Chaturvimshatimurti


The chaturvimshatimurti is the representation of twenty-four aspects of the deity Vishnu in Hindu iconography. These aspects are described to represent the central tenets of the Pancharatra tradition. They are believed to be the most significant of the thousand names of the deity featured in the Vishnu Sahasranama. The names of these aspects of the deity are ritually chanted in daily prayer by adherents.

Literature

The twenty-four forms of Vishnu seem to have been conceived in the Mahabharata. His forms are first mentioned in Agni Purana, the Rūpamaṇḍana, and the Aparājitapṛcchā. They are also mentioned in Vaishnava Puranas such as the Bhagavata Purana and the Vishnu Purana.

Usage

The chaturvimshatimurti are all represented as standing and holding the four attributes of Vishnu: the Sudarshana Chakra, Panchajanya, Kaumodaki, and Padma. Symbolising the deity's different visible forms, the only difference between these images is the order of the emblems held by his four hands. All of the forms wear the kiritamukuta, the crown of Vishnu, and the traditional ornaments of the deity. They stand upon the base of a lotus. According to Gopinatha Rao, the distribution of the four attributes among the four hands of each form are to be observed in a circular fashion, from the upper right hand to the upper left hand, and then from the lower left hand to the lower right hand.
The Rupamandana provides the following description of the chaturvimshatimurti:
NameColourAttributesElementConsort
KeshavaGoldconch, discus, mace, lotusAkasha Sri
NarayanaWhitelotus, mace, discus, conchVayu Lakshmi
MadhavaBlackdiscus, conch, lotus, maceVahni Kamala
GovindaCrystalmace, lotus, conch, discusApa Padma
VishnuYellowlotus, conch, discus, macePrithvi Padmini
MadhusudanaRedconch, lotus, mace, discusShabda Kamalalaya
TrivikramaRed mace, discus, conch, lotusSparsha Ramā
VamanaRed discus, mace, lotus, conchRupa Vrishakapi
SridharaWhitediscus, mace, conch, lotusRasa Dhanya
HrishikeshaWhite discus, lotus, conch, lotusGandha Vriddhi
PadmanabhaBlacklotus, discus, mace, conchVāc Yajña
DamodaraRedconch, mace, discus, lotusPāṇin Indira
SamkarshanaRedconch, lotus, discus, macePāda Hiranya
VasudevaWhiteconch, discus, lotus, macePāyu Harani
PradyumnaGoldconch, mace, lotus, discusUpastha Satya
AniruddhaBlackmace, conch, lotus, discusShrota Nitya
PurushottamaCrystallotus, conch, mace, discusTvaca Nanda
AdhokshajaBlackmace, conch, discus, lotusNetra Treya
NarasimhaGoldlotus, mace, conch, discusJihvā Sukha
AchyutaYellowlotus, discus, conch, maceGhrana Sugandha
JanardanaReddiscus, conch, mace, lotusManas Sundari
UpendraBlackmace, discus, lotus, conchBuddhi Vidya
HariYellowdiscus, lotus, mace, conchAhamkāra Sushila
KrishnaBlackmace, lotus, discus, conchChit Sulakshana