Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 12
Chapter 46 — शालग्रामादिमूर्तिलक्षणकथनं
Exposition of the Characteristics of Śālagrāma and Other Sacred Forms
जनार्दनश् चतुश् चक्रो वासुदेवश् च पञ्चभिः षट्वक्रश् चैव प्रद्युम्नः सङ्कर्षणञ्च सप्तभिः
janārdanaś catuś cakro vāsudevaś ca pañcabhiḥ ṣaṭvakraś caiva pradyumnaḥ saṅkarṣaṇañca saptabhiḥ
Janārdana est loué par quatre (noms/épithètes) ; Catuścakra (le Seigneur portant quatre disques) par cinq ; de même Ṣaṭvakra par six ; et Pradyumna ainsi que Saṅkarṣaṇa par sept (chacun).
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana frame: Agni instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Guides structured recitation/nyāsa-like grouping of Viṣṇu-nāmas by numerical clusters for japa, stuti, and memorization.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Numerical grouping of Viṣṇu epithets (4/5/6/7)","lookup_keywords":["Janārdana","Catuścakra","Pradyumna","Saṅkarṣaṇa","nāma-saṅkhyā"],"quick_summary":"The verse encodes a method of praising specific Viṣṇu-forms by fixed counts of names, useful for ordered chanting and ritual recitation schemes."}
Alamkara Type: Saṅkhyā (numerical enumeration) / Anuprāsa (light phonetic recurrence)
Concept: Nāma as upāsanā: structured praise (saṅkhyā-krama) focuses mind and aligns devotion to specific forms.
Application: Use the indicated counts as a vrata-like rule for daily stuti/japa segments dedicated to each form.
Khanda Section: Vishnu-Sahasranama / Nama-mahatmya (Vishnu-nama enumeration within Purana-style stotra material)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual setting where a devotee chants grouped names before a Viṣṇu icon displaying prominent cakra emblems; subtle visual cues for Pradyumna and Saṅkarṣaṇa as distinct forms.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Viṣṇu with radiant cakra motifs, priest reciting palm-leaf text, grouped numerals subtly inscribed as decorative bands, warm mineral pigments, sacred lamp glow.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu with ornate cakra emblems, gold-leaf halo, small side-panels labeled Janārdana/Catuścakra/Pradyumna/Saṅkarṣaṇa, devotional reciter at bottom.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean linework showing a teacher instructing disciples in counted nāma-recitation, Viṣṇu icon with cakra, annotated count-marks (4/5/6/7) on manuscript margins.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scholar-devotee reading a manuscript with marginal numerals, small framed Viṣṇu image with cakra, delicate detailing, subdued palette, precise calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जनार्दनश्→जनार्दनः; चतुश् चक्रो→चतुःचक्रः; वासुदेवश्→वासुदेवः; षट्वक्रश्→षट्वक्रः; चैव→च+एव; सङ्कर्षणञ्च→सङ्कर्षणम्+च (anusvāra before c).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 46 (Vishnu-sahasranama / nāma-mahātmya context); Agni Purana 47 (Śālagrāma-cakrāṅka-pūjā: form-identification by marks)
FAQs
It gives a structured method for reciting/organizing Vishnu’s epithets by numerical groupings (four, five, six, seven), useful for stotra-pāṭha and name-based worship (nāma-japa) with counted sets.
Beyond narrative, the Agni Purana catalogues practical religious tools—here, a systematic taxonomy of divine names and iconographic titles (including Vyūha names like Pradyumna and Saṅkarṣaṇa), blending devotion, theology, and liturgical organization.
Counting and reciting Vishnu’s names in ordered sets supports focused remembrance (smaraṇa) and disciplined japa, traditionally held to purify the mind and accrue devotional merit (puṇya) through sustained, attentive praise.