Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 16
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
मातामहानामप्येवं दद्यादाचमनं ततः स्वस्ति वाच्यं ततः कुर्यादक्षय्योदकमेव च
mātāmahānāmapyevaṃ dadyādācamanaṃ tataḥ svasti vācyaṃ tataḥ kuryādakṣayyodakameva ca
Cũng theo cách ấy, hãy dâng nước súc miệng (ācamana) cho các ông ngoại; rồi tụng lời chúc lành (svasti). Sau đó, thực hiện lễ dâng ‘akṣayya-udaka’—phần nước cúng “bất tận”.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Extend śrāddha offerings to maternal lineage (mātāmaha), give ācamana, recite svasti, and perform akṣayya-udaka as a sustaining water-oblation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ācamana, Svasti-vācana, and Akṣayya-udaka in śrāddha (maternal grandfathers included)","lookup_keywords":["mātāmaha","ācamana","svasti","akṣayya-udaka","tarpana"],"quick_summary":"Offer ācamana to maternal grandfathers as well, recite svasti, and then perform akṣayya-udaka—an ‘inexhaustible’ water offering meant to continually satisfy the pitṛs."}
Concept: Ritual inclusivity (paternal and maternal lines) and the symbolism of water as an enduring medium of satisfaction and merit.
Application: Do not omit maternal ancestors; conclude with svasti and akṣayya-udaka to ‘seal’ the rite with auspiciousness and continuity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śrāddha / Pitṛ-kriyā / Tarpana-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The performer offers ācamana water, then recites svasti with joined hands, and finally pours a dedicated ‘akṣayya-udaka’ libation for maternal grandfathers.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, three-step narrative: ācamana offering, svasti recitation, akṣayya-udaka pouring into a small pit/onto darbha, stylized water motifs and sacred geometry borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-work on water pot and conch-like vessel, performer in reverent posture, svasti moment emphasized with luminous backdrop, akṣayya-udaka shown as a continuous stream.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional clarity with labeled steps (ācamana, svasti, akṣayya-udaka), delicate facial expressions, soft gradients, precise ritual implements.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor shrine space, calligraphic scroll indicating svasti, fine depiction of water stream into a small earthen spot, attendants holding vessels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mātāmahānāmapyevam = mātāmahānām + api + evam; dadyādācamanaṃ = dadyāt + ācamanaṃ; kuryādakṣayyodakam = kuryāt + akṣayya-udakam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163 (tarpana/śrāddha sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific Śrāddha/Tarpaṇa sequence: offer ācamana to the maternal grandfathers, recite svasti (auspicious benediction), and then perform the akṣayya-udaka water-oblation intended to sustain the Pitṛs.
It records procedural, step-by-step ritual praxis (kriyā-krama) for ancestral rites—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s role as a practical manual alongside its broader coverage of theology, law, and other sciences.
By correctly extending offerings to the maternal line and performing akṣayya-udaka with svasti, the rite is treated as complete and auspicious, supporting ancestral satisfaction (pitṛ-prīṇana) and generating purificatory merit (puṇya) for the performer.