Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 21
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
जुहुयादाहुतीः सम्यक् सर्वत्रैव चतुस्त्रयः पिण्डनिर्वपणं कुर्यात् प्राग्वदेव पृथक् पृथक्
juhuyādāhutīḥ samyak sarvatraiva catustrayaḥ piṇḍanirvapaṇaṃ kuryāt prāgvadeva pṛthak pṛthak
พึงถวายอาหุติให้ถูกต้องตามพิธี; ในทุกกรณีให้เป็นชุดละสี่ และพึงทำการวางบิณฑะ (piṇḍa) ตามที่กล่าวไว้ก่อนหน้า—แยกทำทีละส่วนอย่างชัดเจน
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Executing homa oblations in prescribed numerical sets (fourfold) and performing piṇḍa offerings separately as per prior procedure, useful for agnihotra-linked ancillary rites and śrāddha/vaiśvadeva contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Catuṣṭraya-āhuti and Pinda-nirvapana (separate placement)","lookup_keywords":["catus-traya-ahuti","ahuti-sankhya","pinda-nirvapana","shraddha-ancillary","vaisvadeva"],"quick_summary":"Offer oblations in fourfold sets consistently, and place each piṇḍa offering separately, following the earlier stated sequence to avoid mixing recipients and to preserve rite-specific phala."}
Concept: Saṅkhyā-niyama and bheda-niyama (numerical and separative rules) as guardians of ritual meaning.
Application: Use fixed counts and separate placements to maintain clarity of addressee (devata/pitṛ) and to prevent pratyavāya (ritual fault) from conflation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Agnihotra–Homa and Śrāddha/Vaiśvadeva ancillary rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An officiant offering ghee oblations in counted sets of four, then placing multiple piṇḍas one by one in separate spots/plates, following an earlier prescribed order.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, priest seated by homa fire, four measured ladle-pours depicted sequentially, nearby three or more piṇḍas placed separately on leaf plates, ritual implements neatly arranged, calm sacred ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold accents on ladle and flames, four oblation moments suggested by repeated hand positions, separate piṇḍa plates aligned, ornate borders and temple-like setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting with instructional clarity: numbered four oblations, then separate piṇḍa placements shown in a clean layout, soft pastel palette, emphasis on procedure","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature showing a detailed ritual assembly, scribe-like precision: officiant pours ghee four times, attendants present separate piṇḍa dishes, fine textiles and vessels"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: juhuyādāhutīḥ = juhuyāt + āhutīḥ; sarvatraiva = sarvatra + eva; prāgvadeva = prākvat + eva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 157: earlier 'prāgvat' instructions referenced here (piṇḍa sequence and placement)
FAQs
It prescribes a precise offering protocol: perform homa with oblations arranged in fourfold sets (catuḥstrayaḥ) and place the piṇḍa-offerings separately, following the previously stated sequence.
It functions as a compact ritual manual entry, preserving operational details (counting of āhutis and method of piṇḍa placement) alongside broader Purāṇic teaching—showing the text’s coverage of practical liturgy in addition to mythology and doctrine.
Correct number, order, and separation of offerings are treated as essential for ritual purity and efficacy, ensuring the intended merit (puṇya) of the homa/ancestral offering is properly generated without procedural fault.