Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
Chapter 326 — देवालयमाहात्म्यम्
The Glory of Temples
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे गौर्यादिपूजा नाम पञ्चविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ षड्विंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः देवालयमाहात्म्यम् ईश्वर+उवाच व्रतेश्वरांश् च सत्यादीनिष्ट्वा व्रतसमर्पणम् अरिष्टशमने शस्तमरिष्टं सूत्रनायकम्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe gauryādipūjā nāma pañcaviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ṣaḍviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ devālayamāhātmyam īśvara+uvāca vrateśvarāṃś ca satyādīniṣṭvā vratasamarpaṇam ariṣṭaśamane śastamariṣṭaṃ sūtranāyakam
इस प्रकार श्रीआग्नेय महापुराण में ‘गौरी आदि की पूजा’ नामक तीन सौ पच्चीसवाँ अध्याय समाप्त हुआ। अब तीन सौ छब्बीसवाँ अध्याय ‘देवालय-माहात्म्य’ आरम्भ होता है। ईश्वर बोले—सत्य आदि व्रतेश्वरों की विधिवत् पूजा करके व्रत-समर्पण करे। अरिष्ट (अनिष्ट) की शान्ति हेतु सूत्रनायक के निर्देशन में ‘अरिष्ट’ सम्बन्धी विधान प्रशस्त है।
Īśvara (Lord Śiva) speaking (as indicated by “īśvara uvāca” in this chapter heading/verse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Vrata-samarpana (concluding offering) after worship of vrata-devatās; ariṣṭa-śamana (pacification of misfortune) performed under a sūtra-guided officiant (sūtranāyaka) within temple-centered religious life.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Devālaya-māhātmya Prastāva: Vrata-samarpana and Ariṣṭa-śamana under Sūtranāyaka","lookup_keywords":["devālaya-māhātmya","vrata-samarpana","ariṣṭa-śamana","satya-devatā","sūtranāyaka"],"quick_summary":"After completing a vow, offer its formal conclusion to the presiding deities; for removing misfortunes, an ariṣṭa-pacifying rite is prescribed under proper ritual leadership."}
Concept: Dharma is maintained by proper completion (samarpana) of vows and by śānti rites to restore order when ariṣṭa arises; ritual must be sūtra-guided (authorized procedure).
Application: Do not end a vrata informally—perform samarpana; for persistent obstacles, undertake ariṣṭa-śamana with a qualified officiant following established sūtra/paddhati.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi & Devālaya-māhātmya (Temple ritual procedure and sanctity)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple courtyard where a vow is concluded: offerings arranged, the sūtranāyaka leads priests, devotees present samarpana to vrata-deities like Satya; a śānti rite is prepared to pacify misfortune.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple courtyard with lamp pillars, priests led by a central sūtranāyaka holding ritual manual, devotees offering, calm symmetrical composition, earthy reds and yellows.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, temple arch and sanctum with gold embellishments, group vrata-samarpana scene, trays of offerings, central officiant prominent, ornate borders and halos for deities.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, process-oriented depiction: officiant guiding sequence, offerings laid out, temple backdrop, clear roles (leader, assistants, devotees), soft palette and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling yet orderly temple forecourt, officiant directing ritual, devotees with offerings, architectural detail of mandapa and pillars, delicate figures and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye = iti + āgneye; adhyāyo 'dhyāyaḥ = adhyāyaḥ (visarga sandhi before vowel); īśvara+uvāca treated as īśvaraḥ + uvāca; satyādīniṣṭvā = satya-ādīn + iṣṭvā; śastamariṣṭaṃ = śastam + ariṣṭam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (Gauryādi-pūjā conclusion); Agni Purana 326 (Devālaya-māhātmya section continuing)
FAQs
It outlines the procedural transition into Devālaya-māhātmya and gives a ritual instruction: after worshipping the vow-presiding deities (e.g., Satya), one performs vrata-samarpaṇa (formal concluding dedication), and employs an ariṣṭa-śamana (misfortune-pacifying) rite under the direction of the sūtranāyaka (ritual leader).
It shows the text moving from goddess-worship (Gauryādi-pūjā) into temple theology and praxis (Devālaya-māhātmya), while also preserving technical ritual vocabulary—vrata closure, presiding deities, and apotropaic (ariṣṭa-śānti) procedures—typical of the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging manual-like scope.
Vrata-samarpaṇa completes the vow by dedicating its merit properly, while ariṣṭa-śamana aims to remove obstacles and ill-omens, protecting the practitioner’s spiritual fruits and restoring auspiciousness before or alongside temple-centered worship.