हरि अनंत हरिकथा अनंता । कहहिं सुनहिं बहुबिधि सब संता ॥
These lines form Shri Ramcharitmanas written by Gosvami Tulsidas around a little more then 400 years ago explains everything about almighty Lord Vishnu in one phrase.
Lord Vishnu is the all-pervasive Lord who expands into everything. He is in every living and non-living. He is inside you and me. He is the maintainer of this Universe (ब्रह्माण्ड) and the complete cosmic creation. He is called Vishnu because He overcomes all.
The Traditional Sanskrit explanation of the name Vishnu involves the root Vis, meaning "to pervade" (व्याप्त होना) as in Rigveda and a suffix nu meaning "all" (समस्त), translating into "The All-Pervading One" (समस्त ब्रह्माण्ड मे व्याप्त). He is also called Narayana (नारायण), which means the shelter, resting place or ultimate goal of all living entities which inturns means Salvation (मोक्ष). Thats why is has been said that one should chant word Narayan at the time of death to get salvation. There are other names of Lord Vishnu chanted on various instances of life explained in the next post of this blog.
According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Vishnu is unborn (अजन्मा) and he is the only one who never ends. Lord Brahma (ब्रह्मा) and Lord Shiva (शिव) are created by him at the time of cosmic creation and are of equal in all powers to him but for the purpose of creation and maintinance of this universe respectively. He himself however is taken the responciblity of distroying of evil (अशुभ, दुष्ट) powers in the Universe for the restoration of religion (धर्म) or moral order. He himself said in Shrimad Bhagavad Gita (श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता) which is one of the ancent epic (महाकाव्य) and Sacred Scripture (पवित्र धर्मग्रन्थ) narrated by the Lord Vishnu himself during his Krishna Incarnation (अवतार) at time of battle of Mahabharata (महाभारत) around 5500 years ago
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत। अभ्युथानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥
परित्राणाय साधुनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् । धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ॥
Meaning
Whenever and wherever there is a decline in moral order, and a predominant rise of irreligion (अधर्म) or demoral, O descendant (वंशज) of India. At that time I descend or come down myself to deliver the pious (धर्मनिष्ठा) and to annihilate (विनाश करने) the miscreants (दुष्टो), as well as to reestablish the principles of religion and moral values, I Myself appear, Era after Era.
According to Rig-Veda (One of the most ancent litrature written by Lord Bhramha itself), the principle nature of Lord Vishnu is trur serene (परम शांत). He is philosophical (स्थितप्रज्ञ) between passion (अनुराग) and reclusion (वैराग्य). In his commonest forms, Lord Vishnu is portrayed in a four armed form (चतुर्भुजी स्वरूप) having dark blue complexion, the color of passive with four hands holding Conch (शंख), Cosmic Disc (सुदर्शन चक्र) whirling on his index finger, Lotus Flower (कमल पुष्प) and Mace (गदा).
The Conch represents the five basic elements of this universe called Soil, Water, Fire, Sky and Wind. It spreads the primordial (आदिकालीन) sound of Om (ओउम) which is said to be the sound of the original vibration of universal creation. The Lord also blows his conch in calling everyone to turn to the higher reality rather than remaining in the darkness of material existence. This calling is the inner-voice which nudges all beings of conscience to seek the absolute truth. The second is Cosmic Disk or Sudarshan Chakra (सुदर्शन चक्र). The word Sudarshan is derived from two words, su (सु) and darshan (दर्शन). It means the vision (दर्शन) of which is auspicious (सु). The word Chakra is derived from chruhu (चृ:) which means movement and kruhu (कृ:) which means to do. Thus chakra means that which is moving in a circle. Out of all weapons this is the only one which is constantly in motion. It signifies reminder of the cycle of time and limitless power and light that destroys all forms of dark and ignorance. It is also a lethal (प्राण घातक) weapon that he uses against the demons (दानवों) and evil powers. The third hands hold a Lotus which is a symbol of creation. The energy which emanates from Vishnu’s navel (नाभि), that is from the Para (दृष्टांत) mode of speech is depicted (चित्रित) as a Lotus. This energy of creation is not derived from Lord Vishnu alone but from the union of Lord Vishnu and Godess Lakshmi, his wife. Lord Vishnu is also named Padmanabh due to the Lotus which springs (प्रकट होता है) out of his navel. In his fourth hand, he holds a Mace which represents the cosmic intellect or knowledge. It is called Kaumodaki (कुमोदकी), meaning that which captivates (मोह लेना) the mind. It is also associated with time, which destroys all, and is thus also related to Kali (कलि), the power of time.
He also wears a Victory Garland (वैजन्ती माला) which has five rows of flowers that the Lord wears indicates the five senses and the Lord’s illusory (मायावी) power which affect the senses. The fragrance (सुगंध) coming out of it represents the subtle elements found within the material manifestation (अभिव्यक्ति). All this reflects the Lord’s mastery of the whole universe, which is created out of the mixing or revolving of the five elements and the universal mind and intellect. The Srivatsa or lock of hair on the Lord’s chest, which indicates the Goddess of Fortune, represents the products of the material creation, or the objects of enjoyment for which all living beings seek. And the gem, called Kaustubha (Treasure of the Ocean) represents the one who enjoys these products. Thus, this world of the enjoyer and the enjoyed is but a piece of decoration for the Lord, a spark of His energy. He is represented formless (निराकार) ether.
Lord Vishnu is often depicted as reclining on serpent (भुजंग) shesha (शेषनाग), the coiled, seven-headed snake floating on celestial ocean (क्षीरसागर) a cosmic waters that represents the peaceful Universe. This pose symbolizes the calm and patience in the face of fear and worries that the poisonous snake represents. The message here is that you should not let fear overpower you and disturb your peace. The vehicle of Lord Vishnu is Garuda the Peacock (गरुड़) the king of the bird empowered with the courage and speed to spread the knowledge of the Vedas, Garuda is an assurance of fearlessness at the time of calamity (विपत्ति).
There are Four Personages of Lord Vishnu have been described in the Vishnu Puran. The first reclines on Shesh, the second nurtures creation, the third assumes an incarnation and reinstates Righteousness (धर्म) and the fourth destroys unrighteousness and evils. Lord Vishnu has four main parts. With one He becomes the unmanifest Brahma, with the second Prajapati like Marich etc., with the third He is the time and with the fourth He is in the form of animate and inanimate creation. Thus in these four ways He exists in creation.
It was Vishnu who started the tradition of the Guru (गुरु) and the disciple (शिष्य). Narayan is the first Guru and Narad, the son of Lord Brahma is the first disciple. Since the Guru’s very mission is to take His disciple to the Final Liberation or Salvation, it is said that one must seek knowledge from Sadashiv and the Final Liberation from Janardan, that is Vishnu (ज्ञानं इच्छेत् सदाशिवात् मोक्षं इच्छेत् जनार्दनात्) According to the Shaiva sect the Guru-disciple tradition began with Lord Shiva, His first disciple being Vishnu or Parvati.
Lord Vishnu is also known as master of all sciences and espically the science of all illusions (माया) for which he is also called Lord of all illusions or Mayapati (मायापति). Lord Vishnu is also called Hari (हरि), or one who removes the darkness of all illusions which take control over the human beings making him feel as if he himself is an entity seperate form the god. This is required to run this world otherwise everybody will immidiately tend to reach back to the god and the whole world will end prematurely. Lord Vishnu do this with help of his illusion power godess called Yogmaya (योगमाया) whom he has created for the purpose. She then take contorl of the minds of all the living beings by the order of Lord Vishnu and its the Lord Vishnu only who can get rid of it from once mind if one worships him and hence called Hari. Lord Shiva also known as Rudra (रूद्र) and Lord Bhahma also known as the Supreme Father (परमपिता) has also the power of getting rid or illusion being equal to Lord Vishnu and hence them all together refereed as Trinity (त्रिदेव) in the various texts of Hindu Mythology. At annihilation (महाप्रलय) or the time of end of all existances, Lord Shiva and Lord Bhrahma gets merged into Lord Vishnu and then Lord Vishnu finally vanishes his four armed form (चतुर्भुजी स्वरूप) and attains his formless state (निराकार रूप) which again can do the cosmic creation of the universe. Thats why Lord Vishnu is worshipped in both shape form (साकार रूप) and shapeless form (निराकार रूप) by the devotees.
The Conch represents the five basic elements of this universe called Soil, Water, Fire, Sky and Wind. It spreads the primordial (आदिकालीन) sound of Om (ओउम) which is said to be the sound of the original vibration of universal creation. The Lord also blows his conch in calling everyone to turn to the higher reality rather than remaining in the darkness of material existence. This calling is the inner-voice which nudges all beings of conscience to seek the absolute truth. The second is Cosmic Disk or Sudarshan Chakra (सुदर्शन चक्र). The word Sudarshan is derived from two words, su (सु) and darshan (दर्शन). It means the vision (दर्शन) of which is auspicious (सु). The word Chakra is derived from chruhu (चृ:) which means movement and kruhu (कृ:) which means to do. Thus chakra means that which is moving in a circle. Out of all weapons this is the only one which is constantly in motion. It signifies reminder of the cycle of time and limitless power and light that destroys all forms of dark and ignorance. It is also a lethal (प्राण घातक) weapon that he uses against the demons (दानवों) and evil powers. The third hands hold a Lotus which is a symbol of creation. The energy which emanates from Vishnu’s navel (नाभि), that is from the Para (दृष्टांत) mode of speech is depicted (चित्रित) as a Lotus. This energy of creation is not derived from Lord Vishnu alone but from the union of Lord Vishnu and Godess Lakshmi, his wife. Lord Vishnu is also named Padmanabh due to the Lotus which springs (प्रकट होता है) out of his navel. In his fourth hand, he holds a Mace which represents the cosmic intellect or knowledge. It is called Kaumodaki (कुमोदकी), meaning that which captivates (मोह लेना) the mind. It is also associated with time, which destroys all, and is thus also related to Kali (कलि), the power of time.
He also wears a Victory Garland (वैजन्ती माला) which has five rows of flowers that the Lord wears indicates the five senses and the Lord’s illusory (मायावी) power which affect the senses. The fragrance (सुगंध) coming out of it represents the subtle elements found within the material manifestation (अभिव्यक्ति). All this reflects the Lord’s mastery of the whole universe, which is created out of the mixing or revolving of the five elements and the universal mind and intellect. The Srivatsa or lock of hair on the Lord’s chest, which indicates the Goddess of Fortune, represents the products of the material creation, or the objects of enjoyment for which all living beings seek. And the gem, called Kaustubha (Treasure of the Ocean) represents the one who enjoys these products. Thus, this world of the enjoyer and the enjoyed is but a piece of decoration for the Lord, a spark of His energy. He is represented formless (निराकार) ether.
Lord Vishnu is often depicted as reclining on serpent (भुजंग) shesha (शेषनाग), the coiled, seven-headed snake floating on celestial ocean (क्षीरसागर) a cosmic waters that represents the peaceful Universe. This pose symbolizes the calm and patience in the face of fear and worries that the poisonous snake represents. The message here is that you should not let fear overpower you and disturb your peace. The vehicle of Lord Vishnu is Garuda the Peacock (गरुड़) the king of the bird empowered with the courage and speed to spread the knowledge of the Vedas, Garuda is an assurance of fearlessness at the time of calamity (विपत्ति).
There are Four Personages of Lord Vishnu have been described in the Vishnu Puran. The first reclines on Shesh, the second nurtures creation, the third assumes an incarnation and reinstates Righteousness (धर्म) and the fourth destroys unrighteousness and evils. Lord Vishnu has four main parts. With one He becomes the unmanifest Brahma, with the second Prajapati like Marich etc., with the third He is the time and with the fourth He is in the form of animate and inanimate creation. Thus in these four ways He exists in creation.
It was Vishnu who started the tradition of the Guru (गुरु) and the disciple (शिष्य). Narayan is the first Guru and Narad, the son of Lord Brahma is the first disciple. Since the Guru’s very mission is to take His disciple to the Final Liberation or Salvation, it is said that one must seek knowledge from Sadashiv and the Final Liberation from Janardan, that is Vishnu (ज्ञानं इच्छेत् सदाशिवात् मोक्षं इच्छेत् जनार्दनात्) According to the Shaiva sect the Guru-disciple tradition began with Lord Shiva, His first disciple being Vishnu or Parvati.
Lord Vishnu is also known as master of all sciences and espically the science of all illusions (माया) for which he is also called Lord of all illusions or Mayapati (मायापति). Lord Vishnu is also called Hari (हरि), or one who removes the darkness of all illusions which take control over the human beings making him feel as if he himself is an entity seperate form the god. This is required to run this world otherwise everybody will immidiately tend to reach back to the god and the whole world will end prematurely. Lord Vishnu do this with help of his illusion power godess called Yogmaya (योगमाया) whom he has created for the purpose. She then take contorl of the minds of all the living beings by the order of Lord Vishnu and its the Lord Vishnu only who can get rid of it from once mind if one worships him and hence called Hari. Lord Shiva also known as Rudra (रूद्र) and Lord Bhahma also known as the Supreme Father (परमपिता) has also the power of getting rid or illusion being equal to Lord Vishnu and hence them all together refereed as Trinity (त्रिदेव) in the various texts of Hindu Mythology. At annihilation (महाप्रलय) or the time of end of all existances, Lord Shiva and Lord Bhrahma gets merged into Lord Vishnu and then Lord Vishnu finally vanishes his four armed form (चतुर्भुजी स्वरूप) and attains his formless state (निराकार रूप) which again can do the cosmic creation of the universe. Thats why Lord Vishnu is worshipped in both shape form (साकार रूप) and shapeless form (निराकार रूप) by the devotees.
The next post will focus on the methods of doing worship of Lord Vishnu.