Vishṇu Pañjara Stotra (Garuḍa Purāṇa)

The Vishṇu Pañjara Stotra is a protective hymn that Bhagavān Vishṇu (Śrī Hari) told to Parameśvara Śiva. It is found in the Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Ācāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 13 (Adhyāya 13). The word pañjara means a cage: something that protects and encloses. The stotra surrounds the reciter on all eight sides, above in the sky, and below in rasātala (the netherworld), with particular forms and weapons of Bhagavān Vishṇu.

The setting

In the Ācāra Khaṇḍa of the Garuḍa Purāṇa, Bhagavān Vishṇu tells this stotra to Parameśvara Śiva for the welfare of all who seek protection. He begins: “I shall now reveal the auspicious Vaishṇava Pañjara, the Cage of Vishṇu, O Rudra.”

Bhagavān Vishṇu says that he first gave this pañjara to Bhagavatī Kātyāyanī Devī as a mantra-kavaca (a protective mantra). It woke all her śaktis. With this power she destroyed the unconquerable Mahishāsura, Raktabīja and the hosts of other asura warriors who had defeated the devas.

The stotra

This is the Sanskrit text of the Vishṇu Pañjara Stotra as told in the Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Ācāra Khaṇḍa, Adhyāya 13.

pravakshyāmy adunā hy etan vaishṇavaṃ pañjaraṃ śubham
namo namas te Govinda cakraṃ gṛhya Sudarśanam
prācyāṃ rakshasva māṃ Vishṇo tvām ahaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ

“I shall now declare this auspicious Vaishṇava pañjara. Again and again I bow to you, Govinda. Take the Sudarśana cakra and protect me in the east, O Vishṇu. I have come to you for refuge.”

gadāṃ Kaumodakīṃ gṛhya Padmanābha namo ‘stu te
yāmyāṃ rakshasva māṃ Vishṇo tvām ahaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ

“Take the Kaumodakī gadā, O Padmanābha. I bow to you. Protect me in the south, O Vishṇu. I have come to you for refuge.”

halam ādāya Saunandaṃ namas te Purushottama
pratīcyāṃ raksha māṃ Vishṇo tvām ahaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ

“Take the plough Saunanda, O Purushottama. I bow to you. Protect me in the west, O Vishṇu. I have come to you for refuge.”

musalāṃ śātanaṃ gṛhya Puṇḍarīkāksha raksha māṃ
uttarasyāṃ Jagannātha bhavantaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ

“Take the Śātana musala (pestle), O Puṇḍarīkāksha, and protect me. In the north, O Jagannātha, I have come to you for refuge.”

khaḍgam ādāya carmātha astraśastrādikaṃ Hare
namas te raksha rakshoghna aiśānyāṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ

“Take the sword, the shield and the other astras and śastras (missile and hand weapons), O Hari. I bow to you. Protect me, O destroyer of rākshasas. In the northeast I have come to you for refuge.”

Pāñcajanyaṃ mahāśaṅkham anughoshyañ ca paṅkajam
pragṛhya raksha māṃ Vishṇo āgneyāṃ Yajñaśūkara

“Take the Pāñcajanya, the great conch, and the lotus. Protect me, O Vishṇu, in the southeast, O Yajñaśūkara.”

Candrasūryaṃ samāgṛhya khaḍgaṃ cāndramasaṃ tathā
nairṛtyāṃ māṃ ca rakshasva divyamūrte Nṛkesarin

“Take the Candra and Sūrya and the sword of the moon as well. Protect me in the southwest, O Nṛkesarin of divine form.”

Vaijayanīṃ sampragṛhya Śrīvatsaṃ kaṇṭha-bhūshaṇam
vāyavyāṃ raksha māṃ deva Hayagrīva namo ‘stu te

“Take the Vaijayanī garland and the Śrīvatsa, the ornament of your neck. Protect me in the northwest, O deva Hayagrīva. I bow to you.”

Vainateya samāruhya tvam antarikshe Janārdana
māṃ raksha svājita sadā namas te ‘stv aparājita

“Mount Vainateya (Garuḍa), O Janārdana, and protect me in the sky. O Svājita, always protect me. I bow to you, O Aparājita.”

Viśālāksha samāruhya raksha māṃ tvaṃ rasātale
Akūpāra namas tubhyaṃ mahāmīna namo ‘stu te

“O Viśālāksha, mount and protect me in rasātala. O Akūpāra, I bow to you. O Mahāmīna, I bow to you.”

karaśīrshādy aṅgulishu satya tvaṃ bāhu-pañjaram
kṛtvā raksha sva māṃ Vishṇu namas te Purushottama

“O Satya, make a bāhu-pañjara (a cage of arms) on the fingers, beginning with the hand and head, and protect me, O Vishṇu. I bow to you, O Purushottama.”

The structure of the pañjara

The stotra builds a complete shield around the reciter. In each direction stands a form of Bhagavān Vishṇu with a particular weapon or sign.

The phalaśruti

Bhagavān Vishṇu says that a person who recites this Vishṇu Pañjara Stotra with bhakti (devotion) and śraddhā (faith) conquers all enemies in every stage of life.

Bhagavatī Kātyāyanī received this stotra from Bhagavān Vishṇu himself. Her śaktis were fully awakened, and she destroyed Mahishāsura, Raktabīja and the many asuras who had threatened the devas.

Sources

• Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Ācāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 13 (Adhyāya 13)