The Form and Glory of Bhagwan Vishnu

In this blog post, you will learn about the preserver and sustainer of the cosmos—Sri Vishnu.

"Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagat"

The Vedas state, ‘the entire cosmos is a manifestation of Vishnu.’ He is the source of all knowledge. The word ‘Vishnu’ comes from the Sanskrit root word ‘vish’ meaning all pervading power; its other meaning is ‘to enter.’ Vishnu is the one who is present everywhere; he, who has entered or permeated everything. Therefore, the ‘Vishvam’ (cosmos) is Vishnu. 

The first sloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranaam also reveals the same truth: ‘vishvam vishnurvashatkaro’. He is ‘Vashatakrah’, the one who is invoked in the yagnas, the one for whom offerings are made.

A father to his devotees, Sri Vishnu, removes all their pain and suffering. He is also called Shri Hari, the one who eliminates three types of suffering (tapas) of his devotees: Adhyatmik (spiritual suffering), Adhidaivik (suffering caused by other beings or external forces), and Adibhautik (suffering caused by one’s own body and mind).

The Universal Father-Protector

Sri Vishnu has an extremely captivating form; he holds a conch, the Sudarshan chakra (the divine discus), a mace (gada) and a padma (lotus) in his four hands. These four ayudhs—instruments and weapons— symbolise three modes (gunas) of material nature: sattva (indicated by shankh), rajas (signified by chakra), tamas (symbolised by gada), and the fourth being Gunateet (lotus)—the state being beyond the three modes.

Sri Vishnu holds a shankh, which is born of vast seas where he resides. The Shankh is a symbol of emptiness and purity, as the sea creature (crab, snail etc.) living inside has left it. It is ready for making the auspicious sound of ‘Pranav.’ Similarly, we have to empty ourselves of ego for the divine to work through us. 

The other ayudh held by Sri Vishnu is the Sudarshan Chakra with which he cuts the ropes of our desires. We are entangled in the ‘chakra’ of the material world. Bhagwan cuts our desires and attachments with his Sudarshan (auspicious and beautiful) chakra.

Oftentimes, the Chakra is not enough to break our hardened habits. Therefore, Sri Vishnu bears the Kaumodiki, his mace, to attack and break our negative tendencies.

Bhagwan’s fourth ayudh is the lotus (Padma) which symbolises the state of rising above the muddy material world and blooming with purity. The state of becoming a lotus in the world comes after a lot of discipline and spiritual churn.

One can establish a deep connection with Sri Vishnu by visualising his divine form (with ayudhs), and chanting the Vishnu Sahasranaam Stotram.

Om Namo Narayanaya