Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 6
Chapter 171 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Prāyaścittāni / Expiations
मासेन भक्षयेदेतत् सुरचान्द्रायणं चरेत् त्र्यहमुष्णं पिवेदापस्त्यहमुष्णं पयः पिवेत्
māsena bhakṣayedetat suracāndrāyaṇaṃ caret tryahamuṣṇaṃ pivedāpastyahamuṣṇaṃ payaḥ pivet
ଏହି ନିୟତ ଆହାରକୁ ଏକ ମାସରେ ଭୋଗ କରି ‘ସୁର-ଚାନ୍ଦ୍ରାୟଣ’ ବ୍ରତ ଆଚରଣ କରିବ। ତିନି ଦିନ ଉଷ୍ଣ ଜଳ, ତିନି ଦିନ ଉଷ୍ଣ କ୍ଷୀର ପାନ କରିବ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s primary narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Executing the Sura-Cāndrāyaṇa regimen over a month with specified liquid-only phases (warm water, warm milk) as part of expiation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sura-Cāndrāyaṇa — Monthly regimen with warm water and warm milk phases","lookup_keywords":["Sura-cāndrāyaṇa","monthly observance","uṣṇa jala","uṣṇa payas","prāyaścitta procedure"],"quick_summary":"The observance is completed over a month; it includes three days of warm-water intake and three days of warm-milk intake as regulated phases within the vow."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Tapas is structured: time-bound (month) and method-bound (specified intake), emphasizing disciplined continuity over impulsive severity.
Application: Plan austerities with clear phases and hydration/nourishment rules to sustain practice without collapse.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Vrata-vidhi (Expiatory rites and vows)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vrata-observer marking a lunar month on a palm-leaf calendar, drinking warm water for three days and warm milk for three days as part of a disciplined expiation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ascetic with a simple pot of warm water and a bowl of warm milk, lunar month symbols in the background, calm temple-like setting, emphasis on purity and restraint","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, devotee seated near a lamp with two vessels labeled water and milk, decorative gold border, month (candra) motif above, serene devotional austerity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout with sequential panels: day 1-3 warm water, day 4-6 warm milk, then monthly completion, clean annotations and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined interior with a scholar-ascetic, attendants absent, a calendar page with moon phases, delicate cups of warm water and milk, fine linework and subdued palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भक्षयेदेतत्→भक्षयेत्+एतत्; पिवेदापः→पिवेत्+आपः; त्र्यहमुष्णं→त्र्यहम्+उष्णम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 171 (Cāndrāyaṇa variants and kṛcchra regimens)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific expiatory fasting protocol (Sura-Cāndrāyaṇa) with a timed sequence: a month-long regulated intake, then three days of warm water followed by three days of warm milk.
Alongside theology and myth, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical dharma material—detailed prāyaścitta and vrata procedures—functioning like a ritual manual within a broader compendium.
Cāndrāyaṇa-type disciplines are intended to purify transgressions through controlled austerity, restoring ritual fitness and reducing the karmic burden by prescribed self-restraint.