A generic expression that refers to making amends for one's wrongdoings.
Based on the practically universal Hindu belief in the
inevitable workings of karma, the Hindu religious tradition places a high value
on penance and expiation.
All good and bad acts, according to this belief, will
ultimately have an impact, either in this life or the next, and one must either
atone for the evil done or face the repercussions in the future.
Confession, repentance (which was usually seen as
preparation for expiation, rather than absolution of the evil itself),
restraint of breath (pranayama), physical asceticism (tapas), fire sacrifice
(homa), recitation of prayers (japa), gift-giving (dana), fasting (upavasa),
and travel to sacred sites are among the acts prescribed for atonement
(tirthayatra).
The prayashchitta literature is fairly extensive, both in
terms of describing many sorts of transgressions and their possibly mitigating
conditions, as well as the methods of atonement that should be undertaken for
each offense.
Pandurang Vaman Kane (trans. ), A History of Dharmasastra,
1968, is a good source of knowledge.
