Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
Chapter 48 — Account of the Hymn to the Twenty-Four Forms
Caturviṁśati-mūrti-stotra-kathana
भक्त्या त्रिविक्रमः पद्मगदी चक्री च शङ्ख्यपि शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मी वामनः पातु मां सदा
bhaktyā trivikramaḥ padmagadī cakrī ca śaṅkhyapi śaṅkhacakragadāpadmī vāmanaḥ pātu māṃ sadā
Que Trivikrama me protège toujours, dans la dévotion : Il porte le lotus, la massue, le disque et aussi la conque; c’est Vāmana, paré de la conque, du disque, de la massue et du lotus comme emblèmes.
Lord Agni (narrating the stotra/vidhi to Sage Vashistha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Use as a rakṣā-prayoga: recite with bhakti for personal protection, invoking Trivikrama/Vāmana with the four emblems as guardians.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Trivikrama–Vāmana Rakṣā (pātu māṃ sadā)","lookup_keywords":["Trivikrama","Vāmana","pātu","rakṣā","śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma"],"quick_summary":"A protective prayer asking Trivikrama/Vāmana to guard the devotee always; the deity is specified through the standard four emblems for focused invocation."}
Alamkara Type: Āśīrvāda/Prārthanā (protective benediction)
Concept: Protection arises from bhakti and remembrance; the avatāra-name (Vāmana/Trivikrama) channels the Lord’s saving agency into daily life.
Application: Recite at thresholds—before travel, sleep, or beginning rites—mentally placing the four emblems as a protective mandala around oneself.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vishnu-stotra / Nama-mantra and protective prayer)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Devotee praying for protection; Viṣṇu as Trivikrama/Vāmana appears with four emblems, radiating a protective aura.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Trivikrama/Vāmana-themed Viṣṇu with caturbhuja emblems, protective circular aura, devotee kneeling, temple interior with lamps and lotus motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, protective Viṣṇu with gold halo and prabhāmaṇḍala, four emblems, devotee at feet with folded hands, ornate arch, gold detailing emphasizing ‘pātu’","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear devotional scene with subtle gradients, Viṣṇu blessing gesture plus visible emblems, devotee under protective canopy-like aura, neat composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate prayer scene, Viṣṇu appearing in a luminous cloud with four emblems, devotee below, fine architectural framing and floral border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शङ्ख्यपि → śaṅkhī + api (ī + a sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: continuing caturviṃśati-mūrti stotra/rakṣā verses with ‘pātu’ formulations
FAQs
It teaches stotra-prayoga (hymn application) for raksha (protection) by invoking Vishnu through specific epithets (Trivikrama, Vamana) and iconographic identifiers (conch, discus, mace, lotus) used in worship and protective recitation.
Alongside law, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also systematizes practical devotion—how to invoke deities through names, forms, and emblems—preserving ritual technology (mantra/stotra usage) and standardized iconography for worship.
Reciting and remembering Vishnu with bhakti and clear form-identifiers is presented as a protective, purifying act that strengthens devotion, removes fear/obstacles, and aligns the devotee with dharmic refuge in the preserver deity.