Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 16
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
अवकीर्णी तु कालेन गर्धभेन चतुष्पथे पाकयज्ञविधानेन यजेत निरृतिं निशि
avakīrṇī tu kālena gardhabhena catuṣpathe pākayajñavidhānena yajeta nirṛtiṃ niśi
परंतु अवकीर्णी (शीलभंग करणारी स्त्री) हिने नियत काळी, चतुष्पथी (चौकात), रात्री, पाकयज्ञविधीने गाढवसहित निरृति देवीचे यजन/हवन करावे।
Lord Agni (instructional narration to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Specific expiatory śānti rite for avakīrṇī involving a night offering to Nirṛti at a crossroads using pākayajña procedure and a donkey-associated rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Avakīrṇī expiation: night pākayajña to Nirṛti at the crossroads with donkey rite","lookup_keywords":["avakirni","Nirrti","catuspatha","pakayajna","gardabha"],"quick_summary":"For the avakīrṇī, an expiatory offering is prescribed at night at a crossroads to Nirṛti, performed according to pākayajña procedure, employing a donkey as the ritual animal/means—aimed at pacifying inauspiciousness and restoring purity."}
Concept: Ritual remediation of social/ritual disorder through targeted śānti to a deity of misfortune; place-time-deity specificity in expiation.
Application: Ritual specialists apply precise locus (crossroads), time (night), and deity (Nirṛti) to neutralize perceived inauspiciousness and reintegrate the offender.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śānti-vidhi (Expiatory rites within Smārta/Pākayajña ritual procedures)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Samanya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At night at a crossroads, a ritualist performs a small fire-offering to Nirṛti; a donkey stands nearby as part of the rite; the atmosphere is solemn and apotropaic.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, nocturnal crossroads with stylized flames, dark-toned Nirṛti presence implied, priest performing pākayajña, donkey in profile, strong contrasts and ritual geometry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, dramatic night scene with gold-highlighted fire and ritual vessels, Nirṛti icon as dark deity panel, donkey rendered with ornate harness, heavy border work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear procedural depiction: crossroads marker, small homa-kunda, offerings laid out, priest’s gestures, donkey positioned as specified, didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, moonlit crossroads with fine architectural cues, small homa fire, priest and attendants, donkey detailed naturalistically, subdued palette with luminous highlights"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पाकयज्ञविधानेन = पाक-यज्ञ-विधानेन (समास); निरृतिं निशि (सन्धि नहीं)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 169 (avakīrṇa/avakīrṇī expiation rules; pākayajña context)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific expiatory pākayajña offering to Nirṛti, to be done at night at a crossroads, employing a donkey in the rite, for the case of an avakīrṇī.
It catalogs a highly specific prāyaścitta scenario—linking place (crossroads), time (night), deity (Nirṛti), and ritual class (pākayajña)—showing the text’s coverage of practical dharma, impurity-removal, and śānti procedures alongside its many other disciplines.
By directing the rite to Nirṛti—associated with misfortune and moral/ritual ruin—the act aims to transfer and pacify inauspiciousness, reduce karmic fault from transgression, and restore ritual and social purity.