Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 39
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
पूजयन्ति सदा विष्णुं ते वस्त्याज्याः सुदूरतः यस्तिष्ठन् प्रस्वपन् गच्छन्नुत्तिष्ठन् स्खलिते स्थिते
pūjayanti sadā viṣṇuṃ te vastyājyāḥ sudūrataḥ yastiṣṭhan prasvapan gacchannuttiṣṭhan skhalite sthite
ಯಾರು ಸದಾ ವಿಷ್ಣುವನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸುತ್ತಾರೋ, ಅವರ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸ್ತು-ತ್ಯಾಗವನ್ನು ದೂರದಿಂದಲೇ ತ್ಯಜಿಸಬೇಕು. ಅಂಥವನು ನಿಂತರೂ, ಮಲಗಿದರೂ, ನಡೆದರೂ, ಎದ್ದರೂ, ಜಾರಿ ಬಿದ್ದರೂ, ಸ್ಥಿರವಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ—ಎಲ್ಲ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ವಿಷ್ಣುವಲ್ಲೇ ರತನಾಗಿರುತ್ತಾನೆ।
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Maintain continuous remembrance/worship of Viṣṇu across all daily postures and activities; treat devotion as an unbroken practice.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Nitya-smaraṇa: worship of Viṣṇu in all states (standing, sleeping, walking, etc.)","lookup_keywords":["nitya-smaraṇa","Vişṇu-pūjā","jāgrat-svapna","sarvāvasthā-bhakti","anusmṛti"],"quick_summary":"True worship is continuous—through waking, sleep, movement, and stillness. The verse teaches all-state mindfulness of Viṣṇu as a daily sādhana."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphora/listing (avasthā-krama) to convey continuity
Concept: Sarvāvasthā-smaraṇa: unbroken God-remembrance as the essence of worship beyond formal ritual moments.
Application: Adopt a simple anchor (name/mantra) repeated during transitions—waking, walking, before sleep—to keep attention on Viṣṇu.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vishnu-bhakti and nitya-smarana)
Primary Rasa: Bhakti
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee is shown in multiple vignettes—standing, walking, sleeping, rising—each with subtle signs of Viṣṇu-remembrance (japa-mālā, tilaka, inner vision).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sequential panels of one devotee in different postures, faint Viṣṇu aura above, rhythmic composition, warm temple colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, four-part composition with gold borders, devotee performing daily actions while a small Viṣṇu icon appears in each panel, rich ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional storyboard layout, captions for each state (tiṣṭhan, prasvapan, gacchan, uttiṣṭhan), soft tones and precise gestures","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, album-page style with multiple scenes of daily life, delicate interiors and gardens, devotee quietly repeating the divine name"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वस्त्याज्याः = vasti + ājyāḥ; सुदूरतः = su + dūrataḥ; यस्तिष्ठन् = yaḥ + tiṣṭhan; गच्छन्नुत्तिष्ठन् = gacchan + uttiṣṭhan (न् + उ → न्नु).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 38 (pūjā-vidhi and nitya practice)
FAQs
It teaches nitya-smaraṇa (continuous remembrance) and nitya-pūjā of Viṣṇu—devotional discipline maintained through all bodily states (standing, sleeping, walking, rising, even stumbling).
Alongside its many technical sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also codifies practical religious conduct (ācāra): it integrates ritual devotion with everyday life, showing how dharma is lived continuously, not only during formal worship.
Unbroken devotion to Viṣṇu is presented as powerfully purifying; such a devotee’s presence is spiritually potent—so much so that the text warns the impure to keep distance, implying heightened merit and sanctity around the devotee.