Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 3
Viṣṇu-Pañjara (विष्णुपञ्जरम्) — The Protective Armor of Viṣṇu
विष्णुः प्राच्यां स्थितश् चक्री हरिर्दक्षिनणतो गदी प्रतीच्यां शार्ङ्गधृग्विष्णुर्जिष्णुः खड्गी ममोत्तरे
viṣṇuḥ prācyāṃ sthitaś cakrī harirdakṣinaṇato gadī pratīcyāṃ śārṅgadhṛgviṣṇurjiṣṇuḥ khaḍgī mamottare
ليحمِني فيشنو القائم في الشرق حاملَ القرص، وليحمِني هَري في الجنوب حاملَ الهراوة؛ وليحمِني فيشنو في الغرب حاملَ قوس شَارَنْغا، وليحمِني جِشْنُو في الشمال حاملَ السيف.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Dikpāla-nyāsa style protection: assign Viṣṇu’s weapon-forms to cardinal directions to create a protective perimeter.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Directional Nyāsa of Viṣṇu’s Weapons (Cakra–Gadā–Śārṅga–Khaḍga)","lookup_keywords":["dik-nyāsa","Viṣṇu protection","cakra","gadā","Śārṅga","khaḍga"],"quick_summary":"Place Viṣṇu as weapon-bearer in the four directions—east (discus), south (mace), west (bow), north (sword)—to seal space and protect the practitioner."}
Weapon Type: Discus, Mace, Bow, Sword
Concept: Space is ritually transformed by nyāsa; divine attributes become functional guardians.
Application: Use before japa, sleep, travel, or entering risky places; visualize/gesture to each direction while reciting.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Dikpala-nyasa (Directional placement of Vishnu’s weapons for protection)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner visualizes Viṣṇu in four directions, each holding a distinct weapon, forming a protective square around the self.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, mandala-like layout: east Viṣṇu with chakra, south with mace, west with Śārṅga bow, north with sword; central devotee in añjali; flat iconic symmetry, saturated colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, four-quartered composition with gold halos; each directional Viṣṇu aspect richly ornamented; central figure protected; ornate border and gold embossing on weapons.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram aesthetic: compass directions labeled in Devanagari, Viṣṇu forms placed accordingly; delicate shading, clean geometry, calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, aerial-plan courtyard with four divine guardians at cardinal gates holding respective weapons; central figure seated; fine architectural detail and patterned floors."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्थितश् चक्री = स्थितः + चक्री; हरिर्दक्षिणतः = हरिः + दक्षिणतः; शार्ङ्गधृग्विष्णुर्जिष्णुः = शार्ङ्गधृक् + विष्णुः + जिष्णुः; ममोत्तरे = मम + उत्तरे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 269 (Viṣṇu-pañjara nyāsa sequence)
FAQs
It teaches dik-nyāsa/dikbandhana: ritually assigning Viṣṇu’s weapon-forms to the cardinal directions (east–cakra, south–gadā, west–Śārṅga, north–khaḍga) to create a protective enclosure around the practitioner.
Beyond mythology, it preserves applied liturgy—directional protection, deity-visualization, and weapon-attribute mapping—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical temple/home ritual procedure alongside theology.
By invoking Viṣṇu’s guardianship in all directions, the practitioner seeks purification and removal of obstacles, cultivating steadiness (rakṣā) for worship, vows, and auspicious undertakings.