Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 1
Viṣṇu-Pañjara (विष्णुपञ्जरम्) — The Protective Armor of Viṣṇu
अ प्रणीतम् श्रीलश्री वङ्गदेशीयासियातिक्-समाजानुज्ञया श्रीराजेन्द्रलालमित्रेण परिशोधितम् कलिकाताराजधान्यां गणेशयन्त्रे मुद्रितञ्च संवत् अग्निपुराणम् अथोनसप्तत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः विष्णुपञ्जरं पुष्कर उवच त्रिपुरञ्जघ्नुषः पूर्वं ब्रह्मणा विष्णुपञ्जरं शङ्करस्य द्विजश्रेष्थ रक्षणाय निरूपितं
a praṇītam śrīlaśrī vaṅgadeśīyāsiyātik-samājānujñayā śrīrājendralālamitreṇa pariśodhitam kalikātārājadhānyāṃ gaṇeśayantre mudritañca saṃvat agnipurāṇam athonasaptatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ viṣṇupañjaraṃ puṣkara uvaca tripurañjaghnuṣaḥ pūrvaṃ brahmaṇā viṣṇupañjaraṃ śaṅkarasya dvijaśreṣtha rakṣaṇāya nirūpitaṃ
पुष्कर बोले—त्रिपुर-वध से पहले ब्रह्मा ने, हे द्विजश्रेष्ठ, शंकर की रक्षा के लिए विष्णु-पंजर नामक कवच का विधान किया। यह दो सौ उनहत्तरवाँ अध्याय ‘विष्णु-पंजर’ है।
Puṣkara
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Kavaca-prayoga: invoking Viṣṇu’s protective ‘armor’ for safeguarding before dangerous undertakings and ritual/war contexts.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Viṣṇu-Pañjara Kavaca—Origin and Purpose","lookup_keywords":["Viṣṇu-pañjara","kavaca","Tripura-vadha","Brahmā-upadeśa","Śaṅkara-rakṣā"],"quick_summary":"The chapter frames a Viṣṇu-kavaca taught by Brahmā to protect Śiva prior to Tripura’s destruction, establishing the kavaca as a sanctioned protective rite."}
Concept: Daiva-rakṣā: protection is secured through authorized mantra-kavaca aligned with Viṣṇu’s power.
Application: Undertake kavaca-recitation/nyāsa as a preparatory safeguard for rites, travel, conflict, or fear of unseen harms.
Khanda Section: Mantra-Raksha & Stotra-Kavacha (Protective Hymns / Pāñcarātra-Vaiṣṇava Orientation)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Brahmā instructs Śiva, presenting the Viṣṇu-kavaca before the impending Tripura battle; a solemn transmission of protective lore.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Brahmā with four faces seated on lotus, teaching Śiva with matted locks and crescent moon; subtle Viṣṇu symbols (chakra) hovering as protective aura; earthy reds and greens, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Brahmā and Śiva in jeweled crowns, gold-leaf halo, palm-leaf manuscript of ‘Viṣṇu-pañjara’ in Brahmā’s hand; ornate arch frame, rich vermilion background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, Brahmā pointing to a written kavaca diagram, Śiva attentive; soft pastel palette, instructional mood, minimal background with lotus motifs.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly pavilion setting reimagined as divine assembly; Brahmā presenting a scroll, Śiva receiving; fine detailing, subdued gold, landscape margin with celestial attendants."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अथोनसप्तत्यधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः = अथ + ऊनसप्तत्यधिकद्विशततमः + अध्यायः; मुद्रितञ्च = मुद्रितम् + च; त्रिपुरञ्जघ्नुषः = त्रिपुरम् + जग्नुषः; (colophon material retained; some titles used quasi-indeclinably).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 269 (Viṣṇu-pañjara); Agni Purana kavaca/stotra sections (rakṣā-prayoga context)
FAQs
It introduces a kavaca-type protective rite: a Viṣṇu-centered ‘pañjara’ (armor) prescribed as a formal safeguard before a major undertaking.
By cataloging practical religious technologies—kavacas, protective hymns, and pre-ritual safeguards—alongside mythic context, the text functions as a compendium of applied mantra-ritual traditions.
It frames divine protection as dharmic preparation: invoking Viṣṇu’s safeguarding power is presented as a purificatory, obstacle-removing measure before high-stakes acts.