Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 12
Viṣṇu-Pañjara (विष्णुपञ्जरम्) — The Protective Armor of Viṣṇu
ये चोपभोगहर्तारो ये च लक्षणनाशकाः कुष्माण्डास्ते प्रणश्यन्तु विष्णुचक्ररवाहताः
ye copabhogahartāro ye ca lakṣaṇanāśakāḥ kuṣmāṇḍāste praṇaśyantu viṣṇucakraravāhatāḥ
ये चोपभोगहर्तारो ये च लक्षणनाशकाः; कुष्माण्डास्ते प्रणश्यन्तु विष्णुचक्ररवाहताः।
Lord Agni (instructing protective mantra usage within the Agni Purana’s ritual/tantric material)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Protective expulsion of Kuṣmāṇḍa-type grahas/spirits said to steal enjoyment and destroy auspicious signs; invoked with Viṣṇu’s Sudarśana imagery for immediate warding.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Kuṣmāṇḍa-nivāraṇa by Viṣṇu-cakra (Sudarśana)","lookup_keywords":["kuṣmāṇḍa","upabhoga-hartṛ","lakṣaṇa-nāśaka","viṣṇu-cakra","sudarśana-rakṣā"],"quick_summary":"Frames certain afflictors as ‘stealers of enjoyment’ and ‘destroyers of auspicious marks’; counters them through Sudarśana (Viṣṇu’s discus) protective force."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka/utprekṣā-like martial visualization (cakra ‘roaring onrush’)
Weapon Type: Chakra (Sudarśana)
Concept: Invoking divine order (Viṣṇu) as the remover of inauspicious forces that erode bhoga and śubha-lakṣaṇa.
Application: Use Sudarśana-bhāvanā (visualization) with japa as a mental ‘boundary’ practice during fear, nightmares, or perceived negativity.
Khanda Section: Raksha-mantra & Apamarga (Protective Incantations / Tantra-Prayoga)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sudarśana chakra blazing and spinning outward from Viṣṇu, striking down grotesque Kuṣmāṇḍa beings that clutch at a person’s fortune and auspicious marks.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu with conch and discus, Sudarśana as fiery circular mandala, dark kuṣmāṇḍa figures shattered at edges, bold flat colors and sacred symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Viṣṇu enthroned with heavy gold leaf, Sudarśana rendered as embossed radiant disc, tiny demons fleeing, ornate jewelry and arch, deep maroon background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear didactic layout: Viṣṇu at center, chakra trajectory shown as luminous arc, kuṣmāṇḍas labeled, fine linework and gentle gradients","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, dynamic spinning disc with flame motifs, demons in expressive motion, detailed textiles on Viṣṇu’s attendants, architectural frame and floral border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चोपभोगहर्तारो = च + उपभोगहर्तारः; कुष्माण्डास्ते = कुष्माण्डाः + ते
Related Themes: Agni Purana 269 (rakṣā-mantra series; apāmārga-prayoga context)
FAQs
It gives an apotropaic (rakṣā) mantra-intent: invoking Viṣṇu’s Sudarśana-cakra as a protective force to destroy Kuṣmāṇḍa-type afflictors who cause loss of enjoyment/prosperity and spoil auspicious signs.
Alongside theology and narrative, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technology—short, targeted protective formulas used for warding off specific classes of spirit-affliction and misfortune, showing its wide coverage of applied religious practice.
Spirit-affliction is treated as an obstruction to dharma and wellbeing; invoking Viṣṇu’s cakra symbolizes restoration of cosmic order and protection of auspiciousness, reinforcing faith, purity, and steadiness in ritual life.