Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 14
Chapter 154: विवाहः
Vivāha — Marriage
न शुक्रजीवे ऽस्तमिते न शशाङ्के ग्रहार्दिते अर्कार्कभौमयुक्ते भे व्यतीपातहते न हि
na śukrajīve 'stamite na śaśāṅke grahārdite arkārkabhaumayukte bhe vyatīpātahate na hi
ไม่พึงประกอบพิธีเมื่อศุกร์และพฤหัสบดีลับ (มองไม่เห็น); ไม่พึงเมื่อจันทร์ถูกรบกวนด้วยเคราะห์; ไม่พึงเมื่อฤกษ์นักษัตรประกอบด้วยอาทิตย์ เคราะห์ร้ายที่ดุจอาทิตย์ และอังคาร; และยิ่งไม่พึงเมื่อถูกวฺยตีปาตะครอบงำ—กาลเช่นนี้ไม่เหมาะแก่พิธีกรรม।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Muhurta rejection rules based on planetary visibility (setting), lunar affliction, malefic conjunctions, and the vyatipata yoga—used to avoid defective ritual timings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Muhurta-Nishedha: Shukra/Jiva Asta, Chandra Grahardita, Surya–Malefic–Kuja Yoga, Vyatipata","lookup_keywords":["shukra-asta","guru-asta","chandra-graha-ardita","vyatipata-yoga","muhurta-dosha"],"quick_summary":"Reject muhurtas when Venus/Jupiter are set, when the Moon is afflicted, when the nakshatra is conjoined with strong malefics (Sun-like and Mars), or when Vyatipata occurs—these are considered time-defects for rites."}
Concept: Graha-bala and yoga conditions are treated as causal factors for ritual success; avoiding dosha-kala is a pragmatic discipline.
Application: Before fixing a samskara time, check (1) Venus/Jupiter visibility, (2) Moon afflictions, (3) malefic conjunctions in the relevant nakshatra, (4) presence of Vyatipata yoga.
Khanda Section: Jyotisha (Muhurta & Graha-yoga—auspicious/inauspicious timings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhaya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An astrologer diagramming the sky: Venus and Jupiter below the horizon (asta), the Moon ‘pierced’ by planetary rays (affliction), a cluster of Sun and Mars near a nakshatra marker, and a highlighted ‘Vyatipata’ yoga warning.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: circular zodiac wheel, grahas as anthropomorphic deities; Shukra and Guru descending behind horizon line; Chandra surrounded by malefic attendants; Vyatipata marked with a red band.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate graha mandala with gold leaf; central Moon with protective motifs; side panel showing ‘asta’ grahas; a bold cartouche reading Vyatipata as a caution emblem.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore technical illustration: clean horoscope wheel, horizon line for asta, arrows indicating affliction, labeled yoga ‘Vyatipata’; priest instructing a couple to avoid the marked slot.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: astronomer-astrologer with astrolabe and manuscript; night sky with stylized planets; marginal notes indicating asta and vyatipata; refined scientific-court aesthetic."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: 'stamite = astamite after avagraha; grahārdite = graha-ardite; vyatīpātahate = vyatīpāta-hate.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 154 (Jyotisha: muhurta and graha-yoga constraints)
FAQs
It gives muhurta-nishedha (timing prohibitions): avoid performing rites when Śukra and Bṛhaspati are set, when the Moon is planet-afflicted, when harsh malefic conjunctions occur in the nakṣatra, and especially during Vyatīpāta yoga.
It shows the Purana functioning as a practical manual by encoding Jyotiṣa-based scheduling rules—integrating astronomy/astrology with ritual procedure alongside its many other disciplines.
Choosing an untainted muhurta is taught as preserving the efficacy (siddhi) of rites; performing them under inauspicious yogas is implied to diminish merit and obstruct intended results.