Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 47
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
कारयन् भगवद्धाम नयत्यच्युतलोकतां सप्तलोकमयो विष्णुस्तस्य यः कुरुते गृहं
kārayan bhagavaddhāma nayatyacyutalokatāṃ saptalokamayo viṣṇustasya yaḥ kurute gṛhaṃ
जो भगवंताचे धाम बांधून देतो, तो स्वतःला व इतरांनाही अच्युत-लोकास नेतो. सात लोकांत व्यापलेला विष्णु, जो त्याच्यासाठी गृह करतो त्याच्या घरीच जणू निवास करतो.
Lord Agni (teaching in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Planning and sponsoring construction of a Viṣṇu-temple/भगवद्गृह with the stated spiritual merit (phala) as motivation for patronage and correct intent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Bhagavad-gṛha-nirmāṇa-phala (Merit of building the Lord’s abode)","lookup_keywords":["bhagavaddhama","griha-nirmana","acyuta-loka","sapta-loka","vishnu-phala"],"quick_summary":"Building the Lord’s abode is taught as a high-merit act leading to Acyuta’s realm; the patron’s dwelling is sacralized by Viṣṇu’s seven-world-pervading presence."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka (identification/metaphor: Viṣṇu becomes the very dwelling)
Concept: Īśvara-vyāpti (the Lord’s pervasion of the worlds) and temple-building as karma leading to higher loka.
Application: Frame temple construction as a dhārmic act: right intention, patronage, and maintenance as part of worship.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra / Bhagavad-gṛha-nirmāṇa (Sacred Architecture and Merit of Building a Divine Abode)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A patron and artisans construct a Viṣṇu temple; Viṣṇu’s cosmic presence is shown pervading the seven worlds while blessing the newly built abode.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vivid colors, ornate borders; Viṣṇu as Acyuta with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma, halo; below, craftsmen building a sanctum, devotees offering lamps; cosmic seven-loka bands in the background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, embossed ornaments; central Viṣṇu enthroned in a newly built shrine, arch with gold work; patron kneeling with temple plan; symbolic seven worlds rendered as concentric gold bands.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework and soft washes; architectural drawing-like depiction of temple construction with labeled parts; Viṣṇu’s subtle aura enveloping the structure, indicating pervasion.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detail; courtly patron commissioning temple, artisans at work; in the sky, a stylized Viṣṇu figure spanning layered cosmological registers (seven worlds) with inscriptions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nayatyacyutalokatām → nayati acyuta-lokatām; viṣṇustasya → viṣṇuḥ tasya.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 38 (Vāstu/temple merit context); Agni Purana 39 (land acquisition and consecration sequence)
FAQs
It teaches the Vāstu/temple-duty principle that commissioning and establishing a Bhagavad-dhāma (a divine residence/temple) is a meritorious act linked with attaining Viṣṇu’s realm.
It integrates sacred architecture (vāstu and religious construction) with theology and karmic result (phala), showing how the text spans practical building duties and their spiritual outcomes.
The verse declares that building the Lord’s abode yields high religious merit culminating in access to Acyuta’s world, portraying the act as devotion expressed through tangible, public sacred work.