Adhyaya 206
Agastyārghyadāna-kathana (On the Giving of the Agastya Honor-Offering)
अत्राग्निर्भगवान् अगस्त्यं विष्णुरूपं निर्दिश्य तदर्चनप्रधानं व्रतं विधत्ते। त्रिदिनं प्रातःसूर्योदयात् पूर्वं उपवासः पूजनं च कृत्वा अगस्त्याय अर्घ्यं दद्यात्। प्रदोषे काशपुष्पनिर्मितां प्रतिमां कुम्भे स्थापयित्वा रात्रौ प्रजागरं कुर्यात्। प्रातः जलाशय-समीपे अर्घ्यदानं कृत्वा समुद्रशोषणम् आतापि-वातापिनाशनं च स्मारयन् स्तोत्रैः स्तुत्वा वरान् शुभां गतिं च याचेत्। चन्दनमाल्यधूपवस्त्रधान्यफलस्वर्णादि द्रव्यैः पूजनं, ब्राह्मणाय घटदानं, भोज्यदानं दक्षिणा च—गोवस्त्रस्वर्णादि—विधीयते। मन्त्रपाठभेदाः कथ्यन्ते; स्त्रीशूद्रयोः अवैदिकमन्त्रैरेव कर्म। सप्तवर्षपर्यन्तं नित्य-अर्घ्यव्रतेन सर्वसमृद्धिः, अपुत्रस्य पुत्रलाभः, कन्यायाः राजपतिलाभश्च फलम् इति।
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Frequently Asked Questions
Fasting and worship precede the arghya; at pradoṣa a kāśa-flower image is placed in a ghaṭa/kumbha, followed by night vigil; in the morning the arghya is offered near water, then tyāga (grain, fruit, libation) and charitable gifts/feeding of brāhmaṇas conclude the rite.
Sandalwood, garlands, incense, cloth, rice/grains, fruits, gold (and in an expanded description: five gems, gold and silver, seven grains, curd, sandalwood), plus a pot-gift to a brāhmaṇa and dakṣiṇā including cow, garments, and gold.
The rite explicitly aims at attaining Hari through Agastya-worship (mukti-oriented devotion) while also promising dharma-anchored prosperity—health, fortune, desired boons, lineage, and marital success—thus integrating dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa.
It states that for women and Śūdras the rite is ‘non-Vedic,’ i.e., performed without Vedic mantras, indicating an inclusive procedural adaptation while preserving the devotional and charitable structure.
By giving the arghya for seven years, ‘all obtain everything’: a childless woman gains sons and good fortune, and a maiden gains a husband of royal birth; the arghya is also described in some readings as imperishable and mind-fulfilling.