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
తండ్రి సోదరి కుమార్తె, సోదరి, తల్లి సోదరి కుమార్తె, స్వమాత, అలాగే సోదరుని భార్య—వారితో గమనము చేసినవాడు ‘చాంద్రాయణ’ ప్రాయశ్చిత్త వ్రతాన్ని ఆచరించాలి।
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.