Vaijayanti Explained

The Vaijayanti ^[1] is a mythological garland or elemental necklace, primarily associated with Vishnu.^[2] Employed in its worship as a garland, this object is also called the Vaijayantimala, or the Vanamala.^{[3] [4]}

In Sri Vaishnava tradition, the poet-saint Thondaradippodi Alvar is regarded to be a manifestation of the Vanamala.^[5]

Literature

Vaijayanti finds a mention in Vishnu Sahasranama, a stotra dedicated to Vishnu in the Mahabharata, as vanamali (forest flowers):^[6]

The garland of victory is mentioned in the Mahabharata, as made of never-wilting lotuses.

In the Skanda Purana, Varuna presents Lakshmi with the garland as a wedding gift.^[7]

According to the Vishnu Purana, the garland prominently displays five precious gemstones: emerald, sapphire, ruby, pearl, and diamond. These correspond with the five classic elements commonly named earth, water, fire, air, and ether respectively.^[8]

In the Shiva Purana, Vishnu offers his garland to his son-in-law Kartikeya, before his battle with the asura Taraka.^[9]

The Garuda Purana includes a prayer known as the Vishnu Panjaram, which includes the following verse: "Taking up Vaijayanti and Srivatsa, the ornament of thy throat do thou protect me in the north-west, O god, O Hayagriva. I bow unto thee".^[10]

See also

• • Padma Kaustubha
• Shaligrama

Notes and References

1. Book: D Dennis Hudson. The Body of God Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram: An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram. 27 August 2008. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-970902-1. 168–.
2. Web site: www.wisdomlib.org . 2016-04-25 . Vaijayanti, Vaijayantī, Vaijayamti: 19 definitions . 2022-08-03 . www.wisdomlib.org . en.
3. Book: Prof. Shrikant Prasoon. Hinduism Clarified and Simplified. 17 February 2014. V&S Publishers. 978-93-81384-72-5. 235–.
4. Book: Rūpagosvāmī. The Bhaktirasāmṛtasindhu of Rūpa Gosvāmin. 2003. Motilal Banarsidass. 978-81-208-1861-3. 575–.
5. Book: Dalal, Roshen . Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide . 2014-04-18 . Penguin UK . 978-81-8475-277-9 . 160 . en.
6. Book: V. Ravi. Vishnu Sahasranama. 30 November 2012. MANBLUNDER. 248. GGKEY:DRA5CW5BDZX.
7. Web site: www.wisdomlib.org . 2020-03-05 . The Marriage Festival of Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa [Chapter 14] ]. 2022-08-03 . www.wisdomlib.org . en.
8. Web site: www.wisdomlib.org . 2014-08-30 . Dominion over different provinces of creation assigned to different beings [Chapter XXII] ]. 2022-08-03 . www.wisdomlib.org . en.
9. Web site: www.wisdomlib.org . 2018-10-14 . Kārttikeya is crowned [Chapter 5] ]. 2022-08-03 . www.wisdomlib.org . en.
10. Web site: www.wisdomlib.org . 2015-04-12 . The prayer of Vishnu Panjaram [Chapter XIII] ]. 2022-08-03 . www.wisdomlib.org . en.