Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 2
अध्याय ११५ — गयायात्राविधिः
Procedure for the Pilgrimage to Gayā
कृत्वा प्रतिदिनङ्गच्छेत् संयतश्चाप्रतिग्रही गृहाच्चलितमात्रस्य गयया गमनं प्रति
kṛtvā pratidinaṅgacchet saṃyataścāpratigrahī gṛhāccalitamātrasya gayayā gamanaṃ prati
เมื่อประกอบกิจวัตรประจำวันตามกำหนดแล้ว พึงออกเดินทางทุกวันด้วยความสำรวม และไม่รับของกำนัล; แม้ผู้ที่เพิ่งออกจากเรือน ก็พึงตั้งจุดหมายแห่งการเดินทางไว้ที่คยา (Gayā) เท่านั้น।
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Pilgrimage discipline for Gayā-yātrā: daily regulated movement, self-restraint, and avoidance of gift-taking to preserve ritual purity and intention (saṅkalpa).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gayā-yātrā-niyama (daily conduct: saṃyama & apratigraha)","lookup_keywords":["Gayā-yātrā","saṃyama","apratigraha","nitya-karman","saṅkalpa"],"quick_summary":"Begin the journey after daily observances, proceed day by day with restraint, and do not accept gifts; keep Gayā as the fixed destination-intention."}
Concept: Dharma is safeguarded by niyama (self-restraint) and apratigraha (non-acceptance), making the rite efficacious.
Application: Maintain ethical purity during pilgrimage: avoid transactional piety, keep vows, and sustain a clear intention toward the sacred goal.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-yatra & Shraddha-vidhi (Gaya-mahatmya / Pinda-dana related observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A restrained pilgrim sets out from home after daily rites, walking day by day toward Gayā, refusing gifts offered on the road, holding a water-pot and staff, with the destination implied by distant sacred landscape.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: a calm dharmic pilgrim with kamaṇḍalu and daṇḍa, simple white garments, palm-leaf bundle, village threshold behind, long road leading to a stylized Gayā tīrtha landscape, flat warm colors, bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central pilgrim figure with halo-like aureole of dharma, ornate but restrained border, gold-leaf accents on the kamaṇḍalu and path motifs, distant temple/ghāṭ silhouette labeled Gayā, devotional ambience.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional composition showing sequence—morning nitya-karman at home, then departure, then refusal of gifts—soft shading, delicate lines, minimal background, captions in Devanagari style.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed travel scene with attendants offering gifts which the pilgrim declines, roadside trees and caravan path, architectural home gate behind, distant river/ghāṭ indicating Gayā, fine brushwork and naturalistic palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रतिदिनङ्गच्छेत् → प्रतिदिनम् + गच्छेत्; संयतश्चाप्रतिग्रही → संयतः + च + अप्रतिग्रही; गृहाच्चलितमात्रस्य → गृहात् + चलितमात्रस्य.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Gayā-māhātmya / śrāddha-vidhi sections in the same khanda; Agni Purana: general dāna-pratigraha cautions in dharma portions
FAQs
It prescribes the discipline for Gaya-yatra: proceed daily after completing prescribed duties, remain self-controlled, and avoid accepting gifts (apratigraha) while undertaking the pilgrimage.
Beyond mythology, it codifies practical dharma for pilgrimage—behavioral restraints, travel-vrata, and ritual readiness—showing the text’s coverage of lived religious practice alongside other sciences and teachings.
Self-restraint and non-acceptance of gifts preserve the purity (śuddhi) and intention (saṅkalpa) of the pilgrimage, supporting the merit of rites associated with Gaya, especially ancestral offerings.