With a heart full of reverence, the devotee approached the sacred annual worship, seeking sanctification and the highest blessings. Bowing before Shiva, he offered the Pavitra, humbly entreating, “O Shiva, bestower of the fruits of annual worship, accept this Pavitra for the sake of sanctity.” He adorned the worship with garlands of pearls and coral, with Mandara flowers and other auspicious offerings, dedicating all to Shiva, the knower of the Veda. Having performed the annual rite as prescribed, he released the sanctified Pavitra, blessing it: “Now, O Pavitra, go forth to the heavenly world, freed by this worship.” Turning his devotion to the Sun god, he bowed and offered the Pavitra, seeking the same sanctification and fruits of worship. Again, to Shiva, to the Lord of Speech, and to the Lord of Power, he bowed and offered the Pavitra, always invoking sanctity and the fulfillment of the annual worship’s purpose. Then, with deep faith, he bestowed sacred threads, each woven with divine potency: “I give you this thread made of Narayana and Aniruddha, which bestows wealth, grain, long life, and health. I give you the thread of Kamadeva and Sankarshana, which grants knowledge, progeny, and good fortune. I give you the thread of Vasudeva, which brings righteousness, fulfillment of desire, wealth, and liberation—the very means to cross the ocean of worldly existence. And I give you the thread of the Universal Form, the bestower of all, destroyer of sin, and uplifter of both past and future lineages.” At this moment, Agni spoke, revealing the immense fruits of constructing a temple for Vāsudeva and the gods. “Listen well,” he said, “to build a divine abode for Vāsudeva is to destroy the sins of a thousand births. Even those who merely desire to create such a house for Krishna with pure intent are freed from the sins of a hundred births. The world rejoices when a house is made for Krishna, and the devotee who builds it is freed from all sin, leading tens of thousands of his ancestors and descendants to the world of Acyuta. “After building a house for Hari, the builder quickly brings his family to Vishnu’s world, where the ancestors, adorned and radiant, dwell in bliss after beholding that divine realm. Freed from the torments of hell, the builder of Krishna’s temple—this sacred abode of the gods—destroys even the most grievous sins, such as brahminicide. “The merit gained by sacrifices and the fruits of bathing in all sacred waters are attained by constructing a temple for the gods. Even if the temple is built deceitfully or merely with sand, the results are equal to those who fall in battle for the gods. He who builds one temple attains heaven; with three, the world of Brahma; with five, the world of Shiva; with eight, he abides with Hari himself. Building sixteen temples grants both enjoyment and liberation. “Whether the house for Hari is lesser, middling, or excellent, the builder attains heaven, Vishnu’s world, and liberation in due order. The wealthy who build the most excellent temple for Vishnu gain all these rewards, but even with the least effort, merit is assured if one gives with a sincere heart. Therefore, let a person, having acquired wealth, build a temple for the gods, even if it is small. “By building a temple for Hari, one attains the highest merit, whether the offering is vast or meager. Even children who playfully build a house for Hari with sand are destined for his world. Wherever a temple for Vāsudeva is built—in a holy place, a temple, a sacred field, or an auspicious eighth place—the builder receives threefold fruit. Those who decorate a Vishnu temple with bandhūka flowers and sweet clay, who plaster and beautify the house, go to the city of the Blessed Lord. Even one who restores a fallen or half-fallen temple gains double the merit—both the restorer and the protector of what is collapsing are greatly blessed. “As long as the bricks of Hari’s temple remain, the builder and his family are honored in Vishnu’s world, revered in this life and the next. One who causes a shrine to be built for Krishna, son of Vasudeva, becomes a doer of good, and his entire lineage is purified. “To build a house for Vishnu, Rudra, the Sun, the Goddess, or other deities brings renown. What use is hoarded wealth to those who never use it for righteous purposes? If a wealthy man, having gained riches through effort, does not build a shrine for Krishna, his ancestors, Brāhmaṇas, and the gods derive no joy from his wealth. Neither do his relatives benefit; his acquisition is in vain, for just as death is certain for all, so too is the loss of unused wealth. “The deluded cling to life and unstable riches, neither giving in charity nor enjoying their possessions, nor seeking fame or righteousness. What merit is there in such ownership? Therefore, having gained wealth by fate or effort, one should give properly to worthy Brāhmaṇas and cause shrines to be built. Among all gifts, the making of shrines is supreme, greater than any other charity. “Thus, the wise should build temples and similar abodes for Vishnu and the gods, establishing the dwelling of Hari with the most devoted people. When this is accomplished, the entire three worlds—everything moving and still, past, present, and future, gross and subtle—are encompassed within that act. For from Brahma down to a single blade of grass, all arises from Vishnu, god of gods, the all-pervading, the great soul.” In this way, the scriptures extol the supreme sanctity, merit, and blessing that flow from sincere worship and the construction or restoration of temples for the divine.