Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 3
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
तेपि पापैर् विनिर्मुक्ताः प्रयान्त्यच्युतलोकतां समतीतं भविष्यञ्च कुलानामयुतं नरः
tepi pāpair vinirmuktāḥ prayāntyacyutalokatāṃ samatītaṃ bhaviṣyañca kulānāmayutaṃ naraḥ
వారూ పాపవిముక్తులై అచ్యుతుని (విష్ణువు) లోకానికి చేరుతారు. ఈ కార్యం చేసిన మనిషి గత-భవిష్యత్ రెండింటిలోనూ పదివేల వంశాలను తరింపజేస్తాడు।
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s dharma teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Frames temple-related merit as leading to Viṣṇu-loka and extending benefit to ancestors/descendants, motivating long-term family/community patronage and ethical living.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Karma-phala: Viṣṇu-loka attainment and kula-uddhāra (deliverance of lineages)","lookup_keywords":["acyuta-loka","kula-uddhara","papa-vimukti","karma-phala","vaishnava-punya"],"quick_summary":"Those freed from sins attain Acyuta’s realm. The act is said to uplift vast lineages—past and future—presenting merit as transgenerational and soteriological."}
Concept: Soteriology through bhakti-linked karma: purified action leads to divine realm; merit can extend beyond the individual to kula (lineage).
Application: Undertake and support Vaiṣṇava dharmic works with the intention of family uplift; integrate śraddhā for pitṛs and future generations into one’s religious projects.
Khanda Section: Dharma–Karma-phala (Merit, sin-removal, and liberation results)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Celestial realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A purified devotee ascending to Acyuta’s realm while ancestral and future lineage figures are symbolically lifted—shown as a genealogical stream receiving light.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu-loka gateway with Acyuta enthroned, a devotee rising on a beam of light, pitṛs behind adorned and serene, stylized lineage figures in tiers, saturated traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Acyuta/Viṣṇu in Vaikuṇṭha with gold halo, devotee and pitṛs receiving blessings, genealogical motif as a golden vine of ancestors/descendants, heavy ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, calm ascent scene with labeled tiers (past/future kula) in a schematic yet elegant manner, soft shading, devotional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, celestial court of Viṣṇu-loka with intricate architecture, the devotee presented with a scroll-like lineage depiction, fine detailing and subdued luminosity"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tepi = te + api; pāpair = pāpaiḥ (visarga sandhi); prayāntyacyutalokatām = prayānti + acyuta-lokatām; bhaviṣyañca = bhaviṣyat + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Pitṛ-kalpa/śrāddha-related passages (lineage benefit); Agni Purana: Viṣṇu-bhakti and loka descriptions
FAQs
It states the dharma-principle of pāpa-kṣaya (sin-destruction) and the promised result: attaining Acyuta’s realm, along with the uplift of one’s lineage through the prescribed practice mentioned in the surrounding context of the chapter.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s dharma section by codifying a karma-phala doctrine (specific spiritual results for specific observances), complementing its many other domains (ritual, polity, medicine, arts) with soteriological outcomes.
The verse emphasizes that sincere observance leads to purification (release from pāpa), Vishnu-loka attainment, and extended ancestral merit—benefiting past and future generations (kula) up to “ten thousand.”