Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 29
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
आब्राह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तं सर्वं विष्णोः समुद्भवं तस्य देवादिदेवस्य सर्वगस्य महात्मनः
ābrāhmastambaparyantaṃ sarvaṃ viṣṇoḥ samudbhavaṃ tasya devādidevasya sarvagasya mahātmanaḥ
ब्रह्म्यापासून गवताच्या काडीपर्यंत सर्व काही विष्णूपासूनच उत्पन्न झाले आहे; तो देवांचा देव, सर्वव्यापी आणि महात्मा आहे.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic doctrine, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Theological grounding for Vaiṣṇava devotion and cosmological understanding: all entities from highest to lowest originate in Viṣṇu, supporting humility and God-centered ethics.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Viṣṇu-sarvotpattti (all beings arise from Viṣṇu)","lookup_keywords":["ābrahma-stamba","sarva-samudbhava","deva-ādi-deva","sarvaga","mahātman"],"quick_summary":"Everything from Brahmā to a blade of grass is declared to arise from Viṣṇu, the all-pervading God of gods."}
Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti (hyperbolic total range: Brahmā to grass)
Concept: Jagat-kāraṇatva and sarvagatatva of Viṣṇu: He is both source and pervader of all levels of being.
Application: Cultivate equal regard and non-contempt (no being is ‘outside’ the divine source); anchor worship and ethics in the sense of universal divine origin.
Khanda Section: Tattva-Jnana / Vaishnava-Cosmology (Puranic metaphysics: origin and pervasion of Vishnu)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Cosmic-Region
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vertical cosmic scale: Brahmā at the top, descending through devas, humans, animals, plants, ending with a single blade of grass—each connected by a luminous thread to Viṣṇu’s all-pervading presence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Viṣṇu’s aura filling the frame; Brahmā on lotus above, then tiers of beings down to grasses; ornamental vine-like luminous linkage showing samudbhava from Viṣṇu.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Viṣṇu with gold halo; surrounding medallions showing Brahmā, devas, sages, humans, animals, and a detailed blade of grass; gold filigree connecting all as emanations.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean hierarchical chart-like painting with delicate shading; labels for Brahmā and stamba (grass); a subtle radiance from Viṣṇu indicating sarvaga nature.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed naturalistic grass in foreground, humans and animals midground, celestial beings above; a faint divine presence permeating all, rendered as a translucent wash."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आ + ब्राह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तम् → आब्राह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तम् (अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग). देव + आदि + देवस्य → देवादिदेवस्य.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vaiṣṇava tattva and nārāyaṇa-mahātmyas in adjacent metaphysical passages; Agni Purana: Sarga accounts where Brahmā arises and creation proceeds
FAQs
This verse imparts tattva-jñāna (metaphysical doctrine): Viṣṇu is presented as the universal source and omnipresent ground of all beings, a theological principle used to orient worship, contemplation, and doctrinal understanding.
Alongside practical sections (rituals, polity, medicine, architecture), the Agni Purana also systematizes core theology and cosmology; this verse is a compact doctrinal definition of Viṣṇu’s causality and pervasion, showing the text’s wide scope from philosophy to applied knowledge.
By recognizing all existence—from the highest deity (Brahmā) to the smallest life-form—as arising from and pervaded by Viṣṇu, a practitioner cultivates bhakti, humility, and non-harm; this worldview supports purification of intention and steadiness in dharma.