Astras & abhushana - symbolic meanings

[Guest guest]

Dear all

 

here is an offering of knowledge about the astras and abhushanas of the Lord

as shown in his iconic manifestation. Each and every symbol is given a

meaning and will help to explain the divya-mangala0vigrahas to others who

enquire about them.

 

Astra-abhushana-adhyaya (Vishnu Purana 1;22)

 

Maitreya said:

Tell me in what manner Vishnu bears the whole world, abiding in his nature,

characterised by ornaments and weapons. 65

 

Parashara said:

Having offered salutation to the mighty and indescribable Vishnu, I now

recount to you what was formerly related to me by Vasishitha. 66

 

The glorious Hari wears the pure jivatman of the world, undefiled, and void

of all qualities, as the Kaustubha gem. 67

 

Material Nature (Pradhana/prakrti) is established on the Eternal One, as the

Srivatsa mark. Intellect abides in Madhava, in the form of his mace (gada).

68

 

The lord (Iswara) supports the principle-of-Individuality (Ahamkara) in its

twofold division & into elements (tamasika) and organs of sense

(sattvika) in the form of his conch-shell (Shankha) and his bow (saranga)

respectively. 69

 

In his hand Vishnu holds, in the form of his discus (sudarshana); the cosmic

mind, whose thoughts (like the weapon) fly swifter than the winds. 70

 

The necklace of the Lord called Vaijayanti-mala, composed of five precious

gems (pearl, ruby, emerald, sapphire and diamond) is the aggregate of the

five elemental forms of matter (maha-bhutas). 71

 

Janardana bears, as his numerous arrows, both the faculties of action

(karmendriyas) and of perception (jnanendriyas). 72

 

The shinning sword of Achyuta is sacred wisdom, usually concealed in the

scabbard of ignorance. 73

 

In this manner, jivatman, Material Nature, intellect,

notion-of-individuality, the elements, the senses, mind, ignorance and

wisdom, O Maitreya, are all located in the person of Hrshikesha. 74

 

Hari, in a mystical form, embodies the formless elements of the world, as

his weapons and his ornaments, for the salvation of humankind. 75

 

Pundarikaksha, the lord of all, supports Nature, with all its products, the

individual selves and all the world. 76

 

All wisdom, all ignorance, O Maitreya, all that is, all that is not, all

that is everlasting, is centred in the Destroyer-of-Madhu, the lord of all

creatures. 77

 

The supreme, eternal Hari is [the personification of] Time with its

divisions of seconds, minutes, days, months, seasons, and years. 78

 

He is [the embodiment of Space in the form of] the seven worlds, the earth,

the sky, heaven, the world of patriarchs, of sages, of saints, of truth:

whose form is all worlds; first-born before all the first-born, the

supporter of all beings, himself self-sustained. 79 ­ 80

 

He exists in manifold forms, as gods, humans, and animals etc. and is thence

the eternal sovereign Lord of all. His form is all visible things; but He

himself is without shape or form. 81

 

He is celebrated in the Rik, Yajush, Sama, and Atharva Vedas, Itihasas, the

Upavedas and the 6 divisions (angas) of the Vedas and also the Vedanta. 82

 

The Vedas and all their divisions, the Institutes of Manu and other

lawgivers; traditional scriptures, and Religious manuals (Puranas and

Kalpa-sutras etc). 83

 

The poems, and all that is said or sung; are the body of the mighty Vishnu,

assuming the form of sound. 84

 

Every kind of substances, that which is with form or without form, here or

elsewhere, are all the physical manifestation (vapu) of Vishnu. 85

 

"I am Hari. All that I behold is Janardana; cause and effect are from none

other than Him." ‹ The person who knows these truths shall never again

experience the afflictions of the cycle of birth and death. 86

 

 

Adiyen

 

Sri Ram