Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 26
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
दद्यात् सम्यग् द्विजाग्र्येभ्यः कीर्तनानि च कारयेत् दानेभ्यश्चाधिकं यस्मात् कीर्तनेभ्यो वरं यतः
dadyāt samyag dvijāgryebhyaḥ kīrtanāni ca kārayet dānebhyaścādhikaṃ yasmāt kīrtanebhyo varaṃ yataḥ
श्रेष्ठ द्विजांना विधिपूर्वक दान द्यावे आणि कीर्तन-स्तुतीही करवावी; कारण कीर्तन हे दानांपेक्षा अधिक श्रेष्ठ व अधिक फलदायी असे सांगितले आहे।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Combine material charity to worthy brāhmaṇas with organized devotional recitation (kīrtana/pāṭha) as a high-yield religious practice; sponsor communal chanting, temple readings, and praise-hymns.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dāna with Kīrtana: sponsoring praise-recitations as superior merit","lookup_keywords":["kīrtana","dvijāgrya dāna","stotra pāṭha","dāna-phala","bhakti"],"quick_summary":"Give properly to qualified brāhmaṇas and also sponsor kīrtana/recitations; the text elevates kīrtana as producing greater merit than gifts alone, making it a powerful, accessible practice."}
Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti (hyperbolic valuation: kīrtana superior to dāna)
Concept: Śabda-bhakti (kīrtana/stuti) purifies and yields high puṇya; external giving is strengthened by inner devotion expressed through praise.
Application: Sponsor regular pāṭha/kīrtana (daily/ekādaśī/festival), ensure qualified reciters, provide dakṣiṇā and food, and participate through listening and repetition.
Khanda Section: Dāna-Dharma and Kīrtana (Merit of religious praise over gifts)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a temple hall, learned brāhmaṇas recite stotras while patrons offer dakṣiṇā and food; the sound of kīrtana is shown as radiating light, surpassing piles of gifts.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple maṇḍapa with oil lamps, seated reciters with palm-leaf manuscripts, mridangam/cymbals for kīrtana, patron offering dakṣiṇā, stylized sound-waves as luminous bands","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf aura around reciters and deity, ornate pillars, patrons presenting gifts, emphasis on sacred sound with decorative script-like motifs, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear depiction of kīrtana procedure: reciters in rows, lead singer, tala instruments, patrons distributing dāna; fine linework and gentle colors for instructional feel","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined assembly scene: scholars chanting, patrons with trays of coins and cloth, architectural interior with arches, delicate rendering of instruments and manuscripts"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सम्यग् → सम्यक् (final k before voiced consonant becomes g in sandhi); दानेभ्यश्चाधिकं → दानेभ्यः + च + अधिकम्; द्विजाग्र्येभ्यः is treated as tatpuruṣa (द्विजानाम् अग्र्याः).
Related Themes: Agni Purana stotra/mantra sections emphasizing nāma-stuti; Agni Purana Dana-dharma on eligibility of recipients and dakṣiṇā
FAQs
It prescribes two meritorious acts: proper dāna to qualified dvijas (learned Brahmins) and commissioning/organizing kīrtana (formal recitation or devotional praise), stating kīrtana yields greater merit than donation alone.
Alongside topics like ritual, governance, and arts, the Agni Purāṇa also codifies practical dharma—here giving rules and devotional practice—showing its broad, handbook-like coverage of religious life (conduct, charity, and worship).
It teaches that devotion expressed through kīrtana (praise/recitation) is a particularly potent purifier and merit-producer, even surpassing material charity, while still affirming the value of properly directed giving.