Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 35
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
पितृस्वस्रेयीं भगिनीं स्वस्रीयां मातुरेव च मातुश् च भ्रातुराप्तस्य गत्वा चान्द्रायणञ्चरेत्
pitṛsvasreyīṃ bhaginīṃ svasrīyāṃ mātureva ca mātuś ca bhrāturāptasya gatvā cāndrāyaṇañcaret
पितृस्वस्रेयीं भगिनीं स्वस्रीयां मातरं मातुश्च भ्रातुराप्तस्य स्त्रीं गत्वा चान्द्रायणं प्रायश्चित्तं चरेत्।
Lord Agni (narrating purāṇic dharma/prāyaścitta material in the Agni Purana’s instructional voice)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Specifies Cāndrāyaṇa vow as expiation for illicit intercourse with close relatives/affines, giving a concrete remedial observance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Cāndrāyaṇa-prāyaścitta for intercourse with specified close kin/affines","lookup_keywords":["cāndrāyaṇa","pitr̥svasr̥yī","bhaginī","mātṛsvasr̥yā","bhrātṛbhāryā"],"quick_summary":"For illicit intercourse with certain close relatives (including mother and brother’s wife), perform the Cāndrāyaṇa expiatory vow. The entry links a defined lunar-diet vrata to a defined class of offenses."}
Concept: Time (lunar cycle) as a moral-ritual regulator: purification is synchronized with cosmic rhythm through Cāndrāyaṇa.
Application: Undertake structured, calendar-based austerities to cultivate restraint and restore dharmic order after grave misconduct.
Khanda Section: Prayashchitta-Dharma (Expiations and Purificatory Vows)
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent observing Cāndrāyaṇa: a lunar calendar wheel behind, phases of the moon shown; the person measures small portions of food (piṇḍa/morsels) according to tithi, with a priest instructing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, moon-phase band across the top, penitent seated with a small bowl and measured morsels; priest holding palm-leaf calendar; cool whites and blues for the moon, earthy background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, crescent-to-full moon arc in gold leaf above; penitent with measured food portions; ornate yet solemn framing; ritual vessels and a calendar scroll.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional chart-like scene: 15 waxing and 15 waning tithis indicated; penitent reducing/increasing morsels; fine lines, soft palette, clarity-focused.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, night courtyard with visible moon; scholar points to a lunar almanac; penitent counts morsels; detailed textiles and architectural lattice, subdued contemplative mood."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyan","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पितृस्वस्रेयीं = पितृ-स्वस्रेयीम्; मातुरेव = मातुः + एव; भ्रातुराप्तस्य = भ्रातुः + आप्तस्य; चान्द्रायणञ्चरेत् = च + आन्द्रायणम् + चरेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Prāyaścitta-khaṇḍa: detailed rules of Cāndrāyaṇa (increasing/decreasing morsels with lunar tithis)
FAQs
It prescribes the Cāndrāyaṇa vrata as a specific prāyaścitta (expiation) for intercourse with certain close female relatives (forbidden kin and a brother’s wife).
Alongside cosmology and worship, the Agni Purana also compiles dharma-śāstra–style material—here, a concrete legal-ritual rule mapping a defined transgression to a standardized penance (Cāndrāyaṇa).
The Cāndrāyaṇa is a purificatory vow intended to mitigate grave sin (pāpa) arising from prohibited sexual relations, restoring ritual purity and dharmic order through disciplined, lunar-regulated austerity.