Polytheism in Sanatana Dharma? contd

Followers of Sanatana Dharma worship only one God (Lord Vishnu) but they worship different forms of the same God. He is also known by many names and he exists in different forms . Lord Vishnu's incarnations are worshiped by people. Everyone is free to choose the form or incarnation of their choice for worship and meditation. Paramatma, Lord Vishnu exists as the soul of all jeeva atmas. At the same time he also exists in all non-living things and he exists in a beautiful form with auspicious qualities so that it is easier for jeeva atmas to meditate on him & reach his divine feet.

Paramatma has five forms or five types of incarnations. Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Antaryami and Arcavatara are the five forms or modes of the Lord Vishnu. To explain the difference between the forms let us take the example of a person who is feeling thirsty and is in search of water.  Para form of the Lord can be compared to the waters which surround the cosmos. It is not easily reached and cannot be used to quench thirst immediately. The presence of cosmic water is beyond our imagination. This is the transcendental form of Lord Vishnu; Undifferentiated Unity. This form is absolute, unlimited and unconditioned. He is omnipresent and self-existent. It is not even possible to describe this form. He exists in his supreme abode of parama-pada. This location transcends both space and time. He has six attributes which are knowledge, energy, power, creative potency and splendour.

Vyuha is compered to the milky ocean which cannot be reached easily to quench thirst either. Paramatma emanates into four beings; Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. They are not separate from one another. They are one and the same. They are just different forms assumed by Paramatma to project, maintain & withdraw the universe. It is hard to meditate on this form as well. The cosmic creation is cyclic in  nature. The universe is projected, maintained and then withdrawn by Paramatma. The term “vyuha” means splitting and describes the division of paramatma’s six attributes into three pairs for the purpose of creation, maintenance and dissolution of the universe.

Vibhava forms are like flash floods. Floods appear suddenly and then disappears completely. The water in a flash flood is available only if the person is present at the location and at the time when floods occur. Lord Vishnu incarnates in this world due to his compassion for all creatures. He incarnates to uphold dharma, show everyone the path to liberation, to protect the righteous and to destroy wicked. The ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu – Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Nirsimha, Vamana, Parasu Rama, Rama, Balarama & Kalki are examples of vibhava avatar. Krishna incarnated during the Dwapara yuga. Only people who lived during the time period of the incarnation experienced Krishna avatara.

Antaryami is like the subsoil water It is not easy to access water that is below the soil surface. In this form he exists as the soul of all jeevatamas. He cannot be easily experienced and it is very difficult to meditate on this form.

Archa form is like the rivers, ponds, wells, lakes, etc. It is very easy to obtain water from these water bodies when one is thirsty. This is the iconic embodiment of paramatma. He exists as idols in temples. It is very easy to see this form and to meditate on this form. The idol has to be consecrated properly per all the sacred scriptures and the temple has to be constructed properly per the agamas; only then is the idol empowered with the divine presence of paramatma. His unlimited compassion for all human beings causes him to exist in the archa form. He bestows his grace on his devotees and accepts their devotion and worship. The 106 Vishnu Temples in India which are part of the 108 Divya Desams are examples of archa avataras. People can easily see Lord Vishnu at these temples and they can experience and feel his power as well as grace. It is very easy to meditate on his beautiful form at the temples. Again, everyone is free to choose the deity of their choice. They can select the form that is easy to meditate or the form that appeals to them.