Some branches of the Vedas, such as the Taittiriya Samhita (2.1.8.3), associate Vishnu with the concept of yajna or Vedic sacrifice. This Yajnamurti or Yajnapurusha is depicted with three heads, three legs, seven hands, and four horns. His complexion is red, adorned with a vanamala (garland of wild flowers). In addition to displaying protective and boon-bestowing postures (abhaya and varada mudras), he is portrayed holding various sacrificial implements like the sruk and sruva (ladles). It is evident that this representation is a symbolic portrayal of a sacrificial ritual.
Yajnamurti or Yajnapurusha: This refers to Vishnu in the
form of the sacrificial being. In this context, Vishnu embodies the essence of
the Vedic sacrifice, signifying the cosmic order and the interdependence of all
existence.
Three heads, three legs, seven hands, and four horns: These
numerical attributes likely carry symbolic significance rather than
representing a literal physical form. They might symbolize cosmic harmony,
balance, and completeness.
Red body and vanamala (garland of wild flowers): The red
color may symbolize the creative and transformative aspects of the sacrifice,
while the vanamala represents the interconnectedness of all living beings in
the natural world.
Postures of protection and bestowal of boons (abhaya and
varada mudras): These hand gestures signify the divine qualities of protection
and granting blessings, reinforcing the idea that the sacrificial act is a
source of benevolence and cosmic order.
Implements of sacrifice like sruk and sruva (ladles): These
are actual tools used in Vedic rituals. In the symbolic context, they represent
the precision and methodical nature of the sacrificial rites.
The symbolic representation you described reflects the deep
philosophical and spiritual concepts within Vedic literature. It emphasizes the
idea that the cosmic sacrifice is not just a ritualistic act but a symbolic
expression of the underlying order and interconnectedness in the universe,
reinforcing the importance of dharma (righteousness) and balance in cosmic
affairs.