1. Vishvaksena occupies an important place in Vaikhanasa and Pancaratra temple traditions, where temple festivals often begin with his worship and procession.
14 Facts About Vishvaksena
1. 2.
The Kurma Purana describes Vishvaksena to have been born out of a portion of Vishnu, carrying a conch, Sudarshana Chakra and gada and wearing yellow clothes like his master.
3.
Vishvaksena carries a lotus, gada, shanka, and chakra in his hands.
4.
The Pancharatra text Lakshmi Tantra mentions Vishvaksena as four-armed and holding a shankha and a lotus.
5.
Vishvaksena has a taniyan dedicated to him in the later part of the work, incorporating him in the list of the traditional Sri Vaishnava guru parampara starting from Vishnu's consort Lakshmi to Nammalvar.
6.
The Vaikuntha gate was guarded by Vishvaksena, who did not recognise Shiva and did not allow him to enter.
7.
Vishvaksena occupies an important place in the Vaikhanasa sect of Vaishnavism, a sect dedicated to Vishnu.
8.
Vishvaksena anga-mantras recited at the beginning of rites is as below.
9.
At Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Vishvaksena is worshipped before any temple ritual.
10.
The temple for Vishvaksena is located at the northern side of the main temple, in the Mukkoti Pradakshinam.
11.
Vishvaksena is believed to arrange for the festival and ensure that it goes on smoothly.
12.
The ritual of offering of remnants of puja offerings to the central or festival icon of Vishnu to Vishvaksena, before closing of the temple doors, is embedded in Pancharatra tradition.
13.
The poet Kuresha remarks that Vishvaksena sustains on the remnants of his master's food, which is a sign of approval of his master.
14.
The Srirangam temple, dedicated to Ranganatha, celebrates similar festivals where Vishvaksena plays a role in the temple festivals.