Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 44
अध्याय ११५ — गयायात्राविधिः
Procedure for the Pilgrimage to Gayā
मुण्डपृष्ठे शिरः साक्षाद् गयाशिर उदाहृतं इत्य् अन्तः पाठश्छ पुस्तके नास्ति ब्रह्मसदस्तीर्थे इति घ ब्रह्मशिरस्तीर्थे इति ख तर्पणश्राद्धकृत् पिण्डप्रदश्चापि प्रसेचनमिति ख , छ च तर्पणश्राद्धकृत् पिण्डप्रदश्चाम्रप्रसेचनमिति ग , घ , ङ , ज च साक्षाद् गयाशिरस्तत्र फल्गुतीर्थाश्रमं कृतं
muṇḍapṛṣṭhe śiraḥ sākṣād gayāśira udāhṛtaṃ ity antaḥ pāṭhaścha pustake nāsti brahmasadastīrthe iti gha brahmaśirastīrthe iti kha tarpaṇaśrāddhakṛt piṇḍapradaścāpi prasecanamiti kha , cha ca tarpaṇaśrāddhakṛt piṇḍapradaścāmraprasecanamiti ga , gha , ṅa , ja ca sākṣād gayāśirastatra phalgutīrthāśramaṃ kṛtaṃ
บนไหล่ด้านหลังของเขามุณฑะมี ‘เศียร’ อยู่โดยตรง ซึ่งประกาศชัดว่าเป็น ‘คยาเศียร’ (ศีรษะแห่งคยา) ณ ที่นั้นมีตีรถะที่บางสำนวนเรียก ‘พรหมสทัส’ และบางสำนวนเรียก ‘พรหมเศียรตีรถะ’ ผู้ใดทำตัรปณะและศราทธะ ถวายปิณฑะพร้อมทั้งทำประเสจน (การพรมน้ำ) ย่อมได้ผลตามที่กล่าว; บางสำนวนระบุว่าเป็น ‘อามฺร-ประเสจน’ คือการพรมน้ำด้วยสิ่งเกี่ยวกับมะม่วง และคยาเศียรนั้นเองเป็นที่ตั้งอาศรม ณ ตีรถะฝัลคุ.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Identifying the correct Gayāśiras locus and associated tīrtha-names across recensions; performing tarpaṇa, śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna with prescribed prasecana (including āmra-prasecana variant).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Gayāśiras Identification, Brahma-sadas/Brahma-śiras Tīrtha, and Prasecana Variants","lookup_keywords":["Muṇḍa-pṛṣṭha","Gayāśiras","Brahma-sadas","Brahma-śiras-tīrtha","āmra-prasecana"],"quick_summary":"Defines Gayāśiras as the ‘head’ on Muṇḍa’s back-slope; records manuscript variants for the tīrtha-name and for the sprinkling rite (general prasecana vs mango-associated prasecana) linked to śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna at Phalgu-tīrtha āśrama."}
Alamkara Type: Anvaya-vyutpatti (exegetical glossing)
Concept: Authority of tīrtha is preserved through precise place-identification and careful handling of pāṭhāntaras without losing ritual intent.
Application: When guiding pilgrims or editing/reciting, note variant readings (Brahma-sadas vs Brahma-śiras; prasecana vs āmra-prasecana) while maintaining the core rite: tarpaṇa + śrāddha + piṇḍa-dāna at Gayāśiras.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya (Pilgrimage and Śrāddha rites at Gayā)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A hillside labeled Muṇḍa-pṛṣṭha with a prominent ‘head’ summit identified as Gayāśiras; nearby a riverbank āśrama at Phalgu-tīrtha; priests perform tarpaṇa, śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna, and sprinkling—optionally with mango leaves/water.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, layered landscape: hill with marked summit (Gayāśiras), Phalgu river flowing below, āśrama huts, priests doing tarpaṇa with cupped hands, sprinkling with mango leaves, flat iconic forms and warm palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate framed composition with Gayāśiras hill as central sacred emblem, Phalgu river rendered as stylized band, gold-leaf accents on ritual vessels and mango leaves, devotees in reverent poses","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic yet elegant: labels for Brahma-sadas/Brahma-śiras-tīrtha, sequence panels for tarpaṇa → śrāddha → piṇḍa-dāna → prasecana/āmra-prasecana, fine detailing and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, topographic scene with annotated toponyms, scholars comparing manuscripts in a corner vignette, priests at riverbank performing rites, naturalistic mango tree indicating āmra-prasecana"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गयाशिर उदाहृतं = गयाशिरः + उदाहृतम्; इत्य् = इति; पाठश्छ = पाठः + च; ब्रह्मसदस्तीर्थे = ब्रह्मसदःतीर्थे; ब्रह्मशिरस्तीर्थे = ब्रह्मशिरःतीर्थे; पिण्डप्रदश्चापि = पिण्डप्रदः + च + अपि; प्रसेचनमिति = प्रसेचनम् + इति; पिण्डप्रदश्चाम्रप्रसेचनमिति = पिण्डप्रदः + च + आम्रप्रसेचनम् + इति; गयाशिरस्तत्र = गयाशिरः + तत्र.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 115 (tīrtha-māhātmya and śrāddha-vidhi sequence)
FAQs
It identifies specific Gayā tīrthas (Gayā-śiras, Brahma-sadas/Brahma-śiras, Phalgu-tīrtha) and prescribes the core ancestor-rite actions there—tarpaṇa, śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna, and ritual sprinkling (prasecana), including a variant tradition of mango-associated sprinkling (āmra-prasecana).
Beyond theology, it functions as a practical pilgrimage manual: it maps sacred geography, records ritual steps, and even preserves manuscript-variant readings (Brahma-sadas vs. Brahma-śiras; prasecana vs. āmra-prasecana), showing the text’s compendious, reference-like character.
By directing śrāddha, tarpaṇa, and piṇḍa offerings at the chief Gayā locus (Gayā-śiras) and associated tīrthas, the verse frames these acts as especially potent for ancestral satisfaction and the accrual of purifying merit tied to Gayā pilgrimage.
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