Hari Sarvothama
VISHNU –
SRI HARI
Lord Vishnu is the all-pervasive Lord who expands into
everything. He is the maintainer of the universe and the complete cosmic
creation. He is called Vishnu because He overcomes all.1 He represents sattva-guna, or the mode of
goodness by which everything is sustained. He is also called Narayana, which means the shelter, resting
place or ultimate goal of all living entities. It also means the one whose
abode is the causal waters (Karana Ocean), and one who lives in the hearts of
all living beings. It is this sattva nature which gives the living beings
the tendency to grow toward a higher truth, the light, a more cohesive and
intense reality. In this sense, Lord Vishnu is also called Hari, or one who
removes the darkness of illusion. This illusion ultimately means the idea that
the living beings live separate from, or without connection to, the Lord.
It is told by our ancestors that while waking up
from bed we should say Hari – Hari seven times visioning his roopa. Let’s see
the possible ways to imagine him.
1.
Lord
Vishnu is seen resting on the coils of the serpent Shesha, also called Ananta Sheshanaga. We see that the thousand heads swinging to and fro over the form of Lord
Vishnu, creating a shelter and couch for the Lord,
all turned inward, representing a peaceful mind, and looking toward the
Absolute Truth of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu is also seen in the yogic sleep
called yoga-nidra. The yoga-nidra (yoga or the root yuj meaning to connect or join) is a
cosmic sleep wherein the Lord is focused on the Infinite Reality of His own
identity.
Ananta means endless, and Ananta is
endlessly singing the praises and glories of the Lord from His thousand hoods
without ever reaching the end. His hoods are also supporting the many planetary
systems in the cosmic creation that are orbiting throughout the universe above
His heads. Ananta also means endless in terms of the endlessness of cosmic
time. This is also represented by His thousand hoods as divisions of time. The
material worlds are created within the element of time, and are thus sustained
by time. During the process of the universal annihilation, time ceases to
exist, in which case the material planets are also forced into obliteration.
Lord
Shesha is often seen floating on the causal waters of the Garbhodaka Ocean,
which exists on the bottom of the universe. Lord Vishnu is thus resting on
Sheshanaga as They float on the ocean. At other times, They are viewed floating
on the Kshiramudra, or an ocean of white milk. This represents the Prakriti or
the ingredients of the unmanifest material nature in its purest form.
2. 2. Lord Vishnu is also seen standing on the whirl of a lotus
flower with four hands, which represent the four directions and
indicates His absolute power in the four corners of the universe. Each hand holds an item, such as a disc,
lotus, conch, and mace.
Sankha, Chakra, Gada, Padma:
Conch -
represents the five universal elements. When the conch is blown, it is said to
produce a sound related to the original vibration of universal creation. When
the conch is blown, it is said to produce a sound related to 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. If man does not heed the call, then the
Lord may still use His conch to cut asunder the ego and material attachments of
those who do not turn toward the spiritual path.
The disc or chakra- signifies the universal mind or
awareness. It rids all darkness wherever it appears, and thus shows the path to
higher awareness. The disc is called Sudarshan, the limitless power and light that
destroys all forms of ignorance. Thus, Lord Vishnu allows it to cut off the
heads of envious demons. It has six spokes and shows the revolving nature of
the universe (maya) around an unmoving and changeless center. The
Sudarshana Chakra, when shown alone, is often viewed as a person with four,
eight, or sixteen arms, holding such items as a bow, arrow, trident, noose, and
a poker. These are said to represent the will and power of the Lord to not only
create but to also destroy the universe.
The mace - represents the cosmic intellect
or knowledge. It is called Kaumodaki, meaning that which captivates the mind.
It is also associated with time, which destroys all, and is thus also related
to Kali, the power of time. When pictured as a deity, it is viewed as a female
with two hands, positioned in respect. The lotus being twirled in His hand
shows the revolving or changing nature of the universe. It also indicates the
real purpose of human existence, which the Lord invites all to follow.
The
Vaijayanti garland (garland of victory) with five rows of flowers that the Lord
wears indicates the five senses and the Lord’s illusory power which affect the
senses. Its fragrance represents the subtle elements found within
the material manifestation. 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.
Lord
Vishnu is also sometimes seen with additional items, such as a bow, called
Sharnga. This represents the darker form of false-ego that makes one think he
is nothing but the material body, not connected to the Lord. The arrows are the
activities of the intellect, which can cut through false-ego when used
properly. His fish shaped earrings represent the two processes of knowledge,
such as through the sankhya (intellectual) and yoga (intuitive)
methods. His armlets represent the three goals of worldly life, namely dharma (righteousness), artha (economic success) and kama (pleasure). Lord Vishnu’s crown
represents the highest and incomprehensible reality. The yellow cloth that He
wears (Pitambara) is said to indicate the Vedas.
Through the Vedic hymns the divine reality is revealed, just as the Lord’s dark
color can be seen through the cloth that He wears. And His sacred string, made
of three threads, is said to indicate the three letters of the hallowed word
AUM (Aumkara/Omkara).
The
various forms of Lord Vishnu are composed of the different arrangements of the
four symbols He holds in His four hands. For example, in one form He holds the
conch in His lower right hand, the disc in His upper right, the mace in His
upper left, and lotus in the lower left. In this form He has the name of
Keshava, meaning the Lord with long hair, according to the Padma Purana(Book Four, Chapter
79). In other forms, in which case He holds the items in different hands, He has the names that include,
Narayana (the universal shelter), Govinda (saver of the Earth and protector of
cows), Madhava (Lord of knowledge), Madhusudana (the destroyer of the demon
Madhu), Trivikrama (the one who conquered the three planetary systems), Vamana
(the dwarf incarnation), Shridhara (the possessor of fortune), Hrishikesha
(Lord of the senses), Padmanabha (whose navel produced the universal lotus),
Damodara (who is self-restrained), Sankarshana (who reabsorbs), Vasudeva (one
who dwells within), Pradyumna (who has the most wealth), Aniruddha (who no one
can oppose), Purushottama (best of all men), Adhoksaja (the expanse of the
universe), Nrisimha (the half-man and half-lion form), Achyuta (the
inconceivable), Krishna (the dark and all-attractive one), Hari (He who removes
obstacles or sorrow), Janardana (He who gives rewards), and Upendra (the
brother of Indra). Many other names of Lord Vishnu are found in the Vishnu-sahasranam,
the Thousand Names of Vishnu, located in the Anushasan
Parva (149.14-120) of the Mahabharata.
Lord
Vishnu is also called Nilameghashyama for having a dark blue complexion. This
represents a number of things, including pure consciousness, the infinite, and
the all-pervading power.
3.
Sometimes, Lord Vishnu is also seen riding on his
carrier bird, Garuda. This is a half-man and half-eagle bird, whose name means “Wings
of Speech.” It is described that he is huge and has a fierce expression. His
color is that of molten gold. He has the head of an eagle with a red beak and
feathered wings, and two arms like a man. Different
divisions of the Vedas are parts of the body of Garuda. The
sound of his wings reflect the utterances of the Vedic hymns, which can carry a
person to another world with the speed of light and power of lightning. Thus,
it is also the sound of the Veda that carries Lord Vishnu, and which
can also transport Him into the hearts and minds of people.
According
to the Puranas, Garuda is
a son of Kashyapa and Vinata, who was a daughter of Daksha. He is also the
younger brother of Aruna. Garuda is known for his dislike of snakes, which he
will eat. One reason for this is explained in the Mahabharata (1.20-35). Vinata once quarreled with
her co-wife, Kadru, who was the mother of the serpent species known as nagas.
It was from her that he inherited this enmity toward snakes. Then Garuda, with
his wife Unnati, produced six sons, from whom descended all the bird species
that eat snakes.
4.
Lord
Vishnu is often portrayed with Lord Mahalakshmi (Lakshmi Narayana)
Vishnu's consort is Lakshmi the goddess of wealth
also known as Maya. The samvit (the primary intelligence) dark matter of the
universe is Vishnu, while the other five attributes emerge from this samvit and
hence Maya or dark energy of the universe is Lakshmi is his ahamata, activity,
or Vishnu's Power. This power of God, Maya, is personified and has multiple
names: Shree, Lakshmi, Maya, Vishnumaya or Mahamaya. She is
said to manifest as kriyashakti, (Creative Activity) and bhutishakti
(Creation). This world requires Vishnu's creativity. He therefore needs Lakshmi
to always be with Him. Her various avatars as Lord Vishnu's are Varahavataram (Bhudevi)
or Bhumi,
Ramavataram Sita, Krishnavataram (Radha andRukmini) and Venkateswara (Padmavathi Vedavati).
5.
Ten
avatars of Lord Vishnu
Vishnu’s earthly incarnations have many
avatars. His ten
avatarsare Matsyavatara
(fish), Koorma (tortoise), Varaaha (boar), Narasimha (the man lion), Vaamana
(the dwarf), Parasurama (the angry man), Lord Rama (the perfect human of the
Ramayana), Lord Krishna (the divine diplomat and statesman), and the yet to appear
10th incarnation called the Kalki avatar.
6.
Lord
Hari saving gajendra
Briefly speaking the story of Gajendra Moksha
tells about how the intense & non-verbal prayer of a desperate elephant
caught by crocodile was answered by God.
Essence of the story: This is a story of all
most everybody. When we are in life or death situation, we suddenly realize
that our ego and intellectual reasoning cannot save us. We suddenly become
humble before the higher power. We realize how insignificant our power is
towards controlling the situations in the real world. We all become devotees in
desperate situations (even if this may last only for some time for atheists).
This story teaches us that HOPE is a good thing.
7.
Srinivas
Kalyana
It is a blessing for the people to see srinivasa
kalyana and all their abheeshta will be fulfilled. We all know that thinking of
srinivasa kalyanam gives a happiness and peace to our mind since it’s an
auspicious function happening.
On the crisp
Hari is superior to everyone and everything.
Vayu is superior in Jivas
No comments:
Post a Comment