Mahavishnu

For the album by Mahavishnu Orchestra see Mahavishnu (album)

In Hinduism, Mahavishnu (Devanagari: महाविष्णु) is an aspect of Vishnu, the Absolute which is beyond human comprehension and is beyond all attributes. In Vaishnavite theology, the term is similar to Brahman and Almighty God. It is also often used interchangeably with Vishnu to indicate reverence, as the prefix "Maha" exalts the noun to which it is attached.

Mahavishnu is said to lie in the causal ocean or the Karanodak. He simply glances on Mahamaya and therefore puts in her the seed of this material universe. Mahamaya remains the ever obedient material energy of the supreme lord. All the natural elements like sky, fire, water, air and ether are created and also along with that are created mind, intelligence and false ego.

After, this Mahavishnu enters each of the many universes so created (seeds emerging from the pores of his skin). He is then said to be the Garbodakshayi Vishnu in these individual universes. It can be understood that Garbodakshayi Vishnu is the collective of all souls in a particular universe and Mahavishnu is the collective of all souls in all of the universes.

From the Garbodakshayi Vishnu, then emerges Brahma who is the creator of the planetary systems.

Expansions of MahaVishnu

Maha-Vishnu is described in Vedas as plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa. Maha-Vishnu lies on Karana, or Causal ocean (thus He is also called Karanodashayi-Vishnu)). However He is never touched by matter and is always transcendental. Mistake is to consider him without qualities at all. He has transcendental qualities, but no material qualities. MahaVishnu lies on waters of Karana-Ocean and breathes, exhaling and inhaling, thus making many material universes manifest and unmanifest. When Maha-Vishnu breathes out, exhales, millions of brahmāṇḍa[[1]]s (material universes) come from pores of His transcendental body. And when Maha-Vishnu inhales, all these brahmāṇḍas disappear. Each Brahmanda has its Brahma, but MahaVishnu is primary original Creator of material universe, as they are created when He exhales. Also different Sivas destroy material worlds at the time when Maha-Vishnu inhales. Thus Shivas and Brahmas are Subordinate to Vishnu and one should always know Vishnu as object of meditation of Brahmas and Shivas. When Maha-Vishnu exhaled and material universes appeared, he comes into each material (while remaining always transcendental to matter) universe, brahmanda, and lies there as Garbhodakashayi-Vishnu. From navel of Garbhodakasayi-Vishnu appears a stem of lotus flower, it sprouts and there Brahma, first living being of material universe is born. Then Brahma meditates on Vishnu and 14 planetary systems appear in stem of lotus. Thus Brahma is secondary creator of each material universe. Garbhodakasayi-Vishnu is four-handed Vishnu lying down on Garbhodaka-ocean, but when he lies down on ocean of milk, he is called Ksirodakasayi-Vishnu. Ksirodakasayi Vishnu is Paramatma, Supersoul of every living being, situated in heart of every living being near jiva-atma soul in heart. So Ksirodakasayi-Vishnu also comes into heart of Brahma and Brahma creates planets of material universe. So, to sum up, there are two expansions of Maha-Vishnu: first is Garbhodakasayi-Vishnu and next is Ksirodakashayi-Vishnu who is Paramatma, Supersoul in heart of every living being.

See also

• Parasiva