VishnuBhakti Bhavabhuti

Vishnu is the widespread impact which sustains refined cultural civilizational existence. The concept of Vishnu and his Leela are explained in many stories, each encapsulating the knowledge and need of expansiveness which resolves many issues and give riches to the lives of people. In iconography, Vishnu is depicted with 4 hands while in his avatars like Rama and Krishna, who later dissolve into Vishnu too, are shown with 2 hands, because Vishnu is Deva, which is an institutional representation, showing a representation of an institution or group, where multiple hands and multiple means come into jurisdiction. This is consistent with iconography of all devata and devis who are depicted with more than 2 hands, which shows them to be more subjective than individuals. The avatars of Vishnu like Rama and Krishna are depicted with 2 hands because they are Bhagavan, which is an individual human iconographic representation showing to the viewers about their mortal nature. Like an individual with Dhanam is called Dhanvan, with Gunas is called Gunavan, similarly, an individual with Bhaga is called Bhagavan. Bhaga is a characteristic, like the Sun has, whose individuality is glowing, giving light to the world and showing path , who is sustainer of Dharma etc, which is why Surya is also called Bhagavan. Individuals with similar characteristics are generally referred as Bhagavan and such mortals are depicted with 2 hands in iconography. Adherents of such Deva or Bhagavan are called Bhakta , who again has the characteristics of Bhaga like Fire, who dissolves themselves into aspiring Deva through many practices followed through tradition like winning senses through practice of different types of Yogas, Sharanagati of Guru, Following and Practicing Dharma etc. Bhakti of such adherents aspires them to dissolve themselves into Deva, which is called Moksha which gives them ability to perceive samsara with an evolved experience. Such Bhaktas also align their individuality with that of Bhagavan by personally achieving Bhaga characteristics and transforming individual nature for their evolution. Evolution of an individual happens in 5 steps :

1. Nascent Stage : where he is dependent on others for sustenance like a toddler who needs support, like a student who needs guidance, like an unemployed youth who depends on others for his basic needs etc.
2. Individual Stage : where he can fulfil his personal needs, drive his life to his achievements and fulfillments.
3. Family Stage : where he fulfills the needs of his family , which includes his parents, wife, children etc
4. Social Stage : where he extends and is able to sustain and fulfill needs of greater society around him .
5. Institutional Stage : where an individual transforms himself into an institution or dissolves himself into an institution or establishes themselves into larger entities or expands to farther places etc. This quest of institutionalizing or expanding is called Vishnu Bhakti where an individual grows bigger than himself by getting access to established institutions or establishing themselves as institutions or expanding further  . It gives individuals expansive reach . Such individuals who became institutions, having widespread impact are called Vishnu Ansha and it is where the greatest wealth called Lakshmi resides. Such Vishnu Bhakti is the pillar for increased awareness of an upward mobile, prosperous individual and society which has the quest to explore wider world, and this is also the solution to many problems which keeps an individual pinned down to a situation or location.

This is the context in which all Vishnu Kathas needs to be perceived , then we will understand why Vishnu rests on cosmic ocean called Ananta Shesha ( Meaning : Unlimited residue), in a state of deep and divine slumber. Why his awareness of himself at the time of creation creates an existence. This context also explains why the Devas (smaller institution) in puranas go to Vishnu (bigger institution) for getting their existence back, when they are bogged down and defeated by Asuras after they win over their Senses ( Indriyas : capabilities) and getting boon from Brahma (knowledge). Jaya ( Victory) and Vijaya ( Special Victory) are the door keepers of Vaikuntha(Unlimited) where Vishnu resides, and they look like Vishnu himself. These door keepers due to the curse of Brahma Manasa Putra are born as enemies of Vishnu and try to eradicate him. Through teachings of Narada who is an an ever travelling propagator of Dharma, a great Vishnu Bhakta called Prahallada (happiness) is born and through him Vishnu destroys his enemies. This story explain the play of cursed victory and expansion, acting as enemies to each other. In this, expansion wins over cursed victory every time, because it resides in a place called Unlimited(Vaikuntha). Dissolving ourselves into something which is expansive releases us from the clutches of limitations which gets cursed over time. It is the Karuna of such an expansive Vishnu, who is present everywhere, through whom we get wealth called Lakshmi, Mukti from limitation after reaching Vaikuntha, refined knowledge called Brahma through multiple means, multiple capabilities through widespread resources called Ananta Sesha. Let us dwelve into such a Vishnu Bhakti which uplifts all of us.