Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 12
Viṣṇu-Pañjara (विष्णुपञ्जरम्) — The Protective Armor of Viṣṇu
ये चोपभोगहर्तारो ये च लक्षणनाशकाः कुष्माण्डास्ते प्रणश्यन्तु विष्णुचक्ररवाहताः
ye copabhogahartāro ye ca lakṣaṇanāśakāḥ kuṣmāṇḍāste praṇaśyantu viṣṇucakraravāhatāḥ
لتُفْنَ كُشْمَانْداتُ (Kuṣmāṇḍa) الذين يسرقون لذّات التمتّع، والذين يدمّرون العلامات والسمات المباركة—فناءً تامًّا، صرعى باندفاع قرص فيشنو (تشاكرا) الهادر.
Lord Agni (instructing protective mantra usage within the Agni Purana’s ritual/tantric material)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Protective expulsion of Kuṣmāṇḍa-type grahas/spirits said to steal enjoyment and destroy auspicious signs; invoked with Viṣṇu’s Sudarśana imagery for immediate warding.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Kuṣmāṇḍa-nivāraṇa by Viṣṇu-cakra (Sudarśana)","lookup_keywords":["kuṣmāṇḍa","upabhoga-hartṛ","lakṣaṇa-nāśaka","viṣṇu-cakra","sudarśana-rakṣā"],"quick_summary":"Frames certain afflictors as ‘stealers of enjoyment’ and ‘destroyers of auspicious marks’; counters them through Sudarśana (Viṣṇu’s discus) protective force."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka/utprekṣā-like martial visualization (cakra ‘roaring onrush’)
Weapon Type: Chakra (Sudarśana)
Concept: Invoking divine order (Viṣṇu) as the remover of inauspicious forces that erode bhoga and śubha-lakṣaṇa.
Application: Use Sudarśana-bhāvanā (visualization) with japa as a mental ‘boundary’ practice during fear, nightmares, or perceived negativity.
Khanda Section: Raksha-mantra & Apamarga (Protective Incantations / Tantra-Prayoga)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sudarśana chakra blazing and spinning outward from Viṣṇu, striking down grotesque Kuṣmāṇḍa beings that clutch at a person’s fortune and auspicious marks.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu with conch and discus, Sudarśana as fiery circular mandala, dark kuṣmāṇḍa figures shattered at edges, bold flat colors and sacred symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Viṣṇu enthroned with heavy gold leaf, Sudarśana rendered as embossed radiant disc, tiny demons fleeing, ornate jewelry and arch, deep maroon background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear didactic layout: Viṣṇu at center, chakra trajectory shown as luminous arc, kuṣmāṇḍas labeled, fine linework and gentle gradients","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, dynamic spinning disc with flame motifs, demons in expressive motion, detailed textiles on Viṣṇu’s attendants, architectural frame and floral border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चोपभोगहर्तारो = च + उपभोगहर्तारः; कुष्माण्डास्ते = कुष्माण्डाः + ते
Related Themes: Agni Purana 269 (rakṣā-mantra series; apāmārga-prayoga context)
FAQs
It gives an apotropaic (rakṣā) mantra-intent: invoking Viṣṇu’s Sudarśana-cakra as a protective force to destroy Kuṣmāṇḍa-type afflictors who cause loss of enjoyment/prosperity and spoil auspicious signs.
Alongside theology and narrative, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technology—short, targeted protective formulas used for warding off specific classes of spirit-affliction and misfortune, showing its wide coverage of applied religious practice.
Spirit-affliction is treated as an obstruction to dharma and wellbeing; invoking Viṣṇu’s cakra symbolizes restoration of cosmic order and protection of auspiciousness, reinforcing faith, purity, and steadiness in ritual life.