Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 10
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
स्वर्गं च वैष्णवं लोकं मोक्षमाप्नोति च क्रमात् श्रेष्ठमायतनं विष्णोः कृत्वा यद्धनवान् लभेत्
svargaṃ ca vaiṣṇavaṃ lokaṃ mokṣamāpnoti ca kramāt śreṣṭhamāyatanaṃ viṣṇoḥ kṛtvā yaddhanavān labhet
Having constructed the supreme sanctuary of Lord Viṣṇu, a wealthy patron attains heaven, then the Vaiṣṇava world, and in due course even liberation (mokṣa).
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Motivates elite patronage for building a ‘supreme’ Viṣṇu sanctuary, presenting a staged spiritual ascent (svarga → Vaiṣṇava-loka → mokṣa).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śreṣṭha Viṣṇv-Āyatana: Gradual Attainment of Svarga, Vaiṣṇava-Loka, and Mokṣa","lookup_keywords":["śreṣṭham āyatanam","viṣṇu-mandira","vaiṣṇava-loka","krama (gradual)","mokṣa-phala"],"quick_summary":"A wealthy patron who builds an excellent Viṣṇu temple is promised a progressive fruit: heaven, then Viṣṇu’s world, and ultimately liberation."}
Concept: Devotional construction (mandira-sevā) functions as a ladder of post-mortem states culminating in mokṣa; excellence (śreṣṭhatā) is spiritually consequential.
Application: Encourages patrons to prioritize quality and completeness in religious institutions (temple, endowments, maintenance) rather than minimal compliance.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Vishnu-temple merit (Vaiṣṇava-āyatana-pratiṣṭhā)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A wealthy patron commissioning and consecrating a grand Viṣṇu temple; above, three tiered realms depicted: Svarga, Vaiṣṇava-loka (Vaikuṇṭha), and a final symbol of mokṣa (radiant light).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Viṣṇu temple consecration with priests and lamps; upper register shows Svarga, Vaikuṇṭha with Viṣṇu, and an abstract luminous mokṣa field; bold outlines, traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central Viṣṇu with gold halo in sanctum; patron offering; gold-leaf architecture; three small medallions above labeled Svarga, Vaikuṇṭha, Mokṣa.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: clean narrative sequence in three panels showing the ‘krama’ (stepwise) attainment; delicate shading, emphasis on ritual implements and temple details.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: court patronage scene with architects and priests; in the sky, finely painted celestial tiers culminating in a luminous, minimalistic mokṣa motif; intricate textiles and faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mokṣamāpnoti → mokṣam + āpnoti; śreṣṭhamāyatanaṃ → śreṣṭham + āyatanam; yaddhanavān → yat + dhanavān.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vaiṣṇava pūjā-vidhi and pratiṣṭhā; Agni Purana: phala-śruti sequences for dāna and mandira-kṛtya
FAQs
It teaches the ritual principle of āyatana-karaṇa (establishing/constructing a Viṣṇu-sanctuary) as a high-merit act, with a stated graduated spiritual result (svarga → Vaiṣṇava realm → mokṣa).
Alongside topics like polity, medicine, and poetics, the Agni Purāṇa also codifies public religious works—especially temple-building and its fruits—linking Vāstu/temple culture with soteriology (afterlife and liberation).
The verse frames temple patronage for Viṣṇu as a powerful puṇya that matures in stages, culminating not only in heavenly enjoyment but ultimately in liberation.