Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
Chapter 326 — देवालयमाहात्म्यम्
The Glory of Temples
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे गौर्यादिपूजा नाम पञ्चविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ षड्विंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः देवालयमाहात्म्यम् ईश्वर+उवाच व्रतेश्वरांश् च सत्यादीनिष्ट्वा व्रतसमर्पणम् अरिष्टशमने शस्तमरिष्टं सूत्रनायकम्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe gauryādipūjā nāma pañcaviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ṣaḍviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ devālayamāhātmyam īśvara+uvāca vrateśvarāṃś ca satyādīniṣṭvā vratasamarpaṇam ariṣṭaśamane śastamariṣṭaṃ sūtranāyakam
ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਆਗਨੇਯ ਮਹਾਪੁਰਾਣ ਵਿੱਚ ‘ਗੌਰੀ ਆਦਿ ਦੀ ਪੂਜਾ’ ਨਾਮਕ ਤਿੰਨ ਸੌ ਪੱਚੀਵਾਂ ਅਧਿਆਇ ਸਮਾਪਤ ਹੋਇਆ। ਹੁਣ ‘ਦੇਵਾਲਯ ਮਹਾਤਮ੍ਯ’ ਨਾਮਕ ਤਿੰਨ ਸੌ ਛੱਬੀਵਾਂ ਅਧਿਆਇ ਆਰੰਭ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਈਸ਼ਵਰ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਸਤ੍ਯ ਆਦਿ ਵਰਤ-ਈਸ਼ਵਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਵਿਧੀਵਤ ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਵਰਤ-ਸਮਰਪਣ ਕਰੇ। ਅਰਿਸ਼ਟ (ਅਨਿਸ਼ਟ) ਦੀ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਲਈ ਸੂਤ੍ਰਨਾਯਕ ਦੇ ਨੇਤ੍ਰਿਤਵ ਹੇਠ ਅਰਿਸ਼ਟ-ਸੰਬੰਧੀ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਸਤ ਹੈ।
Īśvara (Lord Śiva) speaking (as indicated by “īśvara uvāca” in this chapter heading/verse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Vrata-samarpana (concluding offering) after worship of vrata-devatās; ariṣṭa-śamana (pacification of misfortune) performed under a sūtra-guided officiant (sūtranāyaka) within temple-centered religious life.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Devālaya-māhātmya Prastāva: Vrata-samarpana and Ariṣṭa-śamana under Sūtranāyaka","lookup_keywords":["devālaya-māhātmya","vrata-samarpana","ariṣṭa-śamana","satya-devatā","sūtranāyaka"],"quick_summary":"After completing a vow, offer its formal conclusion to the presiding deities; for removing misfortunes, an ariṣṭa-pacifying rite is prescribed under proper ritual leadership."}
Concept: Dharma is maintained by proper completion (samarpana) of vows and by śānti rites to restore order when ariṣṭa arises; ritual must be sūtra-guided (authorized procedure).
Application: Do not end a vrata informally—perform samarpana; for persistent obstacles, undertake ariṣṭa-śamana with a qualified officiant following established sūtra/paddhati.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi & Devālaya-māhātmya (Temple ritual procedure and sanctity)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple courtyard where a vow is concluded: offerings arranged, the sūtranāyaka leads priests, devotees present samarpana to vrata-deities like Satya; a śānti rite is prepared to pacify misfortune.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple courtyard with lamp pillars, priests led by a central sūtranāyaka holding ritual manual, devotees offering, calm symmetrical composition, earthy reds and yellows.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, temple arch and sanctum with gold embellishments, group vrata-samarpana scene, trays of offerings, central officiant prominent, ornate borders and halos for deities.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, process-oriented depiction: officiant guiding sequence, offerings laid out, temple backdrop, clear roles (leader, assistants, devotees), soft palette and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling yet orderly temple forecourt, officiant directing ritual, devotees with offerings, architectural detail of mandapa and pillars, delicate figures and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye = iti + āgneye; adhyāyo 'dhyāyaḥ = adhyāyaḥ (visarga sandhi before vowel); īśvara+uvāca treated as īśvaraḥ + uvāca; satyādīniṣṭvā = satya-ādīn + iṣṭvā; śastamariṣṭaṃ = śastam + ariṣṭam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (Gauryādi-pūjā conclusion); Agni Purana 326 (Devālaya-māhātmya section continuing)
FAQs
It outlines the procedural transition into Devālaya-māhātmya and gives a ritual instruction: after worshipping the vow-presiding deities (e.g., Satya), one performs vrata-samarpaṇa (formal concluding dedication), and employs an ariṣṭa-śamana (misfortune-pacifying) rite under the direction of the sūtranāyaka (ritual leader).
It shows the text moving from goddess-worship (Gauryādi-pūjā) into temple theology and praxis (Devālaya-māhātmya), while also preserving technical ritual vocabulary—vrata closure, presiding deities, and apotropaic (ariṣṭa-śānti) procedures—typical of the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging manual-like scope.
Vrata-samarpaṇa completes the vow by dedicating its merit properly, while ariṣṭa-śamana aims to remove obstacles and ill-omens, protecting the practitioner’s spiritual fruits and restoring auspiciousness before or alongside temple-centered worship.