After the Mahabharata war is over, Lord Shri Krishna took Yuddhishthira or Dharmaraja to Bhishma who was on the bed of arrows, and requested him (Bhishma) to give discourse on righteousness or dharma to Yuddhishthira. The teachings imparted to Yuddhishthira by Bhishma is documented as thousand names of Lord (God)—Vishnu Sahasranama—in the form of hymn at the end of Anushawsana Parva of Mahabharata by Sage Shri Veda Vyasa.

It is a gift to the mankind by Sage Veda Vyasa, an incarnation of Lord himself.

Each name in Vishnu Sahasranama depicts innumerable virtues or divine qualities of the God or Brahman. Among one thousand names of the lord, ‘Vishnu and Vasudeva’ appears thrice. Actually, Vishnu and Vasudeva are synonyms.

The Vishnu Sukta of Rigveda says – ‘Vishnu occupies the entire universe or multiverse. Because of his power, everything in his creation is sustained and kept in order. He is the power of intelligence behind the orderliness.’

On the other hand, the name Vasudeva has more of a historical and puranic significance and is more popularly used in meditation and bhakti tradition.

We can understand the word ‘Vasudeva’ as v+asu+deva.

• ‘V’ is knowledge. ‘Asu’ is prana or one who inspires.
• ‘Deva’ is bright being who is sportful.

So, ‘Vasudeva’ is the one who is omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent. For him, the creation, sustenance and regulation of the universe is just a play or sport. Enlightenment and liberation, ignorance and bondage are in his wishful play.

Vasudeva can be understood in another way –

• ‘Va’ as all pervasive and all knowing.
• ‘Su’ is the creator of all and everything.
• ‘De’ is one who grants everything auspicious.
• ‘Ava’ is one who protects those who meditates on him.

So, Vasudeva means the treasure of illumination, the power of knowledge which enlightens and liberates.

Vasudeva = vasu + deva.  God or Supreme Brahman, who hides himself in the innermost core of beings. When through sadhana one crosses the fifteen enclosures¹ and realizes one’s essential nature (jiva swarupa), then the lord reveals himself as Supreme Brahman called Vasudeva.

When through meditation, one transcends awareness from gross Annamaya, Pranamaya, Manomaya and Vijnanamaya koshas or sheaths, then the Lord Vasudeva reveals Himself as Spiritual Bliss as He is the infinite source of knowledge, bliss and power.

Ordinarily human beings experience waking, dreaming and sleeping states. Everyone experiences these states without any effort, and these states are governed by Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha form of Supreme Brahman. Beyond these three ordinary states of awareness, there is another higher and enlightened state which can be attained through meditation, called turiya and is governed by Vasudeva!

Om tat sat.

Editor’s Note:

¹ 16 enclosures are:

• 5 Karmendriyas (ear, eyes, nose mouth and hand)
• 5 jnanendriyas (sound, form, smell, taste and touch)
• 11) manas (mind)
• 12) buddhi (intellect)
• 13) ahankara (ego)
• 14) chitta (memory)
• 15) nama (name (or) identification)
• 16) chetana or individual self

² Narayana, Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Aniruddha and Pradyumna are the forms of Supreme Brahman by which he regulates his creation through pancha pranas- prana, apana, vyana, samana and udana. Reference: Commentaries on Upanishads and Tantra saara sangraha by Shri Madhwacharya, a great proponent of “Tatwavaada philosophy (the information is not exhaustive)

About the Author:

Raghavendra Adiga is a mantra initiator within the Himalayan Tradition and a member of AHYMSIN Spiritual Committee. He is also the center leader of AHYMSIN affiliated center in Tumkur, Karnataka, India.