Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 2
Chapter 174 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Expiations
पञ्चोपनिषदैर् मन्त्रैर् हुत्वा ब्राह्मणभोजनं सूतिकान्त्यजकोदक्यास्पृष्टे देवे शतं जपेत्
pañcopaniṣadair mantrair hutvā brāhmaṇabhojanaṃ sūtikāntyajakodakyāspṛṣṭe deve śataṃ japet
以五部奥义书之咒语行供火祭，并供养婆罗门之后，若神像被与产妇、经期妇女、山羊或不净之水相关之水所触，当诵此咒一百遍。
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Temple/home-puja purity management: expiation when the installed deity/altar is accidentally contacted by childbirth/menses-related water, animal contact, or impure water; restores ritual eligibility to continue worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta for Deity Touched by Sūtikā/Rajasvalā/Goat/Impure Water","lookup_keywords":["pañcopaniṣad-mantra","prāyaścitta","aśauca","prokṣaṇa","japa-śata"],"quick_summary":"After pañcopaniṣad-homa and feeding brāhmaṇas, if the deity is contaminated by specific impure contacts, perform a 100-count japa as expiation to re-establish ritual purity and continuity of worship."}
Concept: Ritual purity (śauca) and expiation (prāyaścitta) preserve the continuity and efficacy of worship despite accidental impurity.
Application: Maintain a clear corrective sequence—homa/feeding/japa—so worship is not abandoned due to mistakes or unavoidable contacts.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Prayashchitta & Shuddhi-kalpa: purification rites connected with offerings and japa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest before a shrine performs pañcopaniṣad-homa, then counts a 100-japa with a mālā after the deity’s pedestal has been accidentally splashed by impure water; brāhmaṇas are seated for feeding nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, priest in white mundu performing homa before a small sanctum, deity pedestal shown, water splash motif, mālā-japa counting, brāhmaṇa-feeding scene in background, traditional lamp glow","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central deity in ornate arch with gold foil, priest offering into homa-kunda, mālā in hand, ritual vessels (kalaśa, prokṣaṇī), brāhmaṇas seated with banana-leaf meal, rich reds and gold highlights","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate lines, instructional composition: left panel homa with pañcopaniṣad mantras, right panel 100-japa with mālā, small caption-like visual cues for purity restoration, soft pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly interior turned temple setting, detailed textiles, priest performing homa and then japa, attendants arranging brāhmaṇa-bhojana, careful depiction of water vessel and sanctum threshold, fine brushwork"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पञ्चोपनिषदैः = पञ्च-उपनिषदैः (द्विगु); मन्त्रैर् = मन्त्रैः; सूतिकान्त्यजकोदक्यास्पृष्टे = सूतिका-अन्त्यज-उदक्या-आस्पृष्टे (समाहार/समासपूर्वपदानि + क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘आस्पृष्ट’); जपेत् = जपेत् (विधिलिङ्)
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on prokṣaṇa, ācamana, and prāyaścitta for arcā-doṣa; Agni Purana chapters detailing pañcopaniṣad/pañcagavya-type śuddhi measures (contextual parallels)
FAQs
It prescribes a prāyaścitta procedure: perform homa using “five Upaniṣad” mantras, feed Brāhmaṇas, and complete a quantified japa (100 recitations) when a deity/image is ritually defiled by polluting contact.
Beyond mythic narration, it functions like a ritual manual: it codifies purity rules, remediation steps (homa, brāhmaṇa-bhojana, japa), and practical temple-handling protocols—one of the Agni Purāṇa’s hallmark “how-to” domains.
The rite restores ritual purity (śuddhi) of the deity’s presence and the worshipper’s eligibility to continue worship, converting an impurity-causing lapse into an act of expiation through fire-offering, charity/feeding, and mantra-recitation.