Devālaya
Devālaya · deva-ālaya, “the dwelling of a deva”
Grammar: masculine noun; a compound of deva and ālaya (dwelling).
Meaning: the dwelling of a deva; a temple.
In the scriptures: Bhagavān Śrī Kṛshṇa names the devālaya among the works that raise one from saṃsāra: taḍāga, vāpī, devālaya and trees of thick shade. As long as a brick of the devālaya has not fallen to pieces, its builder lives in svarga. How far can the puṇya be told of one who builds a tank, builds a devālaya on its bank and installs a deva in it? He who builds a tank and an excellent devālaya among trees on its bank has fame everywhere, and after long enjoying divine pleasures he gains the rank of a cakravartī king (Uttara Parva, Chapters 127–129).
Related terms: Taḍāga · Vāpī · Dharmaśālā
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 127–129