Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 1
Chapter 174 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Expiations
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे प्रायश्चित्तानि नाम त्रिसप्तत्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः हविष्यभुगिति ग ,ट च मातृजायागमे इति ग , छ , ट च अथ चतुःसप्तत्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः प्रायश्चित्तानि अग्निर् उवाच देवाश्रमार्चनादीनां प्रायश्चित्तन्तु लोपतः पूजालोपे चाष्टशतं जपेद्द्विगुणपूजनं
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe prāyaścittāni nāma trisaptatyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ haviṣyabhugiti ga ,ṭa ca mātṛjāyāgame iti ga , cha , ṭa ca atha catuḥsaptatyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ prāyaścittāni agnir uvāca devāśramārcanādīnāṃ prāyaścittantu lopataḥ pūjālope cāṣṭaśataṃ japeddviguṇapūjanaṃ
Kaya nga, sa Agni Mahāpurāṇa, ang naunang kabanata—kabanata 173—ay pinamagatang “Prāyaścitta (Mga Pagtubos)”. (Mga baryanteng pagbasa: “Haviṣyabhuk” sa ilang manuskrito; “Mātṛjāyāgame” sa iba.) Ngayon ay nagsisimula ang kabanata 174, “Prāyaścitta”. Sinabi ni Agni: “Para sa mga pagkukulang sa pagsamba sa mga deva, sa mga ritwal ng āśrama, at sa mga katulad nito, ang pagtubos ay itinatakda dahil sa pagkaligta. At kapag ang isang pūjā ay nalampasan, dapat ulitin ang mantra nang walong daang beses at isagawa ang pagsamba nang makalawa.”
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Provides a concrete expiation for omissions in worship/āśrama rites: specified japa count (800) and doubling the worship, useful for priests/householders to rectify ritual lapses.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta for pūjā-lopa: 800 japa and double worship","lookup_keywords":["pūjā-lopa","aṣṭaśata-japa","dviguṇa-pūjā","āśrama-arcana","prāyaścitta"],"quick_summary":"When worship or āśrama-related rites are omitted, expiation is prescribed proportionate to the lapse; specifically for omitted pūjā, perform 800 mantra repetitions and repeat the worship twice."}
Concept: Ritual correctness is maintainable through defined corrective acts (japa-saṅkhyā and repetition of pūjā), reflecting a procedural dharma that restores continuity after lapse.
Application: For missed daily/occasional worship, apply the stated corrective: 800 japa of the relevant mantra and perform the pūjā twice, integrating into temple/household ritual manuals.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Prāyaścitta & Pūjā-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni instructs about expiation for missed worship; a priest/householder performs 800 japa with mālā and then repeats the pūjā twice before a deity altar with lamps, flowers, and offerings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Agni as radiant figure speaking to a seated ṛṣi, temple altar with lamps and flower garlands, devotee counting japa on mālā, then performing a second round of ārati, warm reds and ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly adorned altar with gold-leaf, devotee/priest with mālā, two sequential pūjā moments suggested (double offering trays), Agni subtly present as a fiery aura, devotional precision.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: left panel japa-counting (800) with mālā, right panel repeated pūjā, clear ritual items (pañcapātra, flowers, incense), neat linework and labels implied.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed shrine room with lamps and vessels, scholar-priest reciting japa, attendants preparing offerings for a second pūjā, fine textiles and architectural detail, calm procedural mood."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति; 'अध्यायः = अध्यायः (अकारलोप-सन्धि); अग्निर् = अग्निः; प्रायश्चित्तन्तु = प्रायश्चित्तम् + तु; पूजालोपे = पूजा-लोपे; चाष्टशतं = च + अष्टशतम्; जपेद्द्विगुणपूजनं = जपेत् + द्विगुणपूजनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (concludes ‘Prāyaścittāni’ chapter; colophon variants); Agni Purana 174 (opens prāyaścitta for worship omissions)
FAQs
It prescribes a concrete expiation for ritual lapses: if formal worship (pūjā) is omitted, perform 800 repetitions (japa) and then repeat the worship in a doubled manner (dviguṇa-pūjana).
Beyond mythology, it codifies practical dharma—procedures for correcting mistakes in daily and institutional worship (devārcana and āśrama-related observances), functioning like a compact ritual-law manual within the Purāṇa.
The verse frames omissions as karmically consequential “lapses” (lopa) and provides a remedial act—japa plus repeated worship—to restore ritual completeness and purificatory merit (prāyaścitta).