Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 5
Chapter 171 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Prāyaścittāni / Expiations
प्रातश् चतुर्भिः सायञ्च शिशुचान्द्रायणं स्मृतं यथाकथञ्चित् पिण्डानाम् चत्वारिंशच्छतद्वयं
prātaś caturbhiḥ sāyañca śiśucāndrāyaṇaṃ smṛtaṃ yathākathañcit piṇḍānām catvāriṃśacchatadvayaṃ
El «Cāndrāyaṇa ligero (infantil)» se declara así: cuatro bolas de alimento (piṇḍa) por la mañana y cuatro por la tarde; de este modo, sea como fuere que se logre, el total asciende a doscientas cuarenta piṇḍas.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Designing and observing a light Cāndrāyaṇa expiation by regulating daily intake into fixed piṇḍa-counts (morning/evening) to complete the vow correctly.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Śiśu-Cāndrāyaṇa (Light Cāndrāyaṇa) — Piṇḍa-count rule","lookup_keywords":["Śiśu-cāndrāyaṇa","cāndrāyaṇa vrata","piṇḍa count","morning evening intake","prāyaścitta fasting"],"quick_summary":"The light (infant) Cāndrāyaṇa is defined by taking four piṇḍas in the morning and four in the evening; the observance is accounted by a fixed total piṇḍa-count (240) across the regimen."}
Concept: Prāyaścitta requires precise niyama (quantified restraint) rather than vague fasting; correctness is ensured by countable measures.
Application: Use measurable rules (counts, timings) to avoid under/over-observance and to maintain steadiness in tapas.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Vrata-vidhi (Expiations and Vows)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A disciplined ascetic at dawn and dusk taking measured rice-balls (piṇḍas) from a simple leaf-plate, with a tally of counts indicating the vow’s total.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, austere hermit in simple cloth seated on a mat at sunrise and sunset, holding small piṇḍas on a banana leaf, minimal palette, sacred calm, subtle tally marks indicating regulated vow","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, devotee-observer seated before a small lamp at dawn and dusk, leaf-plate with eight small piṇḍas, ornate border with gold work, emphasis on ritual discipline and purity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional composition showing two panels (morning/evening) with four piṇḍas each, clean lines, soft colors, annotated count marks for vrata procedure","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-ascetic in a quiet courtyard at dawn and dusk, attendants absent, small plate with measured food-balls, fine detailing of time-of-day sky gradients, marginal notes indicating counts"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रातश्→प्रातः; सायञ्च→सायम्+च; यथाकथञ्चित्→यथा+कथञ्चित्; चत्वारिंशच्छतद्वयं→चत्वारिंशत्+शतद्वयम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 171 (Prāyaścitta & Vrata-vidhi: Cāndrāyaṇa and kṛcchra variants)
FAQs
It specifies the measurable intake rule for the Śiśu-Cāndrāyaṇa: four piṇḍas in the morning and four in the evening, giving a defined total count (240 piṇḍas) for the regimen.
It records a precise, quantifiable dharma-ritual protocol (a penance variant with counted morsels), illustrating how the Agni Purāṇa functions as a practical manual spanning ethics, rites, and expiations.
By regulating food through a fixed-count vow, it serves as a discipline-based expiation (prāyaścitta) aimed at purification and reduction of demerit through restraint and ritual order.