Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 13
Chapter 154: विवाहः
Vivāha — Marriage
प्रशुप्ते केशवे नैव विवाहः कार्य एव हि पोषे चैत्रे कुजदिने रिक्ताविष्टितथो न च
praśupte keśave naiva vivāhaḥ kārya eva hi poṣe caitre kujadine riktāviṣṭitatho na ca
เมื่อเคศวะ (วิษณุ) อยู่ในภาวะ ‘หลับ’ (ประศุปตะ) ไม่พึงประกอบพิธีสมรสโดยเด็ดขาด อีกทั้งไม่ควรทำในเดือนเปาษะ เดือนไจตระ ในวันอังคาร และในติติที่เรียกว่า ริกตา กับ อาวิษฏิ ด้วย।
Lord Agni (in dialogue instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Selecting/avoiding marriage dates by excluding Vishnu’s sleep period (Chaturmasya context) and specific months, weekdays, and tithis deemed inauspicious.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vivaha-Nishedha: Prashupta Keshava, Pausha/Caitra, Tuesday, Rikta & Avishti Tithis","lookup_keywords":["prashupta-keshava","chaturmasya","rikta-tithi","avishti","vivaha-nishedha"],"quick_summary":"Marriage is prohibited during the period when Keśava is ritually ‘asleep’ and on specified months/days/tithis. This functions as a muhurta filter before choosing an auspicious date."}
Concept: Kala (time) is a ritual determinant; aligning samskara with auspicious temporal conditions is treated as a practical dharmic technology.
Application: In wedding planning, first exclude Chaturmasya/Vishnu-sleep period and the listed months/days/tithis, then proceed to nakshatra/graha checks.
Khanda Section: Muhūrta-Jyotiṣa (Auspicious timings for saṃskāras and rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhaya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest-astrologer consulting a panchanga; a reclining Vishnu motif indicating ‘sleep’; calendar panels marking Pausha, Caitra, Tuesday, and Rikta/Avishti tithis as barred for marriage.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: astrologer with palm-leaf almanac beside a temple lamp; in the background Ananta-shayana Vishnu; symbolic calendar glyphs crossed out for prohibited times.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Vishnu reclining on Ananta with gold embellishment; foreground priest holding panchanga and pointing to marked-off dates; wedding couple waiting respectfully.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional painting: clear panchanga grid, icons for weekday (Kujavara), months (Pausha/Caitra), tithi labels (Rikta, Avishti), with a ‘do not’ band; calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: court astrologer presenting an almanac to a family; marginal vignette of Vishnu in yogic sleep; fine calligraphic date annotations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: naiva = na + eva; poṣe = pauṣe (orthographic variant); likely reading issue in riktāviṣṭitatho (needs manuscript confirmation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 154 (Muhurta-Jyotisha for samskaras)
FAQs
It gives muhūrta-vidyā guidance for vivāha (marriage): avoid conducting the rite during Viṣṇu’s ‘sleep’ period, in Pauṣa and Caitra months, on Tuesday (Mars’ day), and on Riktā/Āviṣṭi inauspicious time factors.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied Jyotiṣa (electional astrology) by listing concrete prohibitions for a major saṃskāra (marriage), showing its practical, handbook-like scope.
By avoiding inauspicious calendrical factors for vivāha, the rite is aligned with dharmic timing, traditionally believed to reduce obstacles (vighna) and support marital stability, prosperity, and auspicious progeny.