Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 19
Chapter 326 — देवालयमाहात्म्यम्
The Glory of Temples
अष्टेष्टकसुरागारकारी स्वर्गमवाप्नुयात् पांशुना क्रीडमानोपि देवागारकृदर्थभाक्
aṣṭeṣṭakasurāgārakārī svargamavāpnuyāt pāṃśunā krīḍamānopi devāgārakṛdarthabhāk
八枚の煉瓦だけで酒舎（スラーガーラ）を作る者でさえ天界に至る。さらに、幼子の遊びのように塵を弄ぶ折であっても、 देवागार（神殿・祠）を建立する者は報い—功徳と繁栄—を受ける。
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s primary narration to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Encourages even small-scale construction acts (even minimal materials or playful effort) as meritorious; frames building sacred/public structures as accessible dharma.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Merit of Even Minimal Construction: Surāgāra and Devāgāra","lookup_keywords":["ashta-ishtaka","suragara","devagara","punya-phala","alpa-kriya-mahat-phala"],"quick_summary":"Even constructing a small structure with as few as eight bricks is praised as heaven-leading; even playful participation in shrine-building is said to yield reward."}
Concept: Alpa-kriyā-mahat-phala: small acts connected to sacred/public good can yield great merit; intention and participation matter.
Application: Contribute even modestly—materials, labor, or symbolic help—to community sacred works rather than waiting for large resources.
Khanda Section: Dāna–Dharma & Devālaya/Vāstu (Merit of building shrines and sacred structures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: hasya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A humble scene: a person lays eight bricks to form a tiny structure; nearby, children or a playful figure shapes a small shrine from dust, while a subtle heavenly motif indicates promised reward.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, simple brick-laying scene with eight bricks clearly shown, adjacent playful dust-shrine making, priests and villagers watching, stylized heaven-clouds above, warm traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, miniature shrine with gold highlights, devotee placing bricks, playful dust offering at the base, ornate border, divine approval suggested by a small haloed deity presence.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition showing ‘8 bricks’ counted, a small devāgāra outline in dust, gentle expressions, clean lines and labels, moral-instruction tone.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard scene with brick stack, artisan placing eight bricks, children playing with dust forming a tiny shrine, delicate architectural background, subtle celestial band above."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: svargamavāpnuyāt → svargam + avāpnuyāt; krīḍamānopi → krīḍamānaḥ + api; devāgārakṛdarthabhāk → deva-āgāra-kṛt + artha-bhāk.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 326 (Devālaya-māhātmya continuation)
FAQs
It teaches the doctrine of nirmāṇa-phala—karmic merit accruing from constructing structures, especially a devāgāra (shrine/temple), emphasizing that even minimal or playful participation is credited.
It reflects the Purana’s coverage of practical dharma—public works, sacred architecture, and merit-accounting—alongside ritual and theological topics, showing how everyday acts (construction) are integrated into religious ethics.
The verse asserts that even small acts connected to building (even with eight bricks, or playfully with dust) generate puṇya, leading to svarga and worldly benefit, underscoring the power of intention and participation in sacred works.