Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 21
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
विष्णुरुद्रार्कदेव्यादेर्गृहकर्ता स कीर्तिभाक् किं तस्य वित्तनिचयैर् मूढस्य परिरक्षितः
viṣṇurudrārkadevyādergṛhakartā sa kīrtibhāk kiṃ tasya vittanicayair mūḍhasya parirakṣitaḥ
Wer eine heilige Wohnstätte für Viṣṇu, Rudra, Sūrya, die Göttin und dergleichen errichtet (baut oder unterhält), wird Träger dauerhaften Ruhmes. Wozu taugen gehortete Reichtumshäufen, die ein Verblendeter bewacht?
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for rulers and householders: invest wealth in public religious works (shrines/maintenance) that generate lasting fame and merit rather than hoarding guarded riches.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Kīrti through deva-gṛha-karaṇa; futility of hoarded wealth","lookup_keywords":["rājadharma","deva-gṛha","kīrti","vitta-nicaya","mūḍha"],"quick_summary":"Building/maintaining abodes for major deities yields enduring fame; hoarded wealth protected in delusion is portrayed as purposeless, urging dharmic expenditure and patronage."}
Alamkara Type: Arthantaranyasa
Concept: Wealth finds meaning through dharmic deployment (temples, public piety); attachment and hoarding are delusion (moha) that blocks kīrti and higher ends.
Application: Adopt ethical budgeting: allocate surplus to enduring institutions (temples, waterworks, shelters), and reduce fear-based hoarding.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Ethics of kingship and conduct; renunciation of delusion about wealth)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king or wealthy patron funds shrines for Viṣṇu, Śiva, Sūrya, and Devī; in contrast, a guarded treasury symbolizes deluded hoarding, while inscriptions and public acclaim represent kīrti.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, royal patron presenting gifts to multiple sanctums (Vishnu, Shiva, Surya, Devi) in a temple complex, contrasted with a shadowy guarded treasury corner, bold colors and iconic deity panels","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, patron before a multi-deity temple façade with gold-leaf highlights, separate small vignette of locked treasure chest, emphasis on kīrti via inscribed plaques and halos","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic split-scene: left—temple patronage and maintenance; right—hoarded wealth guarded by anxious attendants, fine linework and clear moral contrast","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly patronage scene with architects and priests, detailed temple plans, adjacent scene of treasury with guards, subtle satire of the hoarder’s anxiety"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kambhoji","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्णुरुद्रार्कदेव्यादेर्गृहकर्ता = विष्णुरुद्रार्कदेव्यादेः + गृहकर्ता; वित्तनिचयैर् = वित्तनिचयैः + (र्-आदेशः) ।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 38 (rājadharma/nīti tone within dāna context); Agni Purana (rājadharma and nīti sections elsewhere)
FAQs
It teaches the dharmic principle that establishing a sacred abode (shrine/temple) for major deities is a meritorious act yielding lasting kīrti (reputation), whereas mere guarded hoarding of wealth has no enduring value.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves Nīti/Rājadharma guidance—social ethics that connect wealth, public works (temple foundations), and reputation—showing its scope beyond purely mythic narration.
The verse frames temple-building as a karma that converts material resources into lasting religious merit and good renown, while depicting attachment to hoarded wealth as moha (delusion) that yields little spiritual fruit.