The Portrait of Vishnu

In my room, I have a portrait of the Hindu God Vishnu. I was eager to understand its significance. Initially, I thought it was merely an object of devotion, belief, and tradition. However, as I delved into Hindu and Eastern philosophies, I realized that this image embodies those very ideas. It serves as an emblem: a symbolic representation that encapsulates a philosophical concept, akin to the Ouroboros—a serpent consuming its own tail. Such emblems abound in Hindu tradition, yet many remain unaware of their meanings. Comprehending the true essence behind these symbols and emblems can fill our hearts with gratitude, a sense of emptiness, and respect, leading us to naturally revere that indescribable, unknown, holy, and eternal entity. There's no need for pretense; this reverence will spontaneously arise from the heart once the symbolism is understood.

What does this picture represent? Let's examine the elements one by one. The central figure is Vishnu, also known as Hari (a word I adore, meaning 'one who captivates'). Beside Vishnu's feet sits Goddess Lakshmi, massaging them with devotion. Then there's Brahma, depicted sitting on a lotus that emerges from Vishnu's navel. Lastly, there's Sheshnaag, the multi-headed serpent, coiled and resting, with the Ocean or Kshira Sagara (क्षीरसागर) in the background. One might wonder if this image represents the Hindu God Vishnu for the purpose of worship. If so, why not just Vishnu's image? Why include Lakshmi and Brahma? And why omit other Hindu gods like Shiva? It appears the artist intended to convey more than just a symbol for worship..

Before exploring the ideas this image may represent, it's beneficial to understand some aspects of Hindu philosophy. Hindu or Eastern philosophy differs from Western thought in that it focuses more on the internal rather than the external; it concerns itself with what's happening within our minds rather than what our senses perceive externally. In fact, the mind is considered an essential sense in Hindu philosophy, alongside others like sight, touch, and hearing. For example, India is known as the spiritual capital of the world because the focus is on the inner workings of the mind, whereas Western countries are often associated with science, new technologies, and gadgets, reflecting an outward curiosity. One seeks to understand the universe by looking inward, and the other by looking outward. In Hindu philosophy, Prakriti and Brahman (distinct from Brahma) represent two fundamental principles essential to understanding the universe. Prakriti is the primordial matter or material energy that forms the basis of the physical world. It is dynamic, constantly changing, and characterized by three qualities or gunas: Sattva (knowledge), Rajas (desire), and Tamas (ignorance, destructive tendencies). Prakriti is inert and requires the presence of consciousness, often termed Purusha in Samkhya philosophy, to activate it. The interplay between Prakriti and Purusha leads to the manifestation of the material universe. Conversely, Brahman is the absolute reality, eternal, infinite, and immutable, that underlies and permeates all things. It is formless and without attributes (nirguna), the origin, sustainer, and ultimate destination of all existence.

So, from these ideas, if one looks at that picture, what do we find? What does Lakshmi represent here? In Hindu philosophy, Prakriti is given feminine characteristics, and hence Lakshmi represents one form of Prakriti, the easiest one to decipher from this picture.

What about Vishnu, the central figure? What does he represent? Is he Purusha or Brahman? Remember, Brahman is eternal and infinite, so looking at this, what do you see as eternal, infinite, formless, etc.? It is the Ocean, or Kshir Sagar, right? So, Brahman is represented here by the Ocean. Hence, Vishnu represents consciousness or Purusha.

So, who is Vishnu? Put simply, Vishnu represents us! Because we are essentially consciousness. What does the serpent represent here? The serpent represents the source of energy or the power of Vishnu. And finally, what does Brahma represent? Whenever Vishnu opens his eyes, he sees Brahma, so Brahma represents the materialistic universe, the one we perceive through our senses. Hence, Brahma represents the external form of nature, while Lakshmi represents a different form of Prakriti!

Why are there two forms of Prakriti here? This question used to puzzle me! Because Prakriti is one, right? So, what is the difference you observe between Lakshmi and Brahma, considering Vishnu as the central figure? It seems that Lakshmi is closer to Vishnu than Brahma. In fact, Lakshmi sits on the same coil of the serpent bed with Vishnu. So, what does this mean?

Lakshmi represents Prakriti inside the mind, i.e., internal Prakriti, while Brahma represents external Prakriti. This means that there is a form of Prakriti in everyone’s mind. This internal form of Prakriti is more dominant and potent than the external form because one can choose to close their eyes (senses), and the external form of Prakriti will disappear.

Both forms of Prakriti try to control Purusha by entangling him in different bonds. In fact, in a normal being, the cause of any action is due to Prakriti itself. It’s like a game of string puppetry—just like a puppeteer manipulates the strings to create movement, Prakriti uses the Gunas to influence our thoughts, emotions, and actions.

People are influenced by the three gunas. For instance, Rajas is linked with desire and pleasure. Many people act with the hope of deriving some pleasure. When the anticipated pleasure is not attained, they become angry and act under the influence of Tamas. The underlying cause of these actions is actually Prakriti, which binds with these strings. Thus, the individuals themselves are not the doers; the real agent is Prakriti. Then what about Sattva? Isn't it considered the highest among the three gunas? We often hear that living in a Sattvic manner is the best. However, it is not the best. Being Sattvic is not the ultimate way to live life, as it is also a string, just like the other two, used by Prakriti. It is crucial to understand that these three gunas are aspects of Prakriti, not Purusha or consciousness. The Sattvic lifestyle you mention is influenced by others or Prakriti itself, so being Sattvic is not beneficial. It means you are not free but still bound by that string. It is essential to first distinguish consciousness, our true self, from these three gunas to see the clear picture.

In stark contrast to a normal human being, Vishnu in this depiction is quite unique. The most important form of Prakriti is shown sitting at his feet, massaging them, which signifies that Vishnu is not governed by Prakriti; rather, Prakriti is subservient to Vishnu. Meanwhile, for the other form of Prakriti, i.e., Brahma, Vishnu appears to be merely observing and reveling in a state of complete bliss. Thus, Vishnu is portrayed as a liberated entity, resting on a bed of coiled serpents within an infinite ocean. What does this signify? The ocean represents the Brahman, as previously agreed upon. However, the state in which Vishnu is depicted suggests that he is a part of that Brahman, and thus, he is Brahman himself! It implies that due to Vishnu's proximity to the Brahman, he becomes part of that eternal, infinite, formless ocean, which we refer to as Brahman.

Ultimately, what is the significance of this? Why should one aspire to be like Vishnu? What does one gain by becoming so attuned to the ultimate truth of Brahman that they become a part of it? The rewards of such a state cannot be articulated, only experienced. To understand what I am receiving, one must first experience that state. How can I be certain that this state will bring only joy and bliss, not pain and suffering? Observing Vishnu, does he appear to be in discomfort or pain? No. But how can I trust what is depicted in this image? Perhaps the artist created it merely for financial gain. Ah, "belief" once more! The same old narrative based on what others have said. You must believe in something first, then you will witness the results. These are the cunning arguments presented by our mind, the internal Prakriti we discussed. One must first cease to heed that mind which we trust above all else. Here, no one is advocating for blind faith. It's akin to being a scientist. You are familiar with the theory; now it's time to test that theory through experimentation. Conduct some experiments and see if you can discern the real truth amidst the prevalent lies, dogmas, and beliefs. In other words, experiment and see if you can sense a part of that ultimate and eternal Brahman in the surrounding Prakriti and, most importantly, within yourself.