Vishvarupa is not just a mythical figure but a profound symbolic roadmap for exploring and achieving an enlightened state of consciousness. Through meditating on its varied aspects, one embarks on a transformative journey that transcends dualistic perceptions, leading to a profound realization of the unity of reality. This deeply personal journey guides us to discover the infinite expanse within our own hearts, where true freedom and enlightenment reside.

When meditating on Vishvarupa, we envision the Self as encompassing the entire universe. This practice helps transcend the notion of a separate, individual self, inviting a state where the boundaries between self and other dissolve. In this expansive state, we become more attuned to the cosmic nature of the Self, aligning our personal consciousness with universal consciousness.

Vishvarupa is often depicted in a dark blue color, symbolizing the pure consciousness underlying the cosmos. This color serves as a gateway to perceiving the fundamental nature of consciousness. Meditating on this hue can lead to a transformative practice, steering us toward an awareness that transcends the dualities of existence and non-existence.

The representation of Vishvarupa with eyes that are the sun and the moon speaks metaphorically to the illuminating nature of consciousness. The halo of light and the cape of light he wears symbolize the primordial energy intrinsic to consciousness, encouraging meditation on the luminous quality of our own awareness, helping us recognize the energy that underlies our existence.

Each of Vishvarupa’s arms holds profound symbolic meaning: the conch shell represents the universal soul of OM, the primordial vibration from which all existence emanates; the lotus flower symbolizes the unfolding of pure consciousness within life; the mace represents the power of spiritual knowledge to overcome ignorance; and the chakra, the wheel of time, points to both the illusion of temporal existence and the potential for spiritual awakening. Meditating on these symbols can significantly facilitate our journey towards enlightenment.

Vishvarupa’s body itself is a map of the cosmos, with his legs representing the earthly and subterranean realms and his head symbolizing Brahmaloka, the abode of consciousness. This depiction guides us to see consciousness not just as a transcendent reality but also as immanently present in every aspect of the universe.

Parallelly, the Mundaka Upanishad provides a compelling narrative about enlightenment through the metaphor of the “city of Brahman,” located within the human body, specifically within the small lotus of the heart. This inner city is portrayed as an infinite palace, housing the entire universe and encompassing both tangible and intangible elements.

This small ether within the heart mirrors the vastness of the cosmos, containing the heavens and earth, fire and air, celestial bodies like the sun and moon, lightning, stars, and everything one is and could be. This makes it a repository of infinite potential and the essence of true being.

The text addresses the permanence of this inner realm, especially in the face of the physical body’s mortality and decay, clarifying that while the body ages and dies, the Brahman within—the essence or consciousness—remains unaffected. This eternal aspect of Brahman is ageless, deathless, and free from worldly suffering such as grief, hunger, or thirst, existing in a state of purity.

Those who leave this life without having realized this inner self and its true desires remain confined in all realms of existence. In contrast, those who awaken to this reality and uncover these true desires achieve liberation in all worlds. This profound understanding of Brahman, situated within the heart, constitutes enlightenment.

Echoed in the Katha Upanishad, this divine or supreme consciousness resides in the “cave of the heart” of every being, described as all-pervading and the mover of all existence. This consciousness possesses the purest power to reach all things, symbolizing its undecaying, everlasting nature.

These teachings suggest that enlightenment does not come from external acquisitions but from a deep realization of one’s innermost reality. By meditating on this pure consciousness within the heart, one awakens to enlightenment, realizing that all of existence is interconnected and resides within oneself, transcending physical dimensions. This enlightenment offers not only intellectual liberation but also freedom across all dimensions and realms of existence. Thus, meditation on the consciousness within the heart is the path to achieving enlightenment, as articulated in these ancient texts.

References:

1. The Bhagavad-Gita: Translation and Commentary by Veeraswamy Krishnaraj
2. Wikipedia
3. Mundaka Upanisad translated by Karan Singh
4. Katha Upanishad in the Eight Upanishads with commentary by Adi Shankara (aka Sankara) translated by Swami Gambhirananda.
5. Image: Vishnu as the Cosmic Man (Vishvarupa), Jaipur, Rajasthan- c. 1800-50. US Public Domain, Wikimedia
6. Upanishads and Sri Sankara’s commentary, translated by S Sitarama Sastri p. 30- 60.
7. Image: Vishwarupa, a cosmic form of Vishnu. Bhagavad Gita, ca. 1740. US public Domain via wikimedia

REFERENCE

Jung, Carl G. Symbols of Transformation. Vol. 5, Collected Works of C. G. Jung, Princeton UP, 1967.

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