Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 2
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
मनसा सद्मकर्तॄणां शतजन्माघनाशनं येनुमोदन्ति कृष्णस्य क्रियमाणं नरा गृहं
manasā sadmakartṝṇāṃ śatajanmāghanāśanaṃ yenumodanti kṛṣṇasya kriyamāṇaṃ narā gṛhaṃ
ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಮಾತ್ರ ಅನುಮೋದಿಸಿದರೂ, ಕೃಷ್ಣನ ಗೃಹ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಹರ್ಷಿಸಿ ಬೆಂಬಲಿಸುವವರ ಶತಜನ್ಮಗಳ ಪಾಪಸಂಚಯ ನಾಶವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ।
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s instruction to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Encourages even non-wealthy devotees to participate in temple/house-for-Krishna projects through anumodana (mental approval), community support, and ethical endorsement, presenting it as a sin-destroying meritorious act.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Anumodana (mental assent) to building Kṛṣṇa’s abode as sin-destroyer","lookup_keywords":["anumodana","manasa-punya","krishna-griha","mandira-nirmana","papa-nashana"],"quick_summary":"Even mental approval and rejoicing in the construction of Kṛṣṇa’s abode yields merit. It is taught as capable of destroying sins accumulated over many births, emphasizing bhāva (inner assent) as a valid contributor to dharma."}
Concept: Bhāva and anumodana (approving participation) generate puṇya; moral intention is efficacious alongside physical action.
Application: Support righteous works—temple building, charity, public dharma—through consent, encouragement, and non-obstructive conduct; cultivate rejoicing in others’ merit.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Dana-Mahatmya (Merit of pious acts and devotional assent)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Devotees and townspeople mentally and verbally approving artisans building a shrine/house for Kṛṣṇa; the inner assent shown as a luminous aura of merit.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, temple construction scene with carpenters and stone-workers, devotees with folded hands expressing anumodana, Kṛṣṇa’s presence as a subtle halo above the emerging sanctum, rich earthy reds and greens, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central small Kṛṣṇa icon in a framed sanctum under construction, patrons and onlookers offering respectful approval, gold leaf highlighting the sanctum outline and divine aura, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional yet devotional depiction of community supporting devalaya building, delicate linework, soft colors, emphasis on gestures of assent (añjali, smiling approval), minimal background architecture","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed workshop of artisans building a shrine, refined faces of patrons approving, architectural scaffolding, subtle divine light indicating merit, fine textiles and tools rendered precisely"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yenumodanti = yena + anumodanti; sadmakartṝṇām treated as sadma-kartṝṇām (tatpuruṣa).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Devalaya-mahātmya sections; Agni Purana: Dāna-mahātmya and puṇya-by-approval themes
FAQs
It teaches the principle of anumodana—gaining religious merit even through mental approval/rejoicing in a pious act such as constructing a sacred person’s (Kṛṣṇa’s) dwelling.
Alongside ritual and practical topics, it codifies a moral-ritual rule about how merit is generated and shared—by action, support, and even mental assent—linking household activity (gṛha-nirmāṇa) with karmic doctrine.
Rejoicing in and endorsing a righteous work is itself purifying: the verse promises the destruction of sins accumulated over many lives through sincere inner assent to a sacred construction.