Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 7
Chapter 326 — देवालयमाहात्म्यम्
The Glory of Temples
वेस्मायतनलिङ्गादेः कार्यमेवं विशोधनम् स्कन्दो नमः शिवायेति मन्त्रः सर्वार्थसाधकः
vesmāyatanaliṅgādeḥ kāryamevaṃ viśodhanam skando namaḥ śivāyeti mantraḥ sarvārthasādhakaḥ
ਘਰ, ਆਯਤਨ/ਮੰਦਰ, ਲਿੰਗ ਆਦਿ ਲਈ ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸ਼ੋਧਨ (ਸ਼ੁੱਧੀ) ਕਰਮ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ। “ਸਕੰਦੋ ਨਮਃ ਸ਼ਿਵਾਯ” ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਸਭ ਉਦੇਸ਼ ਸਿਧ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional frame)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वेस्मायतनलिङ्गादेः = वेस्म + आयतन + लिङ्ग + आदेः (समास/संयोग). कार्यमेवं = कार्यम् + एवम्. शिवायेति = शिवाय + इति.
FAQs
It prescribes viśodhana (ritual purification) for a dwelling, temple/shrine, Śiva-liṅga, etc., and recommends the mantra “Skanda; namaḥ śivāya” as the operative formula for successful completion of the rite.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s practical ritual manual dimension—giving concise, implementable instructions for space/object purification and specific mantra-usage within Śaiva temple and domestic worship contexts.
Purifying sacred and domestic spaces and invoking “namaḥ śivāya” is presented as a means to remove ritual impurity and to secure sarvārtha-siddhi—religiously framed success and auspicious outcomes through Śiva-centered devotion and correct rite.