Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 10
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
स्वर्गं च वैष्णवं लोकं मोक्षमाप्नोति च क्रमात् श्रेष्ठमायतनं विष्णोः कृत्वा यद्धनवान् लभेत्
svargaṃ ca vaiṣṇavaṃ lokaṃ mokṣamāpnoti ca kramāt śreṣṭhamāyatanaṃ viṣṇoḥ kṛtvā yaddhanavān labhet
ശ്രീവിഷ്ണുവിന്റെ ശ്രേഷ്ഠമായ ആയതനം (ക്ഷേത്രം) നിർമ്മിപ്പിച്ച ധനവാൻ ക്രമമായി സ്വർഗ്ഗം, തുടർന്ന് വൈഷ്ണവലോകം, ഒടുവിൽ മോക്ഷവും പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു।
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Motivates elite patronage for building a ‘supreme’ Viṣṇu sanctuary, presenting a staged spiritual ascent (svarga → Vaiṣṇava-loka → mokṣa).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śreṣṭha Viṣṇv-Āyatana: Gradual Attainment of Svarga, Vaiṣṇava-Loka, and Mokṣa","lookup_keywords":["śreṣṭham āyatanam","viṣṇu-mandira","vaiṣṇava-loka","krama (gradual)","mokṣa-phala"],"quick_summary":"A wealthy patron who builds an excellent Viṣṇu temple is promised a progressive fruit: heaven, then Viṣṇu’s world, and ultimately liberation."}
Concept: Devotional construction (mandira-sevā) functions as a ladder of post-mortem states culminating in mokṣa; excellence (śreṣṭhatā) is spiritually consequential.
Application: Encourages patrons to prioritize quality and completeness in religious institutions (temple, endowments, maintenance) rather than minimal compliance.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Vishnu-temple merit (Vaiṣṇava-āyatana-pratiṣṭhā)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A wealthy patron commissioning and consecrating a grand Viṣṇu temple; above, three tiered realms depicted: Svarga, Vaiṣṇava-loka (Vaikuṇṭha), and a final symbol of mokṣa (radiant light).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Viṣṇu temple consecration with priests and lamps; upper register shows Svarga, Vaikuṇṭha with Viṣṇu, and an abstract luminous mokṣa field; bold outlines, traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central Viṣṇu with gold halo in sanctum; patron offering; gold-leaf architecture; three small medallions above labeled Svarga, Vaikuṇṭha, Mokṣa.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: clean narrative sequence in three panels showing the ‘krama’ (stepwise) attainment; delicate shading, emphasis on ritual implements and temple details.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: court patronage scene with architects and priests; in the sky, finely painted celestial tiers culminating in a luminous, minimalistic mokṣa motif; intricate textiles and faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mokṣamāpnoti → mokṣam + āpnoti; śreṣṭhamāyatanaṃ → śreṣṭham + āyatanam; yaddhanavān → yat + dhanavān.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vaiṣṇava pūjā-vidhi and pratiṣṭhā; Agni Purana: phala-śruti sequences for dāna and mandira-kṛtya
FAQs
It teaches the ritual principle of āyatana-karaṇa (establishing/constructing a Viṣṇu-sanctuary) as a high-merit act, with a stated graduated spiritual result (svarga → Vaiṣṇava realm → mokṣa).
Alongside topics like polity, medicine, and poetics, the Agni Purāṇa also codifies public religious works—especially temple-building and its fruits—linking Vāstu/temple culture with soteriology (afterlife and liberation).
The verse frames temple patronage for Viṣṇu as a powerful puṇya that matures in stages, culminating not only in heavenly enjoyment but ultimately in liberation.