VAIKUNTHA DARSHAN

In Vaikuntha, Lord Vishnu reclines blissfully and blessedly on his Ananta-Sesha

couch placed on the Cosmic Milky Ocean, Kshirabdhi with Lakshmi at his feet

and surrounded by Lord Brahma having emerged from his navel, Lord Shiva and

his two sons, Ganesha & Skanda, Hanuman, Narada, Hayagriva, Garuda, and

the divine Cow.

1. Lord Vishnu represents the Supreme Self or Spirit, Sat-Chit-Ananda (of the

nature of Being, Knowing & Rejoicing) and Asti-Bhati-Priya (I-ness, Effulgence,

Cuteness). He holds the Sudarshan chakra, the power of infallible pure vision, the

Panchajanya conch, the power of silence and victory, the Kaumodaki mace, the

power annihilating negativity and addiction to the pleasant, and the lotus Kamala

or jalaja, the power of transcendence inherent in consciousness. His blue

complexion symbolizes infinity or boundlessness while his golden paraphernalia

indicate fullness or bountiness. His smile indicates Compassion and his hand in

blessing posture points to grace and no-fear.

2. The Milky Ocean represents the subtle Ground with blissful movements of

purified consciousness as Vaikuntha, the Unconquerable, Inaccessible and

Uncreated Abode consists mainly of an ocean of Pure Consciousness (Formless).

Vaikuntha lies beyond the realms of darkness, of origin and ending. It is the world

of fulfillment and perfection.

3. The Sky of Vaikuntha is lighted not by the sun, nor the moon, not stars, not even

fire. It is filled with the Divine Effulgence of Lord Vishnu, the unborn and

immortal Supreme Being and his divine Vibhutis or Potencies. The Sky stands for

Immobility and Silence of Divine Awareness.

4. The Serpent-king, Sesha or Ananta with its expanded thousand hoods represents

divine energy taking its roots in the waves of pure consciousness and expanding in

the sky of silence and immobility. It is the Infinitising and Eternalising Energy of

the Supreme Self in the form of Boundless & Everabiding Presence of Being.

5. Lakshmi, the inseparable shakti of Vishnu, represents Sacredness of Love and the

Beautiful & Bountiful Power of the Supreme. Love is born from the churning of

the ocean of pure consciousness during meditation or manthana.

6. Lord Brahma, emerging from the navel of central point of Vishnu, represents

Expansion of spirit in all four directions and Creativity of the Self as symbolized

by the expanded lotus flower and the words of the Holy Vedas held in his four

hands. Lord Brahma also represents the Tapas (incubating) power of the Self that

results in the hatching of the cosmic egg or universe.

7. Lord Shiva, represents the Light of Self Realisation and the Power of

Transformation through Tapas. His dark complexion is indicative of the

reconciliation of all opposites. He symbolizes the Darkness which is the Divine

Light.

8. Lord Ganesha, represents playful Supreme Intelligence of the Self, which has the

Power to chop off all obstacles along the spiritual path to realization of the

Supreme.

9. Lord Skanda, represents the austere Single-pointed Focus of the Self, symbolized

by his spear (Vela) as well as Its Magnificent Diversity in manifestation,

symbolized by the peacock feathers.

10. Narada Devarshi, represents the power of bhakti or ceaseless and unflinching

devotion to the Supreme as well as the power of premonition, which protects the

virtuous and persecutes the ignoble feelings and ideations in man.

11. Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu, represents the power of spiritual elevation

and intuition. From the movement of his golden wings (suvarna paksha) while

soaring in the higher realms, the mahavakyas (I am That Divine Being) of the

Vedas automatically emerge. Vainteya is the epitome of shrewdness and humility

(kneeling posture).

12. Hanuman, represents the power of faith, self-confidence and courage inherent in

the Self, which elevates the spiritual practitioner. Vayuputra is more an impulse

and emotion, hence his form as a monkey. He is eternally at the service of the

Supreme Self and those devoted to the Self (kneeling posture). Occasionally, he

also acts as the mount of the Supreme Self in a lower form (avatara).

13. Hayagriva, represents the drive and impulse, symbolized by the horse, for more

knowledge and greater spiritual realization inherent in the Self.

14. Surabhi or Nandini, the cow, symbolized the power of natural Goodness (sura) &

Virtue or moral rectitude (Dharma). It also epitomizes the state of

accomplishment born out of strict adherence to Virtue and Goodness (Nanda).

Koosraj: 21.08.2009

Vaishnav, my son of 8, hints that each represents a sovereign. Thus: Vishnu: King of

Gods, Lakshmi: Queen of Love; etc.