Vishnu is the name of God reflecting His quality of being all-pervasive. It is beautifully elaborated by Sri Para:sara Maharshi as…

vibhava:nu prave:se:na tha:vath visinashti vishnu hu ithi
Vishnu is that which enters its vibhava and pervades

What is Vibhava?

Vibhava means sampada, i.e. God’s possessions. He possesses two entities, the non-sentient prakruthi, nature, and the sentient ji:va thatthva, innumerable souls (example: you). 

God enters His possession, ji:va (soul), and pervades everywhere. If He enters only the souls, then how does He pervade everywhere, i.e. in the non-sentient space?

Ve:da states

thade:va:nu pra:visathu thadanupravisya: sathyakchathya: bhavathu

sath – sentient (the souls)
thyath  – non-sentient (the prakruthi, nature)
anupravisya: – He enters through sath
God enters a soul who has a body (tree body, bird body, insect body, human body etc) that’s made of non-sentient substance and thus pervades everywhere.

Why does God enter souls?

God enters ji:va thatthva (innumerable souls) to activate them. Until God enters a soul, it remains a deactivated entity. The activated souls then exercise their jna:na, knowledge they possess. In general, the knowledge of a soul is under the influence of their karma, records of past actions. However, greater souls such as a:lwa:rs and a:cha:rya:s have uncontaminated jna:na and therefore God’s glory shines from within them. 

God enters souls to allow them to attain their natural ultimate state of pure jna:na (knowledge) and a:nanda (bliss).  

Self-check: Are you connecting to God within you? Do you talk to Him and let Him guide you? If not, is it time to seek support from a true a:charya, who is always in union with God?

How do the activated souls exercise their knowledge?

Each activated soul exercises its knowledge by utilising the open channels such as all the five sense organs of a human body. For example: The soul exercises its knowledge by using an eye to recognise a form. If the soul is within a body like tree, it cannot exercise its knowledge in the same way as a human being because there is no such channel. Depending on the type of the body, the utilisation and exercising of a soul’s knowledge varies. 

How does the name ‘Vishnu’ help me?

If you want to enhance your ability to spread your wings in any field of study such as academics, job,  business, politics, social service activities, spirituality etc, chanting the name of Vishnu as a manthra can help you immensely. 

Approaching the experts in a field and taking guidance is a proven way to excel in something. Now, approach the expert of experts, God Himself who is pu:rnam, complete (Viswam) in everything, including the ability to expand His horizon to the entire existence by being all-pervasive (Vishnu).

What is the manthra form of the divine name, Vishnu?

O:m vishnave: namaha

– From the discourse of HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
– 18 th June 2021, Vishnu Sahasra Nama Vaibhavam

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