Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 7
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
नत्वा गावं वैतरण्यामेकविंशकुलोद्धृतिः श्राद्धपिण्डप्रदाता स्यात् क्रौञ्चपदे च पिण्डदः
natvā gāvaṃ vaitaraṇyāmekaviṃśakuloddhṛtiḥ śrāddhapiṇḍapradātā syāt krauñcapade ca piṇḍadaḥ
ครั้นนอบน้อม/อุทิศแด่วัวไวตระณี ย่อมเป็นผู้กู้พ้นยี่สิบเอ็ดตระกูล; พึงเป็นผู้ถวายปิณฑะแห่งศราทธะ และที่สถานีกรௌญจปทะก็พึงถวายปิณฑะด้วย
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Preta/śrāddha support rite: dedicate/bow to the Vaitaraṇī cow (a ritual aid for crossing the Vaitaraṇī), gaining uplift of 21 generations, and perform śrāddha piṇḍa offerings including at Krauñcapada station.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaitaraṇī-go namaskāra and 21-kula-uddhāra with piṇḍa-dāna (Krauñcapada)","lookup_keywords":["Vaitaraṇī-go","ekaviṃśa-kula","kula-uddhāra","śrāddha-piṇḍa","Krauñcapada"],"quick_summary":"By honoring the Vaitaraṇī cow and giving śrāddha piṇḍas—also at Krauñcapada—one is said to uplift twenty-one generations, linking charity/rite with ancestral deliverance."}
Concept: Ancestral uplift (kula-uddhāra) through śrāddha, dāna, and compassionate ritual support symbolized by the Vaitaraṇī cow.
Application: In śrāddha, include go-dāna/ गो-पूजन or at least ritual honoring of a cow (as per capacity and local custom), then complete piṇḍa offerings with focused intention for lineage welfare.
Khanda Section: Shraddha-vidhi (Preta-kriya and Dāna for ancestors)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A śrāddha performer bows to a garlanded cow identified as Vaitaraṇī-go near a riverbank, then offers rice piṇḍas on darbha; a signpost or shrine indicates Krauñcapada as an additional station for offerings, evoking ancestral deliverance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: sacred cow adorned with bells and garlands, devotee in añjali, river motif suggesting Vaitaraṇī, then piṇḍa offerings at a labeled Krauñcapada spot, subdued compassionate palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly ornamented cow with gold highlights, devotee offering flowers and water, piṇḍa plates with gold detailing, temple lamps, emphasis on merit and lineage uplift.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional scene—cow-honoring step followed by piṇḍa placement; small caption ‘ekaviṃśa-kula-uddhāra’; neat composition suitable for ritual manual illustration.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: pastoral river scene with a decorated cow, priest and householder performing śrāddha, attendants holding ritual vessels, fine detailing of grass mats and offerings, gentle melancholic tone."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वैतरण्यामेकविंशकुलोद्धृतिः = वैतरण्याम् + एक-विंश-कुल-उद्धृतिः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (preta/śrāddha tīrtha prescriptions)
FAQs
It prescribes Vaitaraṇī-go-dāna (reverencing/dedicating the Vaitaraṇī cow) and piṇḍa-pradāna within śrāddha, stating the specific merit attributed to correctly performing these ancestral offerings.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs practical dharma-rituals—here, a precise śrāddha component (Vaitaraṇī cow rite and piṇḍa offerings) with stated outcomes, illustrating its manual-like coverage of rites, gifts, and post-death observances.
The verse links the act to kula-uddhāra (uplift of the ancestral line), promising benefit to twenty-one generations and aiding the deceased’s passage associated with the Vaitaraṇī motif through meritorious dāna and śrāddha offerings.