Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 6
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
फलं यन्नाप्यते यज्ञैर् धाम कृत्वा तदाप्यते देवागारे कृते सर्वतीर्थस्नानफलं लभेत्
phalaṃ yannāpyate yajñair dhāma kṛtvā tadāpyate devāgāre kṛte sarvatīrthasnānaphalaṃ labhet
ผลบุญที่แม้ประกอบยัญก็ยังไม่อาจได้ เมื่อสร้างธามอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์ย่อมได้ผลนั้น; ครั้นสร้างเทวาลัยแล้ว ย่อมได้ผลบุญเสมือนอาบน้ำในสรรพทีรถะทั้งปวง
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa framing)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Elevates devalaya construction as a high-yield religious work surpassing certain sacrificial results; motivates investment in shrine-building as a socially beneficial, merit-generating infrastructure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Devalaya-nirmāṇa merit: surpassing yajña and equaling sarva-tīrtha-snāna","lookup_keywords":["devalaya-nirmana","yajna-phala","sarva-tirtha-snana","dhama-kriya","punya"],"quick_summary":"Constructing a deity’s abode yields rewards said to be unattainable even by sacrifices. Building a shrine grants merit equivalent to bathing in all tīrthas, presenting temple construction as concentrated pilgrimage and sacrifice."}
Concept: Hierarchy of religious means: iṣṭāpūrta (temple building) is valorized as a potent, accessible alternative/complement to yajña and extensive tīrtha travel.
Application: Prioritize durable dharma projects—temples, water facilities, endowments—that continuously generate communal and personal merit, especially when large yajñas or pilgrimages are impractical.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra / Devalaya-Nirmāṇa (Temple architecture and merit of building shrines)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha (conceptual aggregate)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A deity’s shrine being constructed; in the background, symbolic rivers and tīrthas converge into the temple, while a yajña-fire is shown as secondary to the shrine’s merit.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, devalaya under construction with priests blessing the site, stylized rivers and tīrtha icons flowing toward the shrine, a small yajña-kuṇḍa shown to the side, bold traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central golden shrine with embossed gold, surrounding medallions depicting famous tīrthas (Gaṅgā, Yamunā, etc.) merging into it, yajña scene in a small corner panel, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, semi-diagrammatic composition: temple plan elements hinted, tīrtha symbols labeled, calm instructional tone with delicate lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed construction site with artisans, a river landscape with multiple tīrtha vignettes converging, refined depiction of yajña in the courtyard, architectural precision"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yannāpyate = yat + na + āpyate; yajñair = yajñaiḥ; tadāpyate = tat + āpyate; devāgāre = deva-āgāre; sarvatīrthasnānaphalaṃ = sarva-tīrtha-snāna-phalam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vāstu/Devalaya-nirmāṇa chapters; Agni Purana: Tīrtha-mahātmya and dāna-phala comparisons
FAQs
It teaches the Vāstu/Devalaya principle that constructing a deity’s abode (devāgāra/dhāma) is itself a high-yield religious act, generating merit surpassing that of many yajñas.
By treating temple-building as a formal dharma-producing practice (not merely architecture), it integrates Vāstu-śāstra, ritual theology, and merit-calculus—showing how the Purāṇa spans both technical building traditions and spiritual outcomes.
It elevates temple construction as a purifier and merit-multiplier, equating it to the cumulative virtue of bathing at all tīrthas and even exceeding results typically sought through sacrificial rites.