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.