Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 3
गङ्गामाहात्म्यं
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
चान्द्रायणसहस्राच्च गङ्गाम्भःपानमुत्तमं गङां मासन्तु संसेव्य सर्वयज्ञफलं लभेत्
cāndrāyaṇasahasrācca gaṅgāmbhaḥpānamuttamaṃ gaṅāṃ māsantu saṃsevya sarvayajñaphalaṃ labhet
Plus que mille pénitences de Cāndrāyaṇa, boire l’eau de la Gaṅgā est suprême. Celui qui, avec dévotion, se met au service de la Gaṅgā durant un mois entier obtient le fruit de tous les sacrifices (yajña).
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guidance for expiation and merit-accrual: prioritizing Gaṅgā-jala-pāna and month-long Gaṅgā-sevā as a practical alternative/supplement to arduous penances and sacrifices.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gaṅgā-jala-pāna and month-long Gaṅgā-sevā as superior to Cāndrāyaṇa","lookup_keywords":["Cāndrāyaṇa","prāyaścitta","Gaṅgā-jala-pāna","māsa-sevā","sarva-yajña-phala"],"quick_summary":"The text ranks drinking Gaṅgā water above extensive Cāndrāyaṇa penances and states that a month of devoted observance at Gaṅgā yields the fruit of all sacrifices."}
Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti (hyperbolic superiority claim)
Concept: Hierarchy of prāyaścitta: tīrtha-sevā can outweigh severe austerities when performed with devotion.
Application: Undertake a disciplined month-long observance at Gaṅgā (snāna, japa, dāna, restraint) and partake of sanctified water as part of expiatory practice, aligned with one’s capacity and tradition.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Tīrtha-Māhātmya (Expiations and pilgrimage merits)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: River/Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Pilgrims at the Gaṅgā performing a month-long vrata: daily snāna, sipping sanctified water, offerings, and simple living; the river is shown as a purifying presence surpassing penances.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: riverside ghat with devotees in white garments sipping Gaṅgā-jala from cupped hands; calendar-like border suggesting a month; priests performing simple rites; warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Gaṅgā Devī blessing devotees who drink sacred water; gold foil highlights on vessels and halo; small inset showing crescent moon motif referencing Cāndrāyaṇa.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: sequential panels of a 30-day observance—snāna, jala-pāna, japa, dāna; clear labels; soft pastel tones and fine linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed ghat scene with pilgrims, ascetics, and Brahmins; one figure sipping water; river shimmering; architectural steps and parasols; fine textile patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: चान्द्रायणसहस्राच्च→चान्द्रायणसहस्रात् + च; गङ्गाम्भःपानमुत्तमं→गङ्गाम्भःपानम् + उत्तमम्; गङां→गङ्गाम्; मासन्तु→मासम् + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: prāyaścitta discussions; tīrtha-phala passages in the same khanda
FAQs
It prescribes a prāyaścitta-oriented practice: drinking Gaṅgā water and performing month-long Gaṅgā-sevā as a high-merit substitute/superior act compared to extensive Cāndrāyaṇa penances.
It exemplifies the text’s coverage of ritual law and expiation (prāyaścitta) alongside tīrtha-māhātmya, presenting practical, merit-calculus guidance parallel to its treatments of other disciplines.
The verse frames Gaṅgā as exceptionally purificatory: sustained devotion to her and even her water is said to confer comprehensive sacrificial merit (sarva-yajña-phala) and strong karmic cleansing.