Visualizing Vishnu

Abbreviations and AuthorsThe following abbreviations are used in this article. The authors of the work are noted.

1. MBTN – Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya by Sri Madhvacharya2. MBTN-BP – Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya Bhava Prakashika by Vadirajaru 3. TSS – Tantra Sara Sangraha by Sri Madhvacharya4. Brh-B – Bruhadaranyaka Upanishad Bhashya by Sri Madhvacharya5. Dvadasha Stotra – Collection of 12 stotras by Sri Madhvacharya6. BDP – Bhagavad Dhyana Prakaranam – Short work by Mantralaya Rayaru on how to visualize Vishnu7. BP – BrahmaanDa Purana

IntroductionVisualizing Vishnu is a very important part of any Japa/Dhyana. Utilizing the scripturally vouched form of Vishnu becomes very essential for a good meditation. A general procedure for visualizing is as follows

1. Each Vishnu mantra in Tantrasara sangraha has its own dhyana shloka describing the form of Vishnu to be meditated upon. It is called dhyeya rupa. This form is sometimes very different from the perceived form in the popular media. The dhyana shloka lists the arms, body color and sometimes important weapons and jewelry etc. Certain important and/or special aspects unique to that dhyeya rupa are described.

2. Elsewhere, scriptures also describe the generic nature of Vishnu with detailed characteristics of overall body, parts, jewellery, weapons etc.

3. Any dhyeya rupa should be superimposed on such generic form as applicable to get the complete form for meditation.

Hence it becomes very essential to know the generic form of Vishnu at the outset.

Vishnu's body has infinite laxanas. However only 32 important ones are noted in scripture for our benefit. Even those generic features with their corresponding details, relative sizing etc. can be pretty heavy load in the beginning. Hence it is no wonder that fixing our mind on the entire form of Vishnu with all such laxana at once is very difficult. The quagmire is resolved by meditating on one part of the Lord at a time in all its glorious details and then moving on to the next.

32 LakshanasThe 32 laxana known as dva-trimsha laxana are listed here briefly.

पं�चदी�र्घः�� पं�चसू�क्ष्मः� सूप्तरक्तः� ष्डु�न्नत� । त्रि�पं�थु�लर्घः� [हृस्व] गं�भी!र" द्वा$त्रिं�&शल्लक्षणा$त्रि+ त� ॥

The original shloka is present in Skanda Purana Kashi Kanda. It is also quoted in MBTN-BP [1.119] and in BDP. 7 categories (or style) are identified. Each of these category is expanded as follows:

Style Number Body Parts1. दी�र्घः� – Long 5 1. भी�ज – Shoulder

2. +.� - eyes3. ज$+� – knee

4. ह+� – jaw area below cheek5. +ख – nails

2. सू�क्ष्मः – Subtle/Fine/Delicate (Not coarse)

5 1. त्वक्3 - Skin2. क्. श - Hair3. अं�गं�ल! - Fingers4. दी�त – Teeth

5. अं�गं�ल! पंव� – Finger Joints

3. रक्तः – Red colored (Here Skanda Purana clarifies the red as the morning red sun)

7 1. पं$णिणातलमः – Palm of the hand

2. पं$दीतलमः – Sole (bottom portion of legs)

3. +.�$�त – Edge of the eyes

4. त$ल� – Palate (Roof of the mouth)

5. जिजह्वा$ – Tongue6. अंधर"ष्ट – Lower (and upper) lip7. +ख – Nails

4. उन्नत – Eminently lifted upward

6 1. वक्ष – Chest2. क्� णिक्ष – Stomach3. लश (?) – Front hair near the crown4. वक्तः� - Face5. स्क्� दी – Shoulders6. लल$ट – Forehead

5. पं�थु� – Wide/Broad

3 1. लल$ट - Forehead2. क्टिट – Hip/Waist3. वक्ष – Chest

6. लर्घः� / हृस्व – Small

3 1. ग्री!व - Neck2. मः.ह+ - Genital3. ज�र्घः$ – Thigh

7. गं�भी!र – Deep

3 1. स्वर – Voice2. सूत्व - Strength3. +$णिभी – Navel

TOTAL 36

Of these 32 laxanas, only around 25 open themselves up for visualization. The following cannot be visualized

1. स्वर – Voice [ गं�भी!र – Deep ]

2. सूत्व – Strength [ गं�भी!र – Deep ]

3. मः.ह+ – Genital [ लर्घः� / हृस्व – Small ] – Covered by the peetambara

4. ज�र्घः$ – Thigh [ लर्घः� / हृस्व – Small ] – Covered by the peetambara

5. त$ल� – Palate (Roof of the mouth) [ रक्तः – Red colored ]

6. जिजह्वा$ – Tongue [ रक्तः – Red colored ]

7. दी�त – Teeth [ सू�क्ष्मः – Subtle/Fine/Delicate (Not coarse) ] – We only visualize a slightly smiling Vishnu in all mantra.

Vishnu Lakshana - MeasurementsThe laxana of jnani and God in general are detailed in MBTN and MBTN-BP and Brh-B. Chapter 3 of TSS is completely dedicated to elaborating the Vishnu Pratimaa (idol) Laxana. It is amply used in our visualization. Not all statistics are used however. Just those that are useful to us in our visualization.

The following guidelines of laxana and relative dimensions of body parts are laid out in Brh. B.

Body part Length, Breadth

or Height

Measurement (in angula)

Remarks

Body Height 96 An angula is the length of the middle horizontal line on the thumb finger.

Palm (wrist to the tip of middle finger)

Length 9.5 10 such hand measurements make one's height (one angula short of 96)

Face (from chin to top edge of forehead)

Length 9.5 Length same as palm [Brh. Up. Bhashya says 9 angula. TSS clarifies as 9.5]

Forehead Breadth 3.25 30 such measurements match the height.More than 1/3 of the face length is forehead itself. This is in agreement with the "prathu lalaata" of the 32 laxana

Chest Breadth 19.25 5 such measurements match the heightFeet Length 13.75 7 such measurements match the height

Here if we take an angula = 1 inch, then the height of Vishnu becomes 8 feet. We can then scale down these figures to a 6 ft form of God. This exercise is extremely beneficial in comparing Vishnu's body with our own to arrive at several insightful visualization guidelines. Key stats from TSS are used in the following section towards this.

Height/Length and observationsThese values corresponding to height/length are from TSS. A few additional measurements are shown in the figure.

Body part 8 ft. Vishnu 6 ft. VishnuAbove forehead 2 1.5Face 9 6.75Neck 3 2.25Neck to Breast 6 4.5Breast to Navel 15 11.25Navel to genitals (There is a conflict in TSS interpretation in this area). Two views held as length to base of genitals v/s end of it (Sri Bannanje Govindacharya is of the first view as the measurement of the "vrushaNa" is given separately. This intrpretation matches the overall 96 angula height)

10.5 8

Length of genitals 4 3Genitals to Knee 18 13.5Knee length 2 1.5Knees to ankles 22 16.5Ankles to leg 4.5 3.5TOTAL 96 72

Certain key observations.

1. Calculations as per Vishnu pratima laxana in TSS does allow for आज$+�बा$हुत्व – the characteristic of tips of the

unfolded palm extending upto the knees. आज$+�बा$हुत्व is specifically attributed to Rama.

2. The दी�र्घः� भी�ज means long shoulder arms and can be seen clearly.

3. More than 1/3 of the face length is forehead itself. This is in agreement with the पं�थु� लल$ट laxana.

4. The length of the face is same as its width. Hence the face is roundish than longish. The "deergha" hanu (jaw) also contributes to this roundish face.

5. There is an additional 2 inches of height above the upper edge of forehead, in the shape of a umbrella with the tip of the head as the summit.

6. The height of the crown (त्रिक्र!ट) is generally to be maintained same as the face's length.

7. Vishnu's neck is as long as its forehead breadth.

Circumference and observationsThe stats corresponding to circumfernce of various body parts are also from TSS.

Body part 8 ft. Vishnu 6 ft. VishnuChest 48 36Midriff 42 31.5Navel 38 28.5Slightly below navel (where peetambara is worn) 39 29Waist Unknown Unknown

Key Observations :

1. Vishnu's trunk displays a roughly hour glass shape. 2. The maximum circumference is at chest – exactly half of the height – 48 angula. This combined with a wide

shoulders is quintessential laxana shown in Vishnu pratima.3. The next max circumference is at midriff – 42 angula4. The least circumference is around navel. It is quite lean – 38 angula. 5. One should however remember that these measurements are for a 8 ft. Vishnu. Corresponding measurements for

comparison with our own are in the table for a 6 ft. Vishnu. It is interesting to see that such Vishnu has o A 36 inch chest and o Amazingly thin 28.5 waist !!

6. Measurements still lower are not available in TSS. However current idols display a structure similar to shown in the figure. The widest portion of waist might be around 42 for Vishnu.

32 Laxana analysis using TSS insights The aforesaid 32 laxana are now picked for category(style)-wise analysis from the easiest to the composites. There is no point in reading through these unless one can apply these when visualizing. Additional points from elsewhere in purana, sarvamula, stotra and dasa sahitya are provided along the way.

Deep Voice - Vishnu's voice is deep. He is appropriately called मःह$स्व+� in VSN. Krishna's deep voice during

sandhaana can be recalled. It sent shivers down Duryodhana's spine.

The deep voice is also why Vishnu perhaps bears the name क्� बा�ग्री!व - the neck "conch". Neither is the neck shaped or

colored like a conch. However the conch that makes a deep sound. Such analogy seems to be aimed at bringing out the grandeur of the voice.

Seen another way: The sound of a conch is said to be of Om. Om is regarded as the primordial compact entity of entire Vedas (व्या$ख्ये.ये). It is well known that the Vedas were themselves taught by Hayagriva to Chaturmukha

Brahma. Such infinite vedas emanate all at once and all the time from his neck – so says Sri Madhvacharya in the Dvadasha Stotra –

सू�तत� चिंच&तये.त क्� ठं� ... वFक्�� ठंस्ये अंखिखल$ व.दी$� उद्गी�येIत. अंत्रि+श� येत� ॥

Deep Navel - Vishnu's navel is also considered deep. No wonder that navel hoisting the lotus (which generally has its stalk running very deep down) holding Chaturmukha in it has to be very deep!! Perhaps the name पंद्म+$भी fits well

for this laxana. Small Neck – A long or short/stout neck is not a good laxana – both quite common among humans. Vishnu's neck is

as long as its forehead breadth. Small thighs – Compared to his height and other body features, Vishnu has a shorter thigh. Red palm, bottom of the feet and nails – These three associated with hand and legs are red like a rising morning sun.

Of these features, a red palm is easily visualized in Vishnu's forms as he lifts them to hold the ayudha or during abhaya or varada hasta. In addition

o Each fingers of hands and feet have a ring on them!o Nails are shiny in addition to being reddish. There is a story that Garuda carrying Vishnu was sad that he

could not see Vishnu's face. He however got to see 10 Vishnu's faces thanks to the shiny nails in each of the 10 fingers on Vishnu's feet. On a side note, such shining and beauty cannot be obtained with the best of the nail polish

Red eye-edges and lips – These too are visualized everytime as they are right on the face. The edges of the eyes are reddish and noted by the VSN name ल"त्रिहत$क्ष.

Soft fine hair with locks and frontal hair eminently lifted upward – o Vishnu sports a soft fine hair. o Yet he has locks in the hair. These two features are not seen together among humans. o The VSN name क्. शव indicates this feature.

o The front hair underneath the crown displays an additional lakshana of being eminently lifted upward. In our world, such feature can be obtained by using hair gel and at the expense of losing locks in the soft hair.

The rest of the notable features are shown in the figure.

From here on, a detailed look at taken at various body parts of Vishnu starting from foot upwards

Paada

Vishnu's foot is red in color at its bottom. In addition to the legs (paadatalam) of Vishnu, the nails are red in color. All fingers in the feet have rings on them. The nails are shiny and red too. Right around the ankles, Vishnu wears golden anket that make beautiful sound.

In Bhagavata 3rd skanda, Kapila tells his mother

सू�चिचतये.द्भगंवतश्चरणा$रत्रिंव&दी� वज्रां$�क्� शध्वजसूर"रुहल$�छ+$ढ्यमः । ..

Kapila cites here to think of Vajra, Ankusha Dhwaja and Lotus in the legs. Thinking them destroys the sins of many lifetimes. Like Vishnu, all these lanchanas are aprakruta. Yet he makes them visible as desired as if forming a mark on the ground (in Gaya for example).

The famous Vishnu paada at Gaya is replicated on sheet metal for all of us to visualize. It has lot of lanchanas. A figure is shown. Though the Lord is aprAkRuta, he was seen (during His avatAra) by all, including evil people. Similarly, the Lord creates the prAkRuta ones in the place of aprAkRuta to be seen by all (Remember the incident of Lord Krishna having hair-cut in Mathura - He creates the prAkRuta hair then and there).

Similarly the Lord has the aprAkRuta lAnchanas and at His will and as per the yogyata of the perceiver, He creates the prAkRuta impressions. they may not all be the same and may not be visible to all. For ex, in Nanda vraja, AkrUra sees the Lord's foot prints and recognizes them as those of Lord Krishna due to the lAnchanas. Those lAnchanas probably were not seen by the evil asuras that came there with the intention of hurting Sri Krishna.

This will make sense if we understand the incident that Lord Krishna tells Kaliya that GaruDa will not harm him as Sri Krishna left "His foot prints on the hoods of KAliya".

Also, the Lord wills that these symbolic replicas to stay as long as He wills and also be visible as per the yogyata of the Jivas. The uttama devatas will probably see them very clearly and then it will go as per tAratamya.

Sri Madhvacharya describes the feet of Lord as the remover of ignorance from the heart.

हृत्तमः� शमः+.क्$�भी� श्री!पंत.� पं$दीपं�क्जमः ॥

Gulpha to Nabhi (Ankle to Navel) Vishnu wears a golden yellow colored peetambara that stretch from the waist to ankles.

There is a

1. Nabhi 2. Kati3. Nitamba4. Jangha5. Jaanu6. Peetambara7. Manjira, Kanchi odyana

Skanda 1. Skanda – vishala2. Angada3. Keyura4. Ajanubahu5. Bangles6. Fingers nails7. Hands design from Bhagava dhyana prakaranam

Kanta to Kukshi3 lines in lalata, neck and stomach

The following are unique to Vishnu

1. Srivatsa 2. Kaustubha (mani)3. Vanamala

1. Bhramara for vanamala2. Vaijayanti

3. Mauktika mala4. Stana dvaya5. Madhya bandha6. Small stomach

Face1. Hair,2. Forehead3. Eyes, stright look4. Bhrubhanga5. Bhramara to face sugandha6. Nose, cheek, jaws7. Lips8. Kirita9. Makuta10. Lalata pattika11. Chudaratna12. Makara kundala13. Karnapoora14. Karna-utpala (Water Lily) – Red or blue?

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