Benefits of Building a Temple

[galaxy18]

http://leagueofdevotees.blogspot.com/

 

Agni purana XXXVII 1-50

Agni said : I will now describe the fruits of making temples for the

residence of Vasudeva and other deities.

He who attempts to erect temples for gods is freed from the sins of a

thousand births.

Those who think of building a temple in their minds are freed from the sins

of a hundred births.

Those who approve of a man's building a temple for Krishna go to the

region of Acyuta [ Vishnu ] freed from sins.

Having desired to build a temple for Hari, a man immediately takes millions

of his generations, past and future, to the region of Vishnu.

The departed manes of the person who builds a temple for Krishna live in the

region of Vishnu, well adorned and free from the sufferings of hell.

The construction of a temple for a deity dissipiates even the sin of

Brahminicide.

By building a temple one reaps the fruit which one does not even gain by

celebrating a sacrifice.

By building a temple one acquires the fruits of bathing at all the sacred

shrines.

The construction of a temple, which gives heaven, by a religious or an

irreligious man, yields the fruit reaped by persons slain in a battle

undertaken on behalf of the celestials.

By making one temple one goes to heaven; by making three one goes to the

region of Brahma; bu making five one goes to the region of Shambhu; by

making eight one goes to the region of Hari. By making sixteen one attains

all objects of enjoyment and emanicipation.

A poor man, by building the smallest temple, reaps the same benefit which a

rich man does by building the biggest temple for Vishnu.

Having acquired wealth and built a temple with a small portion of it, a

person acquires piety and gains favours from Hari.

By making a temple with a lakhs of rupees, or a thousand, or a hundred, or

fifty a man goes where the Garuda-emblemed deity resides.

He who in his childhood even sportively makes a temple of Vasudeva with

sand, goes to His region.

He who builds temples of Vishnu at sacred places, shrines, and hermitages,

reaps fruits.

Those who decorate the temple of Vishnu with scents, flowers, and sacred

mud, go to the city of the Lord.

Having erected a temple for Hari, a man, either fallen, about to fall, or

half-fallen, reaps twofold fruits.

He who brings about the fall of a man is the protector of one fallen. By

making a temple for Vishnu one attains to his region.

As long as the collection of bricks of Hari's temple exists, the

founder of his family lives gloriously in the region of Vishnu. He becomes

pious and adorable in this world and in the next.

He who builds a temple for Krishna, the son of Vasudeva, is born as a man of

good deeds and his family is purified.

He who builds temples for Visnu, Rudra, the sun-god, and other deities

acquire fame. What is the use to him of wealth which is hoarded by ignorant

men ?

Useless is the acquisition of riches to one who does not have temple built

with hard earned money for Krishna, or whose wealth is not enjoyed by the

Pitris, Brahmanas, celestials, and friends. As death is certain for men, so

is his destruction.

The man who does not spend his money for his enjoyment or in charities and

keeps it hoarded is stupid and is fettered even when alive. What is the

merit of him who, obtaining riches either by an accident or manliness,does

not spend it for a glorious work or for religion ? [ What is the merit of

him ] who, having given away his wealth to the leading twice-born, makes his

gift circulated, speaks of more than he gives away in charities ?

Therefore a wise man should have the temples built for Vishnu and other

deities. Having entered the region of Hari, he acquires reverential faith

for Narottama [ Vishnu ]. He pervades all the three worlds containing the

mobile and the immobile, the past, future, and present, gross, subtle, and

all inferior objects. From Brahma to a pillar everything has originated from

Vishnu. Having obtained entrance into the region of the Great Soul, Vishnu,

the omnipresent god of gods, a man is not born again.

Posted by galaxy18

http://leagueofdevotees.blogspot.com/

[Amlesh]

It is said in the Bhagvatam that once a person constructs a temple, he is sure to have a roof each time he takes birth in this world.