Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 29
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
आब्राह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तं सर्वं विष्णोः समुद्भवं तस्य देवादिदेवस्य सर्वगस्य महात्मनः
ābrāhmastambaparyantaṃ sarvaṃ viṣṇoḥ samudbhavaṃ tasya devādidevasya sarvagasya mahātmanaḥ
برہما سے لے کر گھاس کے تنکے تک سب کچھ وِشنو ہی سے پیدا ہوا ہے؛ وہ دیوتاؤں کا بھی دیوتا، ہمہ گیر اور عظیم الروح ہے۔
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic doctrine, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Theological grounding for Vaiṣṇava devotion and cosmological understanding: all entities from highest to lowest originate in Viṣṇu, supporting humility and God-centered ethics.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Viṣṇu-sarvotpattti (all beings arise from Viṣṇu)","lookup_keywords":["ābrahma-stamba","sarva-samudbhava","deva-ādi-deva","sarvaga","mahātman"],"quick_summary":"Everything from Brahmā to a blade of grass is declared to arise from Viṣṇu, the all-pervading God of gods."}
Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti (hyperbolic total range: Brahmā to grass)
Concept: Jagat-kāraṇatva and sarvagatatva of Viṣṇu: He is both source and pervader of all levels of being.
Application: Cultivate equal regard and non-contempt (no being is ‘outside’ the divine source); anchor worship and ethics in the sense of universal divine origin.
Khanda Section: Tattva-Jnana / Vaishnava-Cosmology (Puranic metaphysics: origin and pervasion of Vishnu)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Cosmic-Region
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vertical cosmic scale: Brahmā at the top, descending through devas, humans, animals, plants, ending with a single blade of grass—each connected by a luminous thread to Viṣṇu’s all-pervading presence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Viṣṇu’s aura filling the frame; Brahmā on lotus above, then tiers of beings down to grasses; ornamental vine-like luminous linkage showing samudbhava from Viṣṇu.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Viṣṇu with gold halo; surrounding medallions showing Brahmā, devas, sages, humans, animals, and a detailed blade of grass; gold filigree connecting all as emanations.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean hierarchical chart-like painting with delicate shading; labels for Brahmā and stamba (grass); a subtle radiance from Viṣṇu indicating sarvaga nature.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed naturalistic grass in foreground, humans and animals midground, celestial beings above; a faint divine presence permeating all, rendered as a translucent wash."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आ + ब्राह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तम् → आब्राह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तम् (अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग). देव + आदि + देवस्य → देवादिदेवस्य.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vaiṣṇava tattva and nārāyaṇa-mahātmyas in adjacent metaphysical passages; Agni Purana: Sarga accounts where Brahmā arises and creation proceeds
FAQs
This verse imparts tattva-jñāna (metaphysical doctrine): Viṣṇu is presented as the universal source and omnipresent ground of all beings, a theological principle used to orient worship, contemplation, and doctrinal understanding.
Alongside practical sections (rituals, polity, medicine, architecture), the Agni Purana also systematizes core theology and cosmology; this verse is a compact doctrinal definition of Viṣṇu’s causality and pervasion, showing the text’s wide scope from philosophy to applied knowledge.
By recognizing all existence—from the highest deity (Brahmā) to the smallest life-form—as arising from and pervaded by Viṣṇu, a practitioner cultivates bhakti, humility, and non-harm; this worldview supports purification of intention and steadiness in dharma.