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 उवाच—त्रिपुरवधात् पूर्वं ब्रह्मणा शङ्करस्य रक्षणार्थं, हे द्विजश्रेष्ठ, विष्णुपञ्जरं कवचं निरूपितम्। एषोऽध्यायः—अथोनसप्तत्यधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः ‘विष्णुपञ्जरम्’।
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.