Vishvarupa

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Vishvarupa (disambiguation).

Arjuna bows to the Vishvarupa of Vishnu-Krishna.

Vishvarupa (

iconographical form and theophany of a Hindu deity, most commonly associated with Vishnu in contemporary Hinduism. Though there are multiple Vishvarupa theophanies, the most celebrated is in the Bhagavad Gita, given by Krishna in the epic Mahabharata, which was told to Pandava prince Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra in the war between the Pandavas and Kauravas. Vishvarupa is considered the supreme form of Vishnu, where the whole universe is described as contained within him.[2]

Literary descriptions

Early Visnu Visvarupa: Vishnu as three-headed cosmic creator, showing Vishnu with a human head, flanked by his avatars (the head of a lion for Narasimha, the muzzle of a boar for Varaha), with a multitude of beings on his aureole, symbol of the emanations resulting from his creative power. 5th century CE, Art of Mathura[3]

Bhagavad Gita

In the

Kauravas, with Krishna as Arjuna's charioteer. Faced with the moral dilemma of whether or not to fight against and kill his own family, Arjuna has a crisis of conscience. To appease him, Krishna discourses with Arjuna about life and death as well as dharma (duty) and yoga in form of the Bhagavad Gita. In chapters 10 and 11, Krishna reveals himself as the Supreme Being and finally displays his Vishvarupa to Arjuna. Arjuna experiences the vision of the Vishvarupa with divine vision endowed to him by Krishna. Vishvarupa's appearance is described by Arjuna, as he witnesses it.[4][5]

Vishvarupa has innumerable forms, eyes, faces, mouths and arms. All creatures of the universe are part of him. He is the infinite universe, without a beginning or an end. He contains peaceful as well as wrathful forms. Unable to bear the scale of the sight and gripped with fear, Arjuna requests Krishna to return to his four-armed Vishnu form, which he can bear to see.[4][5][6] Fully encouraged by the teachings and darshan of Krishna in his full form, Arjuna continues the Mahabharata War.[5][7]

Mahabharata

Vishvarupa Vishnu, Kingdom of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, 6th century CE

There are two more descriptions in the Mahabharata, where Krishna or Vishnu-

Dikapalas), sages and tribes (especially those opposing the Kauravas, including the Pandavas) are seen in his body. This form is described as terrible and only people blessed with divine vision could withstand the sight.[8]

The other theophany of Vishnu (Narayana) is revealed to the divine sage Narada. The theophany is called Vishvamurti. The god has a thousand eyes, a hundred heads, a thousand feet, a thousand bellies, a thousand arms and several mouths. He holds weapons as well as attributes of an ascetic like sacrificial fire, a staff, a kamandalu (water pot).[9]

Another theophany in the Mahabharata is of a

Vaishnava (related to Vishnu or Krishna) form. It misses the multiple body parts of Vishvarupa, but conveys the vastness and cosmic nature of the deity. His head covers the sky. His two feet cover all ground. His two arms encompass the horizontal space. His belly occupies the reattaining space in the universe.[9]

Other texts

Vishvarupa is also stated as the Harivamsa, as Vishnu's consisting form of all gods. During a Devasura war, he took this form and slew the demons (inclubing Taraka and Maya).[10]

Vishvarupa is also used in the context of Vishnu's "dwarf" avatar,

Gandharvas, Apsaras; Vedic scriptures and sacrifices are contained in his body. With two of his strides, he gains heaven and Earth and places the third on Bali's head, who accepts his mastership. Bali is then pushed to the realm of Patala (underworld).[11]

Development

The name Viśvarūpa (

Atharva Veda uses the word with a different connotation – a bride is blessed to be vishvarupa (all-formed) - to be showered with glory and offspring.[13]

Then, Vishvarupa is revealed in the Bhagavad Gita (2nd century BCE) and then the Puranas (1000 BCE – 500 CE) in connection to Vishnu-Krishna. however these literary sources do not detail the iconography of Vishvarupa.[15] The Bhagavad Gita may be inspired by the description of Purusha as thousand-headed, thousand-eyed and thousand-footed or a cosmic Vishnu ("creator of the universe").[16]

Vishvarupa is mentioned as Vishnu's avatar in

Pañcaratra texts like the Satvata Samhita and the Ahirbudhnya Samhita (which mention 39 avatars) as well as the Vishnudharmottara Purana, that mentions 14 avatars.[17]

Vishvarupa is also interpreted as "the story of evolution", as the individual evolves in this world doing more and more with time. The Vishvarupa is a cosmic representation of gods and goddesses, sages and asuras, good and the bad as we perceive in our own particular perspective of existence in this world.[18]

Iconography

Changu Narayan temple Vishvarupa
Vishvarupa with many heads, arms and legs, c.1740, Bilaspur

Early depictions

The literary sources mentions that Vishvarupa has "multiple" or "thousand/hundred" (numeric equivalent of conveying infinite in literary sources) heads and arms, but do not give a specific number of body parts that can be depicted.

Buddha were displayed in the latter format. An icon, discovered in Parel, Mumbai dated to c. 600, has seven figures all appearing interlinked to each other. Though the icon mirrors the Vishvarupa of Vishnu, it is actually a rare image of the Vishvarupa of Shiva.[21]

Vishvarupa becomes crystallized as an icon in the early Vishnu cult by the time of

Shamalaji, Gujarat dated sixth century have three visible animal heads and eight arms, with a band of beings emanating from the upper part of the deity forming an aureole. Unlike other icons which are in standing position, the Shamalaji icons are in a crouching position, as though giving birth and is similar to icons of birth-giving mother goddesses in posture. The posture may convey the idea that he is giving birth to the beings radiating from him, though none of them are near his lower area.[24]

Scriptural iconographic descriptions

c.1900s Vishvarupa lithograph
Vishvarupa with the three realms: heaven (head to belly), earth (groin), underworld (legs), c. 1800-50, Jaipur

The Vishnudharmottara Purana prescribes that Vishvarupa have four arms and should have as many as arms that can be possibly depicted.[25] A 12th-century sculpture of Vishvarupa from Rajasthan shows a fourteen-armed Vishnu riding his mount Garuda. The image has three visible human heads, unlike the early sculptures which include animal ones.[26] Some iconographic treatises prescribe a fourth demonic head at the back, however this is generally not depicted in iconography.[26]

Another iconography prescribes that Vishvarupa be depicted with four faces: male (front, east), lion/Narasimha (south), boar/Varaha (north) and woman (back/west). He should ride his Garuda. He has twenty arms: a left and right arm outstretched in pataka-hasta and another pair in yoga-mudra pose. The other fourteen hold hala (plough), shankha (conch),

akshamala (rosary). A hand is held in varada mudra (boon-giving gesture).[27]

In the

satyaloka, abode of Brahma.[28]

Depictions in Nepal

Part of a series on
Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
Other forms
Consorts
Related
Holy scriptures
Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions

The artistic imagination of Hindu artists of Nepal has created iconic Vishvarupa images, expressing "sacred terror", as expressed by Arjuna. Vishvarupa has twenty heads arranged in tiers. They include Vishnu's animal avatars

Buddha. His two main hands hold the sun and the moon. He has ten visible legs and three concentric rings of hands accounting to 58. Other artistic representations of Vishvarupa in Nepal have varying number of heads, hands and legs and some have even attributes of Mahakala and Bhairava, such as flaying knife and skull bowl. Other attributes shown are arrows, bows, bell, vajra, sword with shield, umbrella and canopy. Another terrifying feature is a face on the belly that gorges a human being.[29]

Modern depictions

In modern calendar art, Vishvarupa is depicted having many heads, each a different aspect of the divine. Some of the heads breathe fire indicating destructive aspects of God. Many deities are seen on his various body parts. His many hands hold various weapons. Often Arjuna features in this scene bowing to Vishvarupa.[30] Jyotisar, where Krishna revealed the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, has a 40 feet (12 m) tall statue of Krishna in viratswaroop (vishvarupa) made of ashtadhatu (eight metals).[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ wisdomlib.org (29 June 2012). "Vishvarupa, Viśvarūpā, Visvarupa, Viśvarūpa, Vishva-rupa: 25 definitions". wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  2. ^ wisdomlib.org (8 May 2020). "Verse 11.16 [Bhagavad-gita]". wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  3. doi:10.3406/arasi.1997.1401
    .
  4. ^ a b Howard pp. 58–60
  5. ^
    ISBN 9781418475024
    . Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  6. ^ Srinivasan pp. 20–1
  7. ISBN 9788174784179
    . Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  8. ^ Srinivasan p. 135
  9. ^ a b Srinivasan p. 136
  10. ^ "harivamsham 40". mahabharata-resources.org. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  11. ISBN 978-0-7914-0800-1
    . Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  12. ^ Howard p. 57
  13. ^ a b Srinivasan p. 6
  14. ^ Srinivasan pp. 27, 37, 131
  15. ^ Howard p. 60
  16. ^ Srinivasan pp. 20-1, 134
  17. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6
    .
  18. ISBN 978-1-4502-2449-9
    . Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  19. S2CID 227240912
    .
  20. ^ Srinivasan p. 137
  21. ^ a b Howard p. 63
  22. ^ Howard pp. 60-1
  23. ^ Srinivasan p. 138
  24. ^ Srinivasan pp. 138-40
  25. ^ Srinivasan p. 140
  26. ^
    ISBN 978-0-520-06477-5
    . Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  27. ^ Rao, T.A. Gopinatha (1916). Elements of Hindu Iconography. Vol. 1: Part I. Madras: Law Printing House. p. 258.
  28. ^ Motilal Bansaridas Publishers Bhagavata Purana, Book 1 Skandha II 156-157
  29. ISBN 9781932476088
    . Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  30. ISBN 978-81-89975-67-8. Retrieved 10 December 2012.[permanent dead link
    ]
  31. ^ Work to install Lord Krishna’s statue begins, The Tribune, 15 June 2021.

Sources

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vishvarupa&oldid=1219485967"