Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 16
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
मातामहानामप्येवं दद्यादाचमनं ततः स्वस्ति वाच्यं ततः कुर्यादक्षय्योदकमेव च
mātāmahānāmapyevaṃ dadyādācamanaṃ tataḥ svasti vācyaṃ tataḥ kuryādakṣayyodakameva ca
అదేవిధంగా మాతామహులకూ ఆచమన జలాన్ని అర్పించాలి. తరువాత స్వస్తివచనం పఠించి, అనంతరం ‘అక్షయ్యోదక’ అనే అక్షయ జలార్పణాన్ని నిర్వహించాలి.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Extend śrāddha offerings to maternal lineage (mātāmaha), give ācamana, recite svasti, and perform akṣayya-udaka as a sustaining water-oblation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ācamana, Svasti-vācana, and Akṣayya-udaka in śrāddha (maternal grandfathers included)","lookup_keywords":["mātāmaha","ācamana","svasti","akṣayya-udaka","tarpana"],"quick_summary":"Offer ācamana to maternal grandfathers as well, recite svasti, and then perform akṣayya-udaka—an ‘inexhaustible’ water offering meant to continually satisfy the pitṛs."}
Concept: Ritual inclusivity (paternal and maternal lines) and the symbolism of water as an enduring medium of satisfaction and merit.
Application: Do not omit maternal ancestors; conclude with svasti and akṣayya-udaka to ‘seal’ the rite with auspiciousness and continuity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śrāddha / Pitṛ-kriyā / Tarpana-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The performer offers ācamana water, then recites svasti with joined hands, and finally pours a dedicated ‘akṣayya-udaka’ libation for maternal grandfathers.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, three-step narrative: ācamana offering, svasti recitation, akṣayya-udaka pouring into a small pit/onto darbha, stylized water motifs and sacred geometry borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-work on water pot and conch-like vessel, performer in reverent posture, svasti moment emphasized with luminous backdrop, akṣayya-udaka shown as a continuous stream.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional clarity with labeled steps (ācamana, svasti, akṣayya-udaka), delicate facial expressions, soft gradients, precise ritual implements.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor shrine space, calligraphic scroll indicating svasti, fine depiction of water stream into a small earthen spot, attendants holding vessels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mātāmahānāmapyevam = mātāmahānām + api + evam; dadyādācamanaṃ = dadyāt + ācamanaṃ; kuryādakṣayyodakam = kuryāt + akṣayya-udakam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163 (tarpana/śrāddha sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific Śrāddha/Tarpaṇa sequence: offer ācamana to the maternal grandfathers, recite svasti (auspicious benediction), and then perform the akṣayya-udaka water-oblation intended to sustain the Pitṛs.
It records procedural, step-by-step ritual praxis (kriyā-krama) for ancestral rites—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s role as a practical manual alongside its broader coverage of theology, law, and other sciences.
By correctly extending offerings to the maternal line and performing akṣayya-udaka with svasti, the rite is treated as complete and auspicious, supporting ancestral satisfaction (pitṛ-prīṇana) and generating purificatory merit (puṇya) for the performer.