[Question in Vishnu Puranam]

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Dear Shree Chandrashekaran Venkataraman,

 

Though you have requested scholars in this list regarding your doubts

in Srimath Vishnu Puranam, adiyEn attempts to answer the questions.

 

PurANams (Satvika types), not only explain the tatva-hita-purushaarthams

as told in the Veda but also talks about the history, royal-races,

kingdoms, manu's dharma and his rule and about various anushtaanams.

Therefore, these are to be considered as its main features.

I suggest reading the same Vishnu PuraNa (Parasara's words) under

the guidance of a Shree Vaishnava Aacharya to get to know the

wonderful and extraordinary concepts told in the same.

This PurANam is celebrated as "PurANa Ratnam". Let me write few

words about this as follows:

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Vishnu Puranam - An Introduction

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"Puranam" is an ancient record of incidents composed and compiled by seers

known as "Maharishis". It talks about manifold subjects like theology,

philosophy, moral science, tradition, culture, practice of various codes of

conducts, succession and history of royal races and others. It is stated in

the scriptures (like Mahabharata) that Chaturmuka Brahmaa revealed eighteen

puranas to various seers like Veda Vyasa, who then revealed to the public. All

the eighteen puranas are not taken to be authoritative. These 18 puranams are

classified into three categories namely, Satvika, Rajasa and Tamasa.

Chaturmuka Brahmaa is also a Jeevaatman like us but empowered with position

and power by Lord Vishnu. Chaturmuka Brahmaa is present in the material world

bound by his karma and subject to enjoyment and sufferings as per his karma,

he does undergo the effects due to satva, rajas and tamas gunas. His words are

reliable only during his satvika period. Only six such satvika puranas are

purport of Veda. The rest of the twelve puranas (six in rajas category and

another six in tamas category) contradict the Veda and therefore are rejected.

 

 

Vishnu Puranam is the best among the Satvika puranams. It is held as "Purana

Ratnam" meaning "Jem of Puranas". Shree Parasara Bhagavan who is the father of

Veda Vyasa composed it.

 

The Shree Vaishnava tradition holds three ratnas. They are the Stotra Ratnam

of Shree Bhagavat Yaamunaacharya, Mantra Ratnam, which is the Shreemath Dwaya

Mantra, and the Purana Ratnam, which is Vishnu Puranam.

 

In the Stotra Ratna, Shree Bhagavat Yaamunaacharya has celebrated Shree

Parasara Bhagavan for his contribution, which is Shree Vishnu Purana as

follows:

 

"Tatvena Ya: Chitachiteswara Tat Swabhaava

Bhogaapavarga Tadupaaya Gatirudaara:

Sandarsayan Niramimetha Puraana Ratnam

Tasmai Namo Munivaraaya Paraasaraaya"

 

The meaning of the above verse runs as follows: "The nature (reality) of Chit

(sentient - soul - Jeevaatman), Achit (Insentient - Matter) and Iswara Lord

Vishnu, the experiences one gets in the material world and the pleasures in

self-realization, the ultimate infinite bliss eternally in the transcendental

world Shree Vaikunta Paramapada, the means for these and the paths (Dumaadi

and Archiraadi Margas) etc have been explained clearly by Shree Parasara. This

is done by him as a merciful help to mankind with an intention of without

deviating from the Veda but in strict accordance with the Veda. I salute Shree

Parasara Bhagavan for these reason who is the peerless seer among seers.

 

Shree Vishnu Puranam elaborately and clearly explains the philosophy and

practice of the Parama Vaidika Matam which is Visistaadvaita Shree Vaishnavam.

The puranam is fully in accordance with the Veda. It clearly establishes the

Tatva (Chit, Achi & Iswara), Hita (means to attain salvation - Moksha) and the

Purushaartha (Goal - Eternal service to the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu in Shree

Vaikunta). It is unparalleled and unsurpassed in this context.

 

Shree Vishnu Puranam is in the form of dialogue between Sage Mytreya and Sage

Parasara Bhagavan. Sage Mytreya who became well versed in the Veda Saastras,

approached the preceptor Shree Parasara, who was actually blessed by Sage

Pulastya to know the reality clearly without doubt or errors. Mytreya inquired

regarding the cause of the universe with him. Parasara replied after

consulting the Veda that Lord Shree Vishnu is the cause of the universe and

explained the Visistaadvaita Shree Vaishnava philosophy and practices, which

is the only purport of the Veda.

 

The Vishnu Puranam has nearly six thousand verses in Sanskrit language. The

chapters are called as "Amsam" and the sub-chapters are called "Adyaayam". The

way in which Sage Mytreya questioned Sage Parasara and the manner in which

Sage Parasara consulted the Veda and then answered him reveals clearly the

"Satvika" nature of the Purana. It does not have personal prejudices and

therefore accepted by numerous schools of thoughts also as authority. Bhagavat

Raamaanuja, Shreeman Nigamaanta Maha Desika and Bhagavat Yaamunaacharya and

many other scholars and Aacharyas have extensively quoted from Shree Vishnu

Puranam in their works. The quotes from the same are found enormously in the

commentaries of Divya Prabandams. Vishnu puranam also deals with the

incarnations of the Lord, the nature (reality) of Goddess Lakshmi (Shree)

which is equal to that of the Lord and she being considered as Iswara Tatva,

the succession of royal races and that of Manu, Dharma etc.

 

The Brahma Sutra is taken to refer this Smruthi often to substantiate its

establishments through arguments regarding ascertaining the purport of

Vedaanta.

 

Vishnu Puranam is indeed a gem among puranams. It is a treasure house of

knowledge. The beauty with which concepts of the Veda are dealt with in this

puranam are simply extraordinary. Let us also salute Shree Parasara Bhagavan

for this wonderful contribution to the world.

 

Thanks & Regards

M.S.HARI Ramanuja Daasan.

 

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