Panchagni literally means 'five fires.' The patient sufferance of the five fires is a penance. Panchagni is a 'prayaschitta,' a rite of purification. Panchagni entails the endurance of five external fires. Four fires are lit and the fifth fire is that of the sun. Following this the five internal fires kama (passion), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (attachment) and matsara (jealousy), are endured. The practitioner then observes five meditations on fire.
The occasion of Uttarayan when the sun is in the northern hemisphere from Makar Sankranti (mid- January) to Karka Sankranti (mid-July) is considered ideal for observing Panchagni.
