Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 7
Chapter 171 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Prāyaścittāni / Expiations
त्र्याहमुष्णं घृतं पीत्वा वायुभक्षो भवेत् त्र्यहं तप्तकृच्छ्रमिदं प्रोक्तं शीतैः शीतं प्रकीर्तितं
tryāhamuṣṇaṃ ghṛtaṃ pītvā vāyubhakṣo bhavet tryahaṃ taptakṛcchramidaṃ proktaṃ śītaiḥ śītaṃ prakīrtitaṃ
三日饮温酥油（ghṛta），继而三日唯以气息为食而住。此被称为“热苦行”（Taptakṛcchra）；若以冷（酥油等）而行，则名为“冷”（Śīta）之苦行。
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Applying a heat/cold-based fasting protocol (taptakṛcchra/śīta-kṛcchra) using warm/cold ghee and subsequent air-only living as a severe austerity with bodily implications.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Taptakṛcchra and Śīta-kṛcchra — Ghee-drinking and air-only phase","lookup_keywords":["taptakṛcchra","śīta kṛcchra","uṣṇa ghṛta","vāyubhakṣa","prāyaścitta fasting"],"quick_summary":"For three days one drinks warm ghee, then for three days subsists on air alone; done with cold substances it is termed the Śīta variant—both are severe, tightly defined expiatory fasts."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Tapas employs controlled extremes (heat/cold; intake/abstinence) to cultivate mastery over bodily impulses for purification.
Application: Use graded austerities with clear endpoints; do not confuse self-harm with sādhanā—follow defined limits and suitability (adhikāra).
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Prāyaścitta / Tapas-related fasting observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An ascetic drinks warm ghee for three days, then sits in meditation during a three-day air-only fast, with visual contrast of heat (sun/fire) and cold variant (moon/snow).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ascetic with a small brass vessel of warm ghee, later shown seated in deep meditation with minimal surroundings, symbolic sun (taptā) and moon (śīta) motifs, earthy reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central ascetic figure with gold halo-like ornamentation, holding a ghee vessel; side vignette of meditative fasting, gold work highlighting sun/moon emblems for taptakṛcchra/śīta","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional two-stage depiction: stage 1 drinking uṣṇa-ghṛta (3 days), stage 2 vāyubhakṣa (3 days), clean labels and calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, ascetic in a sparse garden pavilion, delicate rendering of a small cup of ghee, then a later scene of still meditation with empty plate, atmospheric light indicating heat/cold contrast"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्र्याहमुष्णं→त्र्यहम्+उष्णम्; तप्तकृच्छ्रमिदं→तप्तकृच्छ्रम्+इदम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 171 (kṛcchra classifications and purificatory regimens)
FAQs
It prescribes the procedure for the Taptakṛcchra expiation: three days of warm ghee intake followed by three days of subsisting on air (fasting); it also notes a cold-mode variant called Śīta.
By cataloging standardized expiatory observances (prāyaścitta) with precise dietary/fasting protocols, it functions like a dharma-and-ritual manual alongside the text’s many other technical subjects.
The kṛcchra austerity is a purification rite intended to reduce the karmic weight of faults through controlled diet, fasting, and disciplined endurance (tapas).