Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 1
Chapter 174 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Expiations
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे प्रायश्चित्तानि नाम त्रिसप्तत्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः हविष्यभुगिति ग ,ट च मातृजायागमे इति ग , छ , ट च अथ चतुःसप्तत्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः प्रायश्चित्तानि अग्निर् उवाच देवाश्रमार्चनादीनां प्रायश्चित्तन्तु लोपतः पूजालोपे चाष्टशतं जपेद्द्विगुणपूजनं
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe prāyaścittāni nāma trisaptatyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ haviṣyabhugiti ga ,ṭa ca mātṛjāyāgame iti ga , cha , ṭa ca atha catuḥsaptatyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ prāyaścittāni agnir uvāca devāśramārcanādīnāṃ prāyaścittantu lopataḥ pūjālope cāṣṭaśataṃ japeddviguṇapūjanaṃ
ഇങ്ങനെ ആഗ്നേയ മഹാപുരാണത്തിലെ ‘പ്രായശ്ചിത്തങ്ങൾ’ എന്ന നൂറ്റി എഴുപത്തിമൂന്നാം അധ്യായം സമാപ്തമായി; ചില പാഠങ്ങളിൽ ‘ഹവിഷ്യഭുക്’ എന്നും ചിലതിൽ ‘മാതൃജായാഗമേ’ എന്നും പാഠഭേദം കാണുന്നു. ഇനി ‘പ്രായശ്ചിത്തങ്ങൾ’ എന്ന നൂറ്റി എഴുപത്തിനാലാം അധ്യായം ആരംഭിക്കുന്നു. അഗ്നി അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു—ദേവാരാധന, ആശ്രമാചാരാർചന മുതലായവയിൽ ലോപം സംഭവിച്ചാൽ, ആ ലോപത്തിന് അനുസരിച്ച പ്രായശ്ചിത്തം വിധിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു; പൂജ ലോപമായാൽ എട്ടുനൂറു പ്രാവശ്യം ജപം ചെയ്ത്, ഇരട്ടിയായി പൂജയും നടത്തണം।
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Provides a concrete expiation for omissions in worship/āśrama rites: specified japa count (800) and doubling the worship, useful for priests/householders to rectify ritual lapses.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta for pūjā-lopa: 800 japa and double worship","lookup_keywords":["pūjā-lopa","aṣṭaśata-japa","dviguṇa-pūjā","āśrama-arcana","prāyaścitta"],"quick_summary":"When worship or āśrama-related rites are omitted, expiation is prescribed proportionate to the lapse; specifically for omitted pūjā, perform 800 mantra repetitions and repeat the worship twice."}
Concept: Ritual correctness is maintainable through defined corrective acts (japa-saṅkhyā and repetition of pūjā), reflecting a procedural dharma that restores continuity after lapse.
Application: For missed daily/occasional worship, apply the stated corrective: 800 japa of the relevant mantra and perform the pūjā twice, integrating into temple/household ritual manuals.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Prāyaścitta & Pūjā-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni instructs about expiation for missed worship; a priest/householder performs 800 japa with mālā and then repeats the pūjā twice before a deity altar with lamps, flowers, and offerings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Agni as radiant figure speaking to a seated ṛṣi, temple altar with lamps and flower garlands, devotee counting japa on mālā, then performing a second round of ārati, warm reds and ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly adorned altar with gold-leaf, devotee/priest with mālā, two sequential pūjā moments suggested (double offering trays), Agni subtly present as a fiery aura, devotional precision.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: left panel japa-counting (800) with mālā, right panel repeated pūjā, clear ritual items (pañcapātra, flowers, incense), neat linework and labels implied.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed shrine room with lamps and vessels, scholar-priest reciting japa, attendants preparing offerings for a second pūjā, fine textiles and architectural detail, calm procedural mood."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति; 'अध्यायः = अध्यायः (अकारलोप-सन्धि); अग्निर् = अग्निः; प्रायश्चित्तन्तु = प्रायश्चित्तम् + तु; पूजालोपे = पूजा-लोपे; चाष्टशतं = च + अष्टशतम्; जपेद्द्विगुणपूजनं = जपेत् + द्विगुणपूजनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (concludes ‘Prāyaścittāni’ chapter; colophon variants); Agni Purana 174 (opens prāyaścitta for worship omissions)
FAQs
It prescribes a concrete expiation for ritual lapses: if formal worship (pūjā) is omitted, perform 800 repetitions (japa) and then repeat the worship in a doubled manner (dviguṇa-pūjana).
Beyond mythology, it codifies practical dharma—procedures for correcting mistakes in daily and institutional worship (devārcana and āśrama-related observances), functioning like a compact ritual-law manual within the Purāṇa.
The verse frames omissions as karmically consequential “lapses” (lopa) and provides a remedial act—japa plus repeated worship—to restore ritual completeness and purificatory merit (prāyaścitta).