Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 5
अध्याय ११७ — श्राद्धकल्पः
The Procedure for Śrāddha
उपवेशयेत्त्रीन् पित्र्यादीनेकैकमुभयत्र वा एवं मातामहादेश् च शाकैर् अपि च कारयेत्
upaveśayettrīn pitryādīnekaikamubhayatra vā evaṃ mātāmahādeś ca śākair api ca kārayet
พึงจัดให้นั่งผู้แทนสามท่านเริ่มจากบรรพชนฝ่ายบิดา จะให้นั่งทีละคนหรือจัดเป็นสองแถวก็ได้. ในทำนองเดียวกันพึงจัดสำหรับตาฝ่ายมารดาและท่านอื่น ๆ ด้วย และพิธีนี้อาจกระทำได้แม้ด้วยสำรับผัก.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa frame narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Seating arrangement and acceptable food substitutions (including śāka/vegetable offerings) for śrāddha honoring paternal and maternal ancestor lines.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śrāddha: Seating of Pitṛs and Mātāmahas; Śāka-śrāddha option","lookup_keywords":["śrāddha","pitṛ-pāṅkti","mātāmaha","upaveśana","śāka"],"quick_summary":"Seat three representatives for the paternal line (in one or two rows), and similarly for the maternal grandfathers; the rite may be validly performed even with vegetable dishes when needed."}
Concept: Pitṛ-ṛṇa (debt to ancestors) is discharged through properly ordered offerings to both paternal and maternal lines, with allowance for practical constraints.
Application: When resources are limited or circumstances require, perform śrāddha with permissible substitutes (e.g., vegetable preparations) without abandoning the core duty.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha-vidhi (Pitṛ-kṛtya and ancestral offering rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder arranging two lines of seats for three pitṛ-representatives and three mātāmaha-representatives, with leaf-plates and simple vegetable dishes prepared for śrāddha.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, warm earthy palette, domestic śrāddha scene: yajamāna in white dhoti seating three pitṛ-brāhmaṇas and three mātāmaha-brāhmaṇas in two rows, banana-leaf plates with śāka dishes, ritual vessels, serene faces, temple-mural composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style with gold work: central yajamāna offering respectful seating to pitṛ representatives, ornate borders, stylized banana leaves and vegetable offerings, subtle gold highlights on vessels and textiles","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework: instructional layout showing one-row vs two-row seating, labels implied by gesture, vegetable dishes on leaf plates, calm ritual interior","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed household courtyard, two neat dining rows, attendants bringing vegetable preparations, the patron directing seating with measured gesture, intricate textiles and utensils"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: upaveśayettrīn = upaveśayet trīn; pitryādīnekaikamubhayatra = pitryādīn eka-ekam ubhayatra; mātāmahādeś = mātāmahān (visarga/anusvāra sandhi in transmission); śākair api = śākaiḥ api; kārayet is causative optative of √kṛ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 117 (Śrāddha-vidhi sections on pāṅkti, āvāhana, tarpaṇa, anna-vidhi)
FAQs
It specifies the Śrāddha protocol for seating three ancestral representatives (paternal and maternal lines), allowing either sequential seating or a two-sided arrangement, and permits vegetable-based offerings.
Alongside theology and myth, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical dharma-ritual manuals—here, a precise procedural rule for Pitṛ rites, including options for arrangement and permissible food substitutes.
Correctly honoring both paternal and maternal ancestors through proper seating and offerings is treated as a dharmic act that supports ancestral satisfaction (pitṛ-tṛpti) and is believed to yield purification and merit for the performer.