Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 24
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
एकोद्दिष्टं दैवहीनमेकार्घैकपवित्रकं आवाहनाग्नौकरणरहितं ह्य् अपसव्यवत्
ekoddiṣṭaṃ daivahīnamekārghaikapavitrakaṃ āvāhanāgnaukaraṇarahitaṃ hy apasavyavat
ایکودِّشٹ شرادھ دیوتاؤں کو نذر کیے بغیر کیا جاتا ہے؛ اس میں ایک ہی اَرغیہ اور ایک ہی پَوِتر (کُشہ کی انگوٹھی) ہوتا ہے، ‘آواہن-اگنی’ کی رسم نہیں ہوتی، اور اسے اَپسویہ طریقے سے (جنیو دائیں طرف) انجام دینا چاہیے۔
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"To correctly distinguish ekoddiṣṭa-śrāddha from other śrāddhas by its defining ritual omissions and markers (no deva-offering, single arghya/pavitra, no āvāhana-agni, apasavya).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ekoḍḍiṣṭa-Śrāddha: Lakṣaṇa (defining features)","lookup_keywords":["ekoddiṣṭa","śrāddha","apasavya","eka-arghya","pavitra-kuśa"],"quick_summary":"Ekoḍḍiṣṭa for a single departed is characterized by deva-hīnatā (no offerings to gods), one arghya and one kuśa-pavitra, omission of āvāhana-agni, and performance in apasavya mode."}
Concept: Ritual differentiation: specific saṃskāra/śrāddha types are defined by inclusions/omissions (vidhi-niṣedha) and orientation (savyāpasavya).
Application: Avoids doṣa (ritual fault) by applying the correct markers for ekoddiṣṭa, especially apasavya and the single-offering structure.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śrāddha and ancestral offering procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder performs ekoddiṣṭa-śrāddha: sacred thread worn apasavya, a single arghya vessel and a single kuśa-pavitra ring visible; no deva-offering setup and no āvāhana-fire rite shown.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, warm earthy palette, a Brahmin householder in apasavya yajñopavīta posture offering a single arghya to pitṛs, one kuśa-pavitra ring on finger, minimal altar, no deva icons, stylized domestic ritual space, traditional ornamented borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on ritual vessels, householder with apasavya sacred thread, single arghya pot and kuśa ring emphasized, serene śrāddha setting, rich reds and greens, embossed detailing on utensils","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and instructional clarity: label-like emphasis on 'eka-arghya' vessel and 'pavitra' kuśa ring, householder wearing thread to the right, simplified altar without deva offerings","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of domestic courtyard, a single offering vessel, priestly figure with apasavya thread, attendants absent, restrained palette, focus on precise ritual gesture and objects"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दैवहीनम्+एकार्घैकपवित्रकम् → दैवहीनमेकार्घैकपवित्रकम्; हि+अपसव्यवत् → ह्य् अपसव्यवत्; ekārgha+eka+pavitrakam contracted in IAST as ekārghaikapavitrakam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163 (Śrāddha-vidhi: general rules preceding ekoddiṣṭa); Agni Purana 163.27 (sapiṇḍīkaraṇa as ekoddiṣṭa)
FAQs
It defines the procedural markers of ekoddiṣṭa-śrāddha: no deva-offerings, one arghya, one kuśa-pavitra, no āvāhana fire-rite, and performance in apasavya (pitṛ) orientation.
It catalogues fine-grained ritual taxonomy—distinguishing a specific śrāddha subtype by concrete operational rules—showing the text’s manual-like coverage of dharma, domestic rites, and liturgical detail alongside other sciences.
By prescribing the correct pitṛ-oriented form (apasavya) and excluding deva-elements, it ensures the offering is properly directed to the intended departed ancestor, supporting ancestral satisfaction (pitṛ-tṛpti) and the performer’s ritual purity and merit.