Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 12
Chapter 326 — देवालयमाहात्म्यम्
The Glory of Temples
लिङ्गार्चनाद्भुक्तिमुक्तिर्यावज्जीवमतो यजेत् वरं प्राणपरित्यागो भुञ्जीतापूज्य नैव तं
liṅgārcanādbhuktimuktiryāvajjīvamato yajet varaṃ prāṇaparityāgo bhuñjītāpūjya naiva taṃ
From worship of the Liṅga arise both worldly enjoyment and liberation; therefore one should worship for as long as one lives. Better is the surrender of the life-breath than the enjoyment of pleasures without having worshipped Him—one should not enjoy in that manner at all.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s ritual sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Daily Śiva-liṅga worship as a lifelong discipline; prioritizing pūjā before personal enjoyment to align life with dharma and mokṣa-goals.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Liṅgārcana as Source of Bhukti and Mukti","lookup_keywords":["liṅgārcana","bhukti-mukti","nitya-pūjā","śaiva-upāsanā","tyāga-before-bhoga"],"quick_summary":"Liṅga-worship is taught as simultaneously granting worldly well-being and liberation; the verse frames non-worshipful enjoyment as spiritually inferior to even giving up life."}
Alamkara Type: Arthāntaranyāsa (reinforcement by a stronger alternative)
Concept: Bhakti-sādhana integrates bhukti and mukti; enjoyment without īśvara-smaraṇa is spiritually barren.
Application: Structure the day so that worship precedes consumption/pleasure; treat pūjā as non-negotiable like prāṇa itself.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Linga-archana and Shaiva worship injunctions)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Vīra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder before a simple Śiva-liṅga, pausing from meal/pleasure to offer water, flowers, and reverent salutations—signaling worship as the gateway to both prosperity and liberation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, a serene devotee in traditional attire worshipping a black stone liṅga with white tripuṇḍra marks, oil-lamp glow, calm śānta mood, minimal background, sacred austerity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf haloed shrine niche with Śiva-liṅga on pedestal, devotee offering arghya, ornate arch and lamps, rich reds and greens, embossed gold detailing emphasizing the sanctity of pūjā over worldly indulgence.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework, instructional composition: devotee sets aside a plate of food, turns to liṅga with pañcopacāra items arranged neatly, soft pastel background, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior scene: a noble pauses before dining to worship a small liṅga on a low altar, fine textiles, delicate brushwork, subdued contemplative atmosphere, emphasis on ethical restraint."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लिङ्गार्चनाद् = लिङ्ग-अर्चनात्; भुक्तिमुक्तिः = भुक्ति-मुक्तिः; यावज्जीवम् = यावत्-जीवम्; भुञ्जीतापूज्य = भुञ्जीत + अपूज्य; नैव = न + एव
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on liṅga-arcana and nitya-karma; Agni Purana chapters on dāna and vrata-phala comparisons
FAQs
It prescribes nitya (lifelong) Liṅga-arcana as the practical discipline, and states a prohibition: do not partake of enjoyments/consumption without first performing worship.
It exemplifies the Purana’s ritual-technology layer (pūjā-vidhi): concise rules linking practice (Liṅga-arcana) to outcomes (bhukti/mukti) and ethical constraints on daily life (enjoyment conditioned by worship).
It frames worship as the rightful prerequisite for enjoying life’s fruits; neglecting it is treated as spiritually worse than death, emphasizing devotion, gratitude, and merit (puṇya) as the basis for prosperity and liberation.