offering Piṇḍa (Funerary Rice-balls) — Gayā-māhātmya
मदीपैः पितृभिः सार्द्धं पर्तिताः स्थ स्वधाभुजः । फल्गुतीर्थँ व्रजेत्तस्मात्सर्वतीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम् ॥ ८२ ॥
madīpaiḥ pitṛbhiḥ sārddhaṃ partitāḥ stha svadhābhujaḥ | phalgutīrthaṃ vrajettasmātsarvatīrthottamottamam || 82 ||
“Bersama para Pitṛku, aku telah berpuas hati setelah menikmati persembahan svadhā. Oleh itu hendaklah pergi ke Phalgu Tīrtha, yang paling utama di antara segala tīrtha.”
Pitrs (ancestral spirits), as quoted within the Tirtha-Mahatmya narrative (Uttara-Bhaga dialogue tradition attributed to Narada’s narration)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
It presents Phalgu Tīrtha as a supremely efficacious pilgrimage site where ancestral rites (svadhā-offerings) yield direct satisfaction to the Pitṛs, making it “best among tīrthas” for Pitṛ-related merit.
By emphasizing tīrtha-sevā and śrāddha/tarpaṇa performed with faith, it supports bhakti as lived dharma—honoring the divine order through sacred places and reverent offerings, which is a devotional expression aligned with Purāṇic practice.
It points to kalpa/ritual procedure: the use of “svadhā” in Pitṛ-yajña contexts (śrāddha and tarpaṇa), indicating correct liturgical formulae and the ritual aim—Pitṛ-tṛpti (ancestor satisfaction).