Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 14
Chapter 171 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Prāyaścittāni / Expiations
मासं वायव्यकृच्छ्रं स्यात्पाणिपूरान्नभोजनात् तिलैर् द्वादशरात्रेण कृच्छ्रमाग्नेयमार्तिनुत्
māsaṃ vāyavyakṛcchraṃ syātpāṇipūrānnabhojanāt tilair dvādaśarātreṇa kṛcchramāgneyamārtinut
ตลอดหนึ่งเดือน การถือ “วายวฺยะ-กฤจฉระ” ทำโดยฉันอาหารเพียงเท่าฝ่ามือหนึ่งกำมือ และการดำรงชีพด้วยงาตลอดสิบสองคืน คือ “อาคเนยะ-กฤจฉระ” ซึ่งขจัดความทุกข์เดือดร้อน
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Observing named elemental penances: Vāyavya-kṛcchra via palmful portions for a month; Āgneya-kṛcchra via sesame-only for twelve nights for relief from affliction.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vāyavya-kṛcchra (palmful diet) and Āgneya-kṛcchra (sesame for 12 nights)","lookup_keywords":["vāyavya-kṛcchra","āgneya-kṛcchra","pāṇipūra","tila","dvādaśarātra"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes Vāyavya-kṛcchra as a month of palmful-measure meals, and Āgneya-kṛcchra as twelve nights subsisting on sesame, stated to remove distress."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Elementally named vows (vāyu/agni) encode modes of restraint; measured intake and specific substances are treated as purificatory means that can relieve suffering.
Application: Using portion-measure (palmful) as a concrete rule for long observances; employing sesame-based restriction as a time-bounded penance aimed at easing hardship.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Prāyaścitta / Atonements and Purificatory Vows)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent measuring a palmful portion (pāṇipūra) beside a calendar marking a month (Vāyavya-kṛcchra), and a second vignette showing sesame seeds as the sole food for twelve nights (Āgneya-kṛcchra) symbolically dispelling affliction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel narrative: palmful-measure eating with a stylized hand gesture and small rice mound, and a bowl of sesame under a lamp for twelve nights; warm tones, ornate borders, calm ascetic mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted hand measuring a small portion, sesame bowl rendered richly, decorative halo and frame, inscriptions of 'Vāyavya' and 'Āgneya', emphasis on sacred discipline.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional depiction of palm-measure technique and a 12-night sesame regimen with tally marks, fine linework and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior with a penitent and attendant counting nights, detailed rendering of sesame grains and manuscript notes, precise architecture and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्यात्पाणिपूरान्नभोजनात् = स्यात् पाणि-पूरेण अन्न-भोजनात्; तिलैर् = तिलैः; कृच्छ्रमाग्नेयमार्तिनुत् = कृच्छ्रम् आग्नेयम् आर्ति-नुत्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 171 (elemental kṛcchra variants; duration rules)
FAQs
It prescribes two specific kṛcchra-type expiations: (1) the Vāyavya-kṛcchra for one month by limiting intake to a palmful of food, and (2) the Āgneya-kṛcchra for twelve nights by subsisting on sesame seeds.
Alongside theology and myth, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs practical Dharmaśāstra material—standardized penances, dietary measures, and time-counted observances—functioning like a compact manual of religious law and ritual discipline.
These regulated austerities are presented as purificatory expiations (prāyaścitta) intended to reduce the karmic burden of faults and to alleviate ‘ārti’ (distress/affliction), restoring ritual and moral purity.