Verse 6

46. Aprameyo

Prameya – means basis on which we measure something.

Aa + prameya means cannot be measured, in other words, the one who cannot be defined or understood.

Thus, Aprameya means the one who cannot be measured or defined.

So, why can’t he be measured, why can’t he be defined or understood?

To understand that, we must first decide how do we define someone?

1. Pratyaksha - We can define someone based on what we have seen or perception of them. But He is Adrushya. We have never seen him. We know him from experience alone.

2. Anumana – We can define someone if we have a point of reference. For instance, if you see smoke, you could suspect that there could have been a fire, because of which there is smoke. But we do not have a point of reference with regards to him.

3. Upamana – We could use examples to define someone. You could compare to someone. For instance, if someone has not seen the Niagara falls, I could compare it with Jog falls and say, Niagara is four times as large as Jog falls. But when it comes to Him, we fall short of an example.

4. Shabdh pramana – we can define someone with written words. But how does one write about that, which we have never seen? 

Therefore, it is impossible to define Him. The Vedas however can be used as a reference. The Vedas too define Him as “Tat” – meaning ‘that which is’.

The Kathopanishad describes him as,

He is Ashabhdham (no words), adrushyam ( cannot be seen), Arasam ( cannot be tasted) Agandham ( cannot be smelt) arupam ( has no form) Avyayam ( cannot be born or die). Hence he cannot be defined or understood.

At this juncture, it might be clearer why we are not talking about Vishnu in the form that we know him. He is above the form that we have created for ourselves. He is “Tat.”

 

47. Hrishikeshah

Hrishika – Indryiyas ( our sense organs) + esha ( controller)

Hrishikanaam eshah Hrishikeshah

Is it possible to define the Lord using our senses?

Can we see him with our eyes? An observer can see the observed. But He is our Drusti – our vision. He does not exist outside our vision in order for us to observe him.

Can we grasp him with our mind? He gives consciousness to the mind. Can we isolate the mind and think about Him?

Hence it is impossible for us to define him using our Hrishikas. He is one who controls all our senses and is therefore imperceptible.

Harshayanti iti hrishikah

The indriyas are capable to give us great joy, hence our sense organs are called hrishikas. But sometimes, that joy may turn to grief.

Since He is the controller of our indriyas, when we worship him as Hrishikesha, our indriyas continue to give us joy.  

 

48. Padmanabho-

Padma means lotus and it signifies creation. When the lotus blooms, creation happens , when it withers, creation is dissolved.

Nabho – pivotal point.

The universe was created from his ‘nabhi’ – the pivotal point.

When we talk about the creation of the universe, we must also know that this universe that we inhabit is not the only one created by Him.

There are 14 universes or lokas – 6 above ours, our universe, and 7 beneath ours.

In order they are –

The realms above - Satyaloka, Tapaloka, Janaloka, Mahaloka, Svargaloka, Bhuvarloka

Our Realm -Bhuloka,

The realms below - Atalaloka, Vitalaloka, Sutalaloka, Mahatalaloka, Tatalaloka, Rasatalaloka, Patalaloka.

All these universes in totality comprises the Brahmanda – (anda meaning egg)  

The Gayathri mantra is also chanted to include the top seven realms –

Om Bhuh, Om Bhuva, Om Suvah, Om Mahah, Om Jana, Om Tapa, Om Satya Vitur Varenyam.

Science tells us that the Big Bang Theory created the universe – and it took 10^–34 seconds.

Our scriptures also describe the same. The Vedas say that a loud sound (Uthgeetha) caused the universe to be created. It is described as “Shukra Sfota” occurred and “Arka Ahasmat” meaning the seed broke and gave birth to the universe.

Just like a child is attached to its mother while in the womb and is nourished by the umbilical cord or nabhi, the lord too nourishes his creation.

Hence, he is Padmanabha, the one who is responsible for the creation.

 

49. Amaraprabhu

 This word is often mispronounced as “maraprabhuhu” which is opposite in meaning to that what is intended. So we must be careful while pronouncing this word.

Na mriyate iti amarah

Amara means the one who does not die or one who is immortal.

Prabhu means lord.

The Lord of the one who is immortal is Amaraprabhuh.

During the Samundramanthan or churning of the ocean that took place, Amrutha or nectar of immortality was one of the things that was obtained. The Lord ensured that the devatas or the deities - Varuna, Surya, Vayu etc drank the Amrutha and became Amara or immortal and were entrusted with responsibilities to govern the working of the universe.

Amaraprabhuh is the one who lords over the Amaras.

50. Vishvakarmaa

Vishvakarmaa is the architect of our universe.

If we spend some time to look around us, we realise what a beautiful creation the Lord has created all around. Everything is in perfect balance, and harmony.

The beauty of every living and non-living thing is unparalleled. In fact, the creation of the human being is so perfect that we fall short of words to praise this marvel!

The Srishti or creation is compared to a tree. Just like a tree has branches, leaves, roots, flowers etc, Vishvakarma’s creation comprises of 55 important parts –

Ekayana – One Prakruti or nature or material elements.

Dviphala – Two types of fruits – Pravrutti marga (that finds happiness in satisfaction of the self) and Nivrutti marga (tha finds happiness in surrendering to the Lord).

Trimula – Three kinds of roots – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.

Chaturasa- Four Purusharthas – Kama, Artha, Dharma and Moksha

Panchashikas – Five edges or end points – which are the five elements – earth, fire, water, ether and air.

Shadatma – Six gunas – Jnana, Aishwarya, Tejas, Shakti, Bala and Veerya.

Sapta Tvak – Seven Dhaatus – tvak (the outer layer of the skin), charma(the skin itself), mamasa (flesh), rudhira (blood), medha (fat), majja (marrow), asti(bone).

Asta jeeva – Devata, Rakshasha, Gandharva, Manava, Yaksha, Kinnara, Naga, Apsara.

Navaksha – Nine dwaras or openings in our body.

Dashapatras – Ten leaves  - 5 Jnanendriyas (sense organs – eyes, nose, ears, tongue, skin) and 5 Karmendriyas (organs of action- arms, legs, organs of reproduction, digestion and excretion)

These 55 important parts put together has created the most perfect universe! Isn’t that fascinating?

Vishvakarma – vishva (universe) + karma (actions)  He is the one who controls every single action in the universe.

 

51. Manu–

Manu is the first creation of the Lord. He is the moola purusha – our root, where we all come from. We are Manu Santana – children of Manu.

Manu also means Mind. Human beings are different than other creations of the Lord because we have a mind to think and differentiate between right and wrong.

Manana that comes from manu means to meditate. We meditate upon a ‘mantra’  which also comes from mana.

Manantrayate iti mantra – what we meditate upon in the mantra.

So Manu means the one who is the supreme thinker and has given us the ability to think and meditate.

Manvantara also comes from the word Mana – Manvantara meaning a cyclic age is a concept of time.

 

52. Tvastha –

Means to shrink in size or to reduce in size from huge to very small.

We might wonder why does the Lord need to reduce!

Tvashta means to carve. Just like a sculptor chips away at the unwanted parts of a stone and turns it into a beautiful statue or piece of art, thereby reducing it in size; the Lord also moulds his creation comprising of diverse objects, and then dissolves it into nothingness.

This also signifies the destruction or laya of the universe created by Him.

A lump of gold or a block of stone is not attractive, but when it is carved into a beautiful form then it becomes attractive.

 

53. Sthavishta-

It is the exact opposite of the above.

Sthoola (huge) + ishtha – atishayena sthoola

The one who grows and extends Himself when we need Him and manifests into diverse forms. From nothingness He creates an entire new creation.

 

54. Sthaviro  and 55. Dhruva

These two names are taken together as they represent time and space.

Sthaviro- means older than the oldest – ‘adi’ – he is ancient, eternal, ageless, and timeless. Sthavira refers to the time aspect of the Lord

Dhruva – Fixed in space – (like the Dhruva Nakshatra)- He remains fixed, stable, and unmoving. “Sthiratva Dhruva” - refers to the space aspect of the Lord.      

‘Sa Visheshanaam Sthaviro Dhruvah’ 

 

The summary of this verse is that He is ageless, timeless limitless, and immeasurable. He has the ability to reduce his creation to nothingness and then create an entirely perfect universe from nothing. He is perfect in his creation which is fascinating beyond compare!

 

Jai Shri Krishna!