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
‘शिशु (लघु) चान्द्रायण’ में प्रातः चार पिण्ड और सायं चार पिण्ड ग्रहण किए जाते हैं; जैसे भी साध्य हो, कुल पिण्डों की संख्या दो सौ चालीस होती है।
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.