Shloka 65
Merit of Causeways and Crossings, Temple Construction Rewards, and the Rudrākṣa Mahātmya
घृतप्रदीपं यो दद्यात्मासमेकमहर्निशम् । दिव्यं वर्षायुतं स्वर्गे पूजितो देवसत्तमैः
ghṛtapradīpaṃ yo dadyātmāsamekamaharniśam | divyaṃ varṣāyutaṃ svarge pūjito devasattamaiḥ
घृतप्रदीपं यो दद्याद् मासमेकमहर्निशम्। दिव्यं वर्षायुतं स्वर्गे देवसत्तमैः स पूज्यते॥
Unknown (not specified in the provided excerpt; likely within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma instructional dialogue in Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa contexts)
Concept: Sustained, disciplined offering of light is a form of tapas and bhakti that draws divine recognition.
Application: Maintain a daily lamp at home altar or temple sponsorship; pair outer light with inner vigilance—truthfulness, restraint, and remembrance during the month-long observance.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: temple
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a quiet sanctum, an unbroken ghee lamp burns steadily through day and night, its flame reflected in polished brass vessels. A devotee returns repeatedly—at dawn, noon, dusk, and midnight—to replenish ghee, while in a translucent celestial overlay, devas garland the devotee in heaven for the merit of unwavering service.","primary_figures":["Devotee (vratin)","Temple priest (optional)","Celestial devas honoring the devotee"],"setting":"Temple sanctum or home shrine with an akhaṇḍa-dīpa, brass lampstand, flower garlands, and a small deity icon in the background.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["warm amber","brass gold","deep maroon","smoke gray","midnight blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central akhaṇḍa ghee lamp with exaggerated golden flame, gold-leaf highlights on lamp and haloed deity icon; devotee offering ghee with ornate brass pot; celestial devas above with garlands; rich maroons and greens, gem-studded ornaments, embossed gold borders and traditional South Indian iconography.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate shrine interior with delicate shading; devotee kneeling by a steady lamp, soft moonlight entering from a lattice window; faint celestial figures in the sky margin; cool blues contrasted with warm lamp glow, refined faces and lyrical quietness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined lamp and devotee, stylized flame motif; deity icon behind with large eyes; devas in upper register honoring; red-yellow-green palette with strong black contours, mural symmetry and ornamental bands.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central lamp motif surrounded by lotus and floral borders; devotee repeated in four corners to suggest day-night cycle; deep indigo ground with gold highlights, intricate patterns and devotional symmetry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft bell at each replenishing","ghee lamp crackle","low conch drone","night insects outside temple"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: घृतप्रदीपम् = घृत + प्रदीपम्; दद्यात्मासम् = दद्यात् + मासम् (त् + म → त्म); एकम् + अहर्निशम् (पदच्छेदः: एकम् अहर्निशम्); अहर्निशम् = अहः + निशम्; वर्षायुतम् = वर्ष + अयुतम्; देवसत्तमैः = देव + सत्तमैः.
FAQs
It prescribes dīpa-dāna—offering a ghee lamp continuously for one full month, both day and night.
The giver is said to be honored in heaven by the foremost gods for ten thousand divine years.
It elevates sustained, disciplined giving (continuous lamp-offering) as a powerful act of devotion and merit, emphasizing consistency over a single momentary act.