Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 2
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
मनसा सद्मकर्तॄणां शतजन्माघनाशनं येनुमोदन्ति कृष्णस्य क्रियमाणं नरा गृहं
manasā sadmakartṝṇāṃ śatajanmāghanāśanaṃ yenumodanti kṛṣṇasya kriyamāṇaṃ narā gṛhaṃ
Kahit sa pagsang-ayon lamang sa isip, ang mga nagagalak at sumusuporta sa pagtatayo ng bahay/templo ni Kṛṣṇa—na pumapabor at tumutulong sa mga tagapagtayo—ay nagtatamo ng pagkapawi ng mga kasalanang naipon sa sandaang kapanganakan.
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s instruction to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Encourages even non-wealthy devotees to participate in temple/house-for-Krishna projects through anumodana (mental approval), community support, and ethical endorsement, presenting it as a sin-destroying meritorious act.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Anumodana (mental assent) to building Kṛṣṇa’s abode as sin-destroyer","lookup_keywords":["anumodana","manasa-punya","krishna-griha","mandira-nirmana","papa-nashana"],"quick_summary":"Even mental approval and rejoicing in the construction of Kṛṣṇa’s abode yields merit. It is taught as capable of destroying sins accumulated over many births, emphasizing bhāva (inner assent) as a valid contributor to dharma."}
Concept: Bhāva and anumodana (approving participation) generate puṇya; moral intention is efficacious alongside physical action.
Application: Support righteous works—temple building, charity, public dharma—through consent, encouragement, and non-obstructive conduct; cultivate rejoicing in others’ merit.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Dana-Mahatmya (Merit of pious acts and devotional assent)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Devotees and townspeople mentally and verbally approving artisans building a shrine/house for Kṛṣṇa; the inner assent shown as a luminous aura of merit.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, temple construction scene with carpenters and stone-workers, devotees with folded hands expressing anumodana, Kṛṣṇa’s presence as a subtle halo above the emerging sanctum, rich earthy reds and greens, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central small Kṛṣṇa icon in a framed sanctum under construction, patrons and onlookers offering respectful approval, gold leaf highlighting the sanctum outline and divine aura, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional yet devotional depiction of community supporting devalaya building, delicate linework, soft colors, emphasis on gestures of assent (añjali, smiling approval), minimal background architecture","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed workshop of artisans building a shrine, refined faces of patrons approving, architectural scaffolding, subtle divine light indicating merit, fine textiles and tools rendered precisely"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yenumodanti = yena + anumodanti; sadmakartṝṇām treated as sadma-kartṝṇām (tatpuruṣa).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Devalaya-mahātmya sections; Agni Purana: Dāna-mahātmya and puṇya-by-approval themes
FAQs
It teaches the principle of anumodana—gaining religious merit even through mental approval/rejoicing in a pious act such as constructing a sacred person’s (Kṛṣṇa’s) dwelling.
Alongside ritual and practical topics, it codifies a moral-ritual rule about how merit is generated and shared—by action, support, and even mental assent—linking household activity (gṛha-nirmāṇa) with karmic doctrine.
Rejoicing in and endorsing a righteous work is itself purifying: the verse promises the destruction of sins accumulated over many lives through sincere inner assent to a sacred construction.