Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 3
Viṣṇu-Pañjara (विष्णुपञ्जरम्) — The Protective Armor of Viṣṇu
विष्णुः प्राच्यां स्थितश् चक्री हरिर्दक्षिनणतो गदी प्रतीच्यां शार्ङ्गधृग्विष्णुर्जिष्णुः खड्गी ममोत्तरे
viṣṇuḥ prācyāṃ sthitaś cakrī harirdakṣinaṇato gadī pratīcyāṃ śārṅgadhṛgviṣṇurjiṣṇuḥ khaḍgī mamottare
ขอพระวิษณุผู้ทรงจักรสถิตทิศตะวันออก และพระหริผู้ทรงคทาสถิตทิศใต้; ขอพระวิษณุผู้ทรงศารังคะสถิตทิศตะวันตก และพระชิษณุผู้ทรงพระขรรค์สถิตทิศเหนือ จงคุ้มครองข้าพเจ้า.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Dikpāla-nyāsa style protection: assign Viṣṇu’s weapon-forms to cardinal directions to create a protective perimeter.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Directional Nyāsa of Viṣṇu’s Weapons (Cakra–Gadā–Śārṅga–Khaḍga)","lookup_keywords":["dik-nyāsa","Viṣṇu protection","cakra","gadā","Śārṅga","khaḍga"],"quick_summary":"Place Viṣṇu as weapon-bearer in the four directions—east (discus), south (mace), west (bow), north (sword)—to seal space and protect the practitioner."}
Weapon Type: Discus, Mace, Bow, Sword
Concept: Space is ritually transformed by nyāsa; divine attributes become functional guardians.
Application: Use before japa, sleep, travel, or entering risky places; visualize/gesture to each direction while reciting.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Dikpala-nyasa (Directional placement of Vishnu’s weapons for protection)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner visualizes Viṣṇu in four directions, each holding a distinct weapon, forming a protective square around the self.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, mandala-like layout: east Viṣṇu with chakra, south with mace, west with Śārṅga bow, north with sword; central devotee in añjali; flat iconic symmetry, saturated colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, four-quartered composition with gold halos; each directional Viṣṇu aspect richly ornamented; central figure protected; ornate border and gold embossing on weapons.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram aesthetic: compass directions labeled in Devanagari, Viṣṇu forms placed accordingly; delicate shading, clean geometry, calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, aerial-plan courtyard with four divine guardians at cardinal gates holding respective weapons; central figure seated; fine architectural detail and patterned floors."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्थितश् चक्री = स्थितः + चक्री; हरिर्दक्षिणतः = हरिः + दक्षिणतः; शार्ङ्गधृग्विष्णुर्जिष्णुः = शार्ङ्गधृक् + विष्णुः + जिष्णुः; ममोत्तरे = मम + उत्तरे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 269 (Viṣṇu-pañjara nyāsa sequence)
FAQs
It teaches dik-nyāsa/dikbandhana: ritually assigning Viṣṇu’s weapon-forms to the cardinal directions (east–cakra, south–gadā, west–Śārṅga, north–khaḍga) to create a protective enclosure around the practitioner.
Beyond mythology, it preserves applied liturgy—directional protection, deity-visualization, and weapon-attribute mapping—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical temple/home ritual procedure alongside theology.
By invoking Viṣṇu’s guardianship in all directions, the practitioner seeks purification and removal of obstacles, cultivating steadiness (rakṣā) for worship, vows, and auspicious undertakings.