Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 9
Chapter 109 — Tīrtha-mahātmya
The Glory of Sacred Pilgrimage Places
तत्र वासाज्जपच्छ्राद्धात् कुलानां शतमुद्धरेत् जम्बुमार्गं च तत्रैव तीर्थन्तण्डुलिकाश्रमं
tatra vāsājjapacchrāddhāt kulānāṃ śatamuddharet jambumārgaṃ ca tatraiva tīrthantaṇḍulikāśramaṃ
ด้วยการพำนัก ณ ที่นั้น และประกอบชปะกับศราทธะ บุคคลย่อมยกกูลได้ถึงร้อยตระกูล. ณ ที่นั้นเองมีสถานศักดิ์สิทธิ์ชื่อชัมพุมารคะ และตีรถะที่เรียกว่า ตัณฑุลิกาศรมะ.
Lord Agni (narrating the tīrtha-māhātmya to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Prescribes residence at the tīrtha with japa and śrāddha to uplift ancestors/lineages; also serves as a gazetteer noting sub-sites (Jambumārga, Taṇḍulikāśrama).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Tīrtha-vāsa with japa and śrāddha for kula-uddhāra; sites Jambumārga and Taṇḍulikāśrama","lookup_keywords":["japa","shraddha","kula-uddhara","jambumarga","tandulika-ashrama"],"quick_summary":"Staying at the sacred place and performing japa and śrāddha is said to redeem a hundred lineages; the verse also identifies local sacred nodes for pilgrimage mapping."}
Concept: Kula-dharma is sustained through pitṛ-kārya; mantra-japa and śrāddha at tīrthas extend benefit beyond the individual to lineage.
Application: Undertake tīrtha-vāsa for a fixed period; perform daily japa (with sankalpa) and śrāddha/tarpaṇa according to capacity and śāstric rule, dedicating merit to ancestors.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya (Pilgrimage and sacred places; rites, japa, and śrāddha merits)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pilgrim family residing near a tīrtha, performing japa with mālā at dawn and conducting śrāddha/tarpaṇa by the water; signposts or small shrines mark Jambumārga and Taṇḍulikāśrama.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: riverside āśrama with palm-leaf huts, rishis guiding śrāddha, devotee doing japa; labeled sacred spots as small shrine-icons; strong outlines, muted gold-ochre palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central tarpaṇa scene with gold-highlighted water ripples and ritual vessels; upper register shows pitṛs receiving offerings; ornate frames around Jambumārga and Taṇḍulikāśrama shrines.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: step-by-step ritual depiction—āsana, ācamana, japa, piṇḍa/tarpaṇa—clean composition, delicate shading, instructional emphasis.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed āśrama landscape with multiple figures—some chanting, some offering water—fine vegetation and architecture; small cartouches naming the sub-tīrthas."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वासाज्जपच्छ्राद्धात् = वासात् + जपात् + श्राद्धात् (त् + ज → ज्ज); शतमुद्धरेत् = शतम् + उद्धरेत्; तत्रैव = तत्र + एव; तीर्थन्तण्डुलिकाश्रमं = तीर्थ + तण्डुलिक + आश्रमम् (समास/सन्धि)
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Śrāddha and pitṛ-kalpa related chapters (general); Agni Purana: Mantra/japa discussions (general); Agni Purana: Tīrtha catalogues (general)
FAQs
It prescribes a practical triad of observances at a tīrtha—residing there (vāsa), mantra-repetition (japa), and ancestral rites (śrāddha)—as a means to generate merit and effect ancestral/lineage uplift.
It catalogs specific sacred sites (Jambumārga, Taṇḍulikāśrama) while simultaneously linking them to applied ritual practice (japa and śrāddha) and its promised results, combining geography, ritual science, and karmic doctrine in a concise entry.
The verse states that the merit from tīrtha-residence together with japa and śrāddha can 'uplift' (uddharet) up to a hundred family lines, emphasizing intergenerational purification and ancestral benefit through properly performed rites.