The four symbols in lord Vishnu’s hands are actually meant for those human beings who are changing into divine beings now. By making efforts to be pure in thoughts, words and actions, we can overcome all forms of vices and accumulate good karma for future births in the new world. By Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji
According to Hindu scriptures, lord Vishnu is is one of the most revered lords in the Hindu pantheon and, along with Brahma and Mahesh, he is considered a member of the holy trinity of Hinduism that is known as Trimurti. Vishnu means the giver and provider of things, and that is why he is known as preserver and upholder of Dharma. There are many tales associated with lord Vishnu.
Some believe that in order to preserve the world, he incarnates in various avatars. He is said to have manifested in 10 incarnations which are popularly known as Dashavatar. However, of all those avatars, he is most popularly remembered as lord Narayan, lord Krishna and lord Rama. The four-armed Vishnu signifies the combined form of Shri lakshmi and Shri Narayan —the empress and emperor of the Golden Age or Satyuga. They represent perfection and complete purity in human form, they are perfect images of divinity or godliness in human form.
Similarly, the four arms signify the household path in which both man and woman live a life of purity and harmony. In his hands, the lord carries a lotus, conch, a mace and discus. He was shown standing or lying on a thousand-headed snake which is known as Shesha Nag floating on cosmic waters that represent the peaceful universe. This pose symbolises the calm and patience in the face of fear and worries represented by the poisonous snake. The four alankars in the four arms of Vishnu also connote purity in life. lotus signifies purity in actions as it grows in a marsh but stays above it — pristine and pure. Conch signifies sweetness and wisdom in words. Discus or the sudarshan chakra stands for self-realisation by churning the knowledge of the soul’s eternity and its journey through the cycle of time. Finally, the mace represents spiritual knowledge which has to be used to defend the self from maya, that is the vices and negativities.
Actually speaking, these symbols are to be used by human beings at the present time when the Supreme Almighty is transforming humans into deities or divine beings. He is changing our character and sanskars by imparting true spiritual wisdom and by making us belong to HIM and remembering HIM with love. By having yoga or communion with HIM, we can burn our impurities and become pure souls.
Hindu scriptures describe perfection in human form in these words for the deities — completely virtuous, 100 per cent perfect, completely viceless, those who follow the highest code of conduct and their highest religion is non-violence. At present, the Supreme Almighty is guiding us by giving us the elevated directions (shrimat) for day-to-day conduct in order to become deities. The four symbols in lord Vishnu’s hands are actually meant for those human beings who are changing into divine beings now. By making effort to be pure in thoughts, words and actions, we can overcome all forms of vices and accumulate good karma for future births in the new world. Thus Vishnu represents the perfect creation of God and the aim and objective of a human soul’s evolution.
