Plenary expansions of Lord Vishnu

Vaasudeva-Sankarshana-Pradyumna-Aniruddha...

Sri Vishnu Sahasranaama Stothram eulogizes Lord Vishnu as Chaturaatma-Chaturvyuuhah- Chaturmuurthi.

Chaturaatma refers to Lord Vishnu’s fourfold manifestations for the purpose of creation, sustenance, dissolution and promulgation of divine spiritual knowledge.

Chaturvyuhah the one who adopts fourfold or four dimensional manifestations (vyuhas) to carry out his activities He assumes four forms as Vaasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradhyumna, and Aniruddha.

Chaturmurthi the one who is of four forms viz. Vaasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradhyumna and Aniruddha.

In the very first sloka Sri Venkatesha Stothra (Brahmaanda Purana), Lord Venkateswara who is none other than Lord Sri ManNaaraayana is eulogized as...

Venkatesho Vaasudevah Pradhyumno~mithavikaramah
Sankarshano~anniruddhascha Seshaadhripathireva Cha

Who is Vaasudeva?

In supreme spiritual sense Vasudeva is the foremost and supreme amongst the four plenary expansions of Lord Naaraayana. He is Moksha Pradhatha, bestower of ultimate salvation to the deserving souls including Brahmaadi Devathas. Vaasudeva is the ultimate abode and most coveted place where every soul would be longing to go and stay eternally.

 

Famous hymn Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vaasudevaaya! called Dwaadasaakshara (12 syllable) manthra dedicated to Lord Vaasudeva is known as Mukti/Kyvalya manthra chanting of which helps one to get liberated from the cycle of births and deaths.

Vasudeva (Va+Su+Deva) means reverentially addressing the Supreme God of Knowledge (Jnaana), the one who is the creator (bring forth) of the world viz. Lord Vishnu.

    

In sloka # 29; 74 of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama stothram we find a reference to the word Vasu where, the all pervading Supreme Lord Vishnu is eulogized as Vasuh. Vasu means dweller or dwelling. Lord Vishnu is Vaasudeva the one who dwells in each and every element of this universe and everything dwells in Him. Vasudeva also means the Lord of Vasus.

He is the mega spirit present in every being of the entire universe, heart and soul of the universe and the only Aatman (soul) that existed in the beginning.

priINayaaAmo vaAsudevaM 
devataAmaNDalAkhaNDamaNDanaM…

Sri Madhvacharya in his famous Dwaadasa Stothra (8^th canto) eulogizes the Supreme Lord and recommend to Propitiate Lord Vaasudeva who is the most precious jewel in the august gathering of Gods headed by Lord Brahma.

Vasu means excellent/Gem; Vaasudeva means Gem of a God who is the solitary unique soul of outstanding excellence.

In Bhagawadgita Vibhoothi Yoga (10^th Canto sloka # 37) Lord Sri Krishna says that among the descendants of Vrishni He is Vaasudeva “vrshniinaam vasudevo'smi” He is aptly called, as He is personification of the Supreme Godhead Vaasudeva.

 

Who is Sankarshana?

“Sankarshana” is second in the line of four plenary expansions/dimensions of the primordial supreme God Naaraayana (Vaasudeva-Sankarshana-Pradyumna-Aniruddha).

Sam (n) + Karshana; Sam (n) means plenty, good, together, complete, perfectly, efficiently effectively, competently etc and Karshana means drawing back, pulling off, withdraw, demolish, eliminate, reduce etc.

Sankarshana literally means the one who has the power to destroy or annihilate, the one who has the power to grasp/seize, the one who has grahaka/akarshaka shakti. Sankarshana has power to attract (aakarshana) as well as to repel.

In supreme spiritual sense Sankarshana is the destructive power of Lord Vishnu who alone has the strength, competency to completely destroy the world at the time of deluge in a systematic manner using his power ‘Sankarshana’ and pull back all entities into Himself.

In Sri Vishnu Sahasranaama Stothram (sloka # 59) the Lord Vishnu is eulogized as “Sankarshanoachyutah” the one who grasps all the movable and immovable objects towards Him at the time of great deluge destroying them while He himself remaining composed and untainted as He is Achyuta.

Who is Pradyumna?

In supreme spiritual sense Pradyumna is the 3rd dimensional expansion of Lord Sri Hari the fourfold manifestation (Chaturvyuuha) Vaasudeva-Sankarshana-Pradyumna-Aniruddha.

Pra means conspicuous; prominent; great; noticeable; and Dyumna means glory, strength, affluence. Pradyumna means the Supreme God, the one with great auspicious and infinite attributes glowing like Gold.

Sri Vishnu Sahasranaama Stothram (sloka # 68) eulogizes the Lord as "Pradyumno-amitavikramah" the one who is having immense and unrivaled powers. Pradyumna is the creative power of the supreme Lord Sri ManNaaraayana.

Pouranically we come across the character of Pradyumna in Sri MadBhagavatham as son of Lord Sri Krishna and His prime consort Rukmini Devi.

Who is Aniruddha?

Niruddha means the one who is suppressed, held back, restrained, stopped;

Aniruddha means the one who is unstoppable, unrestrained, the one who is invincible.

In a supreme sense, Aniruddha is an extension of Lord Vishnu... Vasudeva, Sankarshna, Pradhymana, Aniruddha.

Pouranically we come across the character of Aniruddha in Sri MadBhagavatham as the grandson of Lord Sri Krishna and son of Pradyumna. He was considered as a replica of Lord Sri Krishna (Aniruddha roopa Hari). Usha was his spouse and Vajra was his son.

These four Vyuuha forms (Vaasudeva-Sankarshana-Pradyumna-Aniruddha) also are said to represent the four states of consciousness viz. Turiya, Shushupti, Swapna and Jagrat.

These four forms are considered as Vishnu tattva or plenary expansions of the Moola roopa of Lord Sri ManNaaraayana. Put together it is called Panchaniyaamaka Bhagawadruupa five strategic forms of Lord Vishnu.

These transcendental expansions together form the complete worship of the Primordial Supreme God Vishnu.

Merits of reciting Vaasudeva Manthra…

In Sri Vishnu Sahasrnaama Stothram (Phala Sruthi) we find several merits of chanting the divine hymn of the Supreme Lord.

vaasudevaashrayo martyo vaasudevaparaayaNaH |

sarvapaapa-vishuddhaatmaa yaati brahma sanaatanam || (sloka#10)

The one who seeks out Lord Vaasudeva with total devotion and takes shelter only in Him would get cleansed from all sins and with a mind thus purified ultimately attain salvation. 

Na vasudevabhaktaanaam-ashubham vidyate kvachit

Janma-mrutyu-jaraa-vyaadhi-bhayam naivopajaayate 
(sloka # 11)

No ill-fate befalls on the devotees of Lord Vaasudeva and they will never have fear from birth; death; old age and diseases;

vaasanaad vaasudevasya vaasitaM te jagatrayam |

sarvabhuuta nivaaso asi vaasudeva namostu te || 

(shrii vaasudeva namo.astuta oM nama iti) ||

(Sri Vyaasa Uvaacha sloka#25)

Salutations to the all pervading supreme lord Vaasudeva because of whom all the three worlds have become possible/effective/operative/viable; who is indeed the refuge of all creatures.

Narayanaya Vidhmahe
Vasudevaya Dheemahe
Thanno Vishnu Prachodayat

Let us meditate on the supreme Lord Naaraayana who dwells in all beings as Vaasudeva and the one who inspire us as Lord Vishnu.

Vanamaali gadee shaarngee shankhii chakrii cha nandakii

Shrimannaaraayano vishnur-vaasudevo-abhirakshathu

Hey! Lord Sri ManNaaraayana the one who is adorned with a forest garland, who is symbolized holding the mace (Gada), Bow (Shanrga), Conch (Shankha), the Disk (Sudarshana Chakra) and a Sword called Nandaka who is known as Vishnu and Vaasudeva protect us and bestow happiness to one and all.

Sri Krushnaarpanamasthu