Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 28
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
निवेशितं भवेत् कृत्स्नं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरं भूतं भवयम् भविष्यञ्च स्थूलं सूक्ष्मं तथेतरत्
niveśitaṃ bhavet kṛtsnaṃ trailokyaṃ sacarācaraṃ bhūtaṃ bhavayam bhaviṣyañca sthūlaṃ sūkṣmaṃ tathetarat
ఆ ధామం స్థాపితమైనప్పుడు సమస్త త్రిలోకము—చరాచరములతో కూడినది—ఆయనచే వ్యాపింపబడుతుంది; గతమైనది, జరుగుతున్నది, రాబోయేది; స్థూలం, సూక్ష్మం, అలాగే ఈ విభాగాలకు అతీతమైనదీ.
Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s primary dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Contemplative meditation on the Lord’s all-pervasion across time (past/present/future) and ontology (gross/subtle/beyond), supporting viśvarūpa-bhāvanā and non-sectarian cosmic vision.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Trailokya-vyāpti (pervasion of the three worlds across time and gross/subtle)","lookup_keywords":["trailokya","sacarācara","bhūta-bhavat-bhaviṣyat","sthūla-sūkṣma","vyāpti"],"quick_summary":"All three worlds—moving and unmoving—together with past, present, and future, gross and subtle realities, are described as pervaded by the Supreme."}
Alamkara Type: Yamaka/Anuprāsa (soft repetition in bhūta–bhavat–bhaviṣyat cadence)
Concept: Sarva-vyāpti: the Supreme pervades all beings and states—temporal (past/present/future) and ontological (gross/subtle/other).
Application: Use as a meditation template: expand awareness from the visible (sthūla) to subtle (sūkṣma) and to the ‘otherwise’ (beyond categories), dissolving narrow identifications.
Khanda Section: Cosmology and Metaphysics (Sarga–Pralaya; Brahmanda/Vishvarupa doctrine)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Cosmic-Region
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic tableau showing the three worlds filled with moving and unmoving beings, layered with symbols of past-present-future and gross-subtle realities, all suffused by a single divine presence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: three-tier cosmos (earth, mid-region, heaven) with humans, animals, trees, devas; subtle beings as translucent forms; a pervasive golden aura indicating the Lord’s vyāpti; rhythmic ornamental clouds and lotuses.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold: central radiant Viṣṇu/Paramātman aura expanding to encompass three stacked realms; gold highlights on celestial spheres; miniature vignettes for past-present-future around the border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: diagrammatic yet elegant cosmology—three lokas labeled, with icons for sthūla (mountains, bodies) and sūkṣma (prāṇa, mind as subtle motifs); a unifying halo wash across the composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed landscape transitioning into celestial court above; animals and trees below, devas above; subtle spirits rendered in pale washes; a faint omnipresent light overlay tying all scenes together."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भविष्यत् + च → भविष्यञ्च; तथा + इतरत् → तथेतरत्. पाठ 'bhavayam' को 'bhavat' (भवत्) रूपेण ग्रहणम् (present).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Sarga–pralaya and brahmāṇḍa descriptions in cosmology sections (nearby ch. 38 context); Agni Purana: Viśvarūpa/paramātma-stuti passages in later stotra and tattva portions
FAQs
This verse imparts metaphysical knowledge (tattva-jñāna): the doctrine that the Supreme principle pervades all realms and all modes of existence—time (past–present–future) and ontology (gross–subtle).
By presenting a compact cosmological-philosophical summary—covering the three worlds, all beings, time, and levels of matter—it exemplifies the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic method of integrating theology, cosmology, and metaphysics alongside practical disciplines.
Contemplating universal pervasion reduces separative perception and supports devotion and liberation-oriented insight, framing all experiences as encompassed by the divine order rather than isolated karmic events.