Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 3
गङ्गामाहात्म्यं
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
चान्द्रायणसहस्राच्च गङ्गाम्भःपानमुत्तमं गङां मासन्तु संसेव्य सर्वयज्ञफलं लभेत्
cāndrāyaṇasahasrācca gaṅgāmbhaḥpānamuttamaṃ gaṅāṃ māsantu saṃsevya sarvayajñaphalaṃ labhet
ยิ่งกว่าการบำเพ็ญจันทรายนะนับพัน การดื่มน้ำคงคาย่อมประเสริฐที่สุด. ผู้เข้าพึ่งและบำเพ็ญสักการะแด่คงคาด้วยศรัทธาตลอดหนึ่งเดือน ย่อมได้ผลแห่งยัญพิธีทั้งปวง.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guidance for expiation and merit-accrual: prioritizing Gaṅgā-jala-pāna and month-long Gaṅgā-sevā as a practical alternative/supplement to arduous penances and sacrifices.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gaṅgā-jala-pāna and month-long Gaṅgā-sevā as superior to Cāndrāyaṇa","lookup_keywords":["Cāndrāyaṇa","prāyaścitta","Gaṅgā-jala-pāna","māsa-sevā","sarva-yajña-phala"],"quick_summary":"The text ranks drinking Gaṅgā water above extensive Cāndrāyaṇa penances and states that a month of devoted observance at Gaṅgā yields the fruit of all sacrifices."}
Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti (hyperbolic superiority claim)
Concept: Hierarchy of prāyaścitta: tīrtha-sevā can outweigh severe austerities when performed with devotion.
Application: Undertake a disciplined month-long observance at Gaṅgā (snāna, japa, dāna, restraint) and partake of sanctified water as part of expiatory practice, aligned with one’s capacity and tradition.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Tīrtha-Māhātmya (Expiations and pilgrimage merits)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: River/Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Pilgrims at the Gaṅgā performing a month-long vrata: daily snāna, sipping sanctified water, offerings, and simple living; the river is shown as a purifying presence surpassing penances.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: riverside ghat with devotees in white garments sipping Gaṅgā-jala from cupped hands; calendar-like border suggesting a month; priests performing simple rites; warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Gaṅgā Devī blessing devotees who drink sacred water; gold foil highlights on vessels and halo; small inset showing crescent moon motif referencing Cāndrāyaṇa.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: sequential panels of a 30-day observance—snāna, jala-pāna, japa, dāna; clear labels; soft pastel tones and fine linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed ghat scene with pilgrims, ascetics, and Brahmins; one figure sipping water; river shimmering; architectural steps and parasols; fine textile patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: चान्द्रायणसहस्राच्च→चान्द्रायणसहस्रात् + च; गङ्गाम्भःपानमुत्तमं→गङ्गाम्भःपानम् + उत्तमम्; गङां→गङ्गाम्; मासन्तु→मासम् + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: prāyaścitta discussions; tīrtha-phala passages in the same khanda
FAQs
It prescribes a prāyaścitta-oriented practice: drinking Gaṅgā water and performing month-long Gaṅgā-sevā as a high-merit substitute/superior act compared to extensive Cāndrāyaṇa penances.
It exemplifies the text’s coverage of ritual law and expiation (prāyaścitta) alongside tīrtha-māhātmya, presenting practical, merit-calculus guidance parallel to its treatments of other disciplines.
The verse frames Gaṅgā as exceptionally purificatory: sustained devotion to her and even her water is said to confer comprehensive sacrificial merit (sarva-yajña-phala) and strong karmic cleansing.