Markandeya Viewing Krishna in the Cosmic Ocean

Anantashayana Vishnu with Lakshmi, his avatars above him, Badami monuments Karnataka

Vishnu Battles Madhu and Kaitabha, from a Markandeya Purana

Das Avataras, Ten Incarnations of Vishnu (verso), from a Kalighat album

Rama and Lakshmana Fighting Ravana, from a Dashavatara (Ten Incarnations [of Vishnu]) series

Battle between monkeys and demons, from the “Shangri” Ramayana

Battle of Ravana and Jatayu, from Chapters 50 and 51 of the Aranya Kanda (Book of the Forest) of Valmiki's Ramayana (Rama’s Journey); folio from the "Burnt" Ramayana

Hanuman with Rama and Lakshmana on his shoulders, from a Kalighat album

Enthroned Rama and Sita receive homage from their monkey and bear Allies, from the Yuddha Kanda (Book of the War) of a Ramayana (Rama’s Journey)

The Birth of Krishna, from a Sursagar of Surdas (Indian, c. 1480–1580)

A Serpent Protects Vasudeva Taking His Infant Son Krishna to Safety

Krishna Quells the Serpent Kaliya, from a Bhagavata Purana

Krishna Vanquishing the Crane-Demon Bakasura

Krishna and the Gopis Gather for Rasamandala

Radha and Krishna meet in the forest during a storm

Krishna and Satyabhama Storm the Citadel of Naraka, folio 97 from a Bhagavata Purana

Abduction of Rukmini: Krishna Tied the Hands of Rukma, from a Bhagavata Purana

Draupadi Rescued from Abduction, from a Mahabharata

Yaja and Upayaja perform a sacrifice for the emergence of Dhrishtadyumna from the fire, from Adi-parva (volume one) of the Razm-nama (Book of Wars) adapted and translated into Persian by Mir Ghiyath al-Din Ali Qazvini, known as Naqib Khan (Persian, d. 1614) from the Sanskrit Mahabharata

Ghatotkacha and three demons in his company chase Bhagadatta, from Bhishma-parva (volume six) of a Razm-nama (Book of Wars) adapted from the Sanskrit Mahabharata and translated into Persian by Mir Ghiyath al-Din Ali Qazvini, known as Naqib Khan (Persian, d. 1614)

Battle Scene at Kurukshetra from the Mahabharata War (verso), from a Kalighat album

Seven Heroes or Warriors Killing Abhimanya, Son of Arjuna

A Composite Illustration from the Razmnama - Mughal Painting 1616-17

Arjuna BattlesWith the Kauravas At Kuruksheta Bhagavad Gita

Sri Krishna preaching Gita Upadesh to Arjun - Unknown, Kashmir School - Google Cultural Institute

India 40's Print KRISHNA SHOWING HIS UNIVERSAL FORM TO ARJUNA

Vishnu Attended by Chakrapurusa and Shankhapurusa

Cosmic Form of Krishna, India, Tamil Nadu, 1400s AD, bronze - Norton Simon Museum - Pasadena, CA - DSC03731

Vishvarupa Vishnu, Kingdom of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, 6th century CE

ॐ नमो नारायणाय

Ananta Narayana

The preserver. The one who rests on the endless serpent, and descends whenever the world forgets itself.

He is the stillness beneath every storm, and the hand that returns when dharma falls.

Stone relief of Vishnu reclining on the serpent Shesha with Lakshmi, his avatars carved above him, Badami

I · Kshira Sagara

Between universes, he rests.

On the ocean of milk, Vishnu lies on the coils of Shesha, the serpent whose name means “what remains.” Lakshmi sits at his feet.

From his navel a lotus rises, and on it Brahma opens his eyes to begin creation again. Above him in this Badami relief, carved over a thousand years ago, his avatars wait their turn.

Anantashayana relief, Badami, Karnataka

Matsya, painted sculpture in a golden shrine niche

Kurma, painted sculpture in a golden shrine niche

Varaha, painted sculpture in a golden shrine niche

Narasimha, painted sculpture in a golden shrine niche

Vamana, painted sculpture in a golden shrine niche

Parashurama, painted sculpture in a golden shrine niche

Rama, painted sculpture in a golden shrine niche

Krishna, painted sculpture in a golden shrine niche

Buddha, painted sculpture in a golden shrine niche

Kalki, painted sculpture in a golden shrine niche

II · Dashavatara

१

Matsya

मत्स्य

Satya Yuga · The fish

Dasavataralu, Sri Venkateshwara temple, Guntur

III · Lila

The play of God.

Four centuries of painters, from Mewar to Basohli to the bazaars of Kalighat, kept telling his stories. Hover any painting to read its name.

Krishna

Krishna quells the serpent Kaliya (verso), from a Kalighat album

Krishna Lifts Mount Govardhan, from a Bhagavata Purana

Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhan, from a Persian translation of the Bhagavata Purana, c. 1625

Krishna’s longing for Radha, from a Gita Govinda (Song of the Cowherd) of Jayadeva

Krishna sporting with the gopis in the Jumna River, from a Bhagavata Purana

Akrura Drives Krishna and Balarama to Mathura, from the “Isarda Bhagavata Purana”

Akrura and Kritavarma flee Dvaraka, page from the "Large Basohli" Bhagavata Purana

Pradyumna and Samvara fight with maces, from the "Large Basohli Bhagavata Purana"

Rama

Hanuman spies Sita in the Ashoka Grove, from the “Shangri” Ramayana

Feast where Vishnu decides he will incarnate as King Dasharatha’s sons, from Chapters 14–15 of the "Bala Kanda" (Book of Childhood) of a Ramayana (Rama’s Journey)

Kurma Avatar by Raja Ravi Varma

Dasavataralu - Rama avatar of Lord Vishnu on Sri Venkateshwara temple, Guntur

Narayana

Sheshashayi - Laxminarayan by DHURANDHAR MV

Raja Ravi Varma, Seshanarayana (Oleographic print)

Raja Ravi Varma's painting of Lakshmi standing on a lotus — Lakshmi, Raja Ravi Varma, Ravi Varma Press

Shri

She rose from the churning of the ocean and chose him. Wherever he descends, she descends too.
यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः ।
तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम ॥

Vishnu and Lakshmi riding Garuda, c. 1750 — Vishnu and Lakshmi on Garuda, c. 1750

Kalighat painting of Gajalakshmi with elephants — Gajalakshmi, Kalighat, c. 1890

IV · Mahabharata

The field of dharma.

Two armies of one family faced each other at Kurukshetra. Arjuna asked his charioteer to drive between them. He saw his teachers and his grandsire, and he put down his bow.

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Subhadra, the half sister of Krishna, drives a chariot away from Dwarka with Arjuna and Krishna inside

Out of DwarkaSubhadra drives the chariot with Arjuna beside her.

Draupadi rescuedFrom a Mahabharata, c. 1615.

Born of fireDhrishtadyumna rises from the sacrificial flame, 1598.

Razmnama, 1616–17Akbar’s court had the epic translated into Persian and painted.

GhatotkachaBhima’s son and his demons in the Bhishma Parva.

A charioteer riding through a rocky landscape with an entourage of footmen and musicians, page from a Razm-nama (Book of Wars) adapted from the Sanskrit Mahabharata and translated into Persian by Mir Ghiyath al-Din Ali Qazvini, known as Naqib Khan (Persian, d. 1614)

The charioteerFrom the Razmnama, 1616–17.

Arjuna at KurukshetraEighteen days of war, foretold and unavoidable.

The fieldKalighat, c. 1890.

AbhimanyuSeven warriors surround Arjuna’s son.

The epicIllustration, c. 1800.

God holds the reinsThe man holds the bow.

The number eighteen

18parvas, the books of the Mahabharata

18days of war at Kurukshetra

18akshauhinis in the field, eleven against seven

18chapters of the Gita, spoken before the first arrow

V · Vishvarupa Darshana · Gita, chapter 11

मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो ।
योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं दर्शयात्मानमव्ययम् ॥“If you think I can bear the sight, Lord of yoga, then show me your imperishable self.”ARJUNA · 11.4

न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा ।
दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् ॥“You cannot see me with these eyes of yours. I give you divine sight. Behold my sovereign power.”KRISHNA · 11.8

दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता ।
यदि भाः सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मनः ॥“If a thousand suns rose at once in the sky, their light might resemble the splendour of that great being.”SANJAYA · 11.12

तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा ।
अपश्यद्देवदेवस्य शरीरे पाण्डवस्तदा ॥“There, in the body of the God of gods, Arjuna saw the whole universe gathered in one place, divided in countless ways.”SANJAYA · 11.13

अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं पश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम् ।
नान्तं न मध्यं न पुनस्तवादिं पश्यामि विश्वेश्वर विश्वरूप ॥“Arms, bellies, mouths and eyes without number. I see no end of you, no middle, no beginning, Lord of all, whose form is everything.”ARJUNA · 11.16

अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्यमनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम् ।
पश्यामि त्वां दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रं स्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम् ॥“Without beginning, middle or end, of infinite power and countless arms, the moon and the sun your eyes, your mouth a blazing fire, you burn this whole universe with your radiance.”ARJUNA · 11.19

द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः ।“The space between heaven and earth, and every direction, is filled by you alone.”ARJUNA · 11.20

वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्ति दंष्ट्राकरालानि भयानकानि ।
केचिद्विलग्ना दशनान्तरेषु सन्दृश्यन्ते चूर्णितैरुत्तमाङ्गैः ॥“They rush into your terrible mouths with their fearsome tusks. Some are seen caught between your teeth, their heads crushed.”ARJUNA · 11.27

यथा नदीनां बहवोऽम्बुवेगाः समुद्रमेवाभिमुखा द्रवन्ति ।“As the many torrents of rivers race toward the ocean, as moths fly into a blazing fire, so the worlds rush into your flaming mouths.”ARJUNA · 11.28–29

कालोऽस्मिI am Time.“Mighty, the destroyer of worlds, come forth to gather in the peoples.”KRISHNA · 11.32

नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व ।
अनन्तवीर्यामितविक्रमस्त्वं सर्वं समाप्नोषि ततोऽसि सर्वः ॥“Salutations to you before, and behind, and on every side, O All. Infinite in power, boundless in might, you pervade everything; you are everything.”ARJUNA · 11.40

किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्तमिच्छामि त्वां द्रष्टुमहं तथैव ।
तेनैव रूपेण चतुर्भुजेन सहस्रबाहो भव विश्वमूर्ते ॥“I long to see you as before, crowned, with mace and discus in hand. Take again your four-armed form, thousand-armed one, whose body is the universe.”ARJUNA · 11.46

दृष्ट्वेदं मानुषं रूपं तव सौम्यं जनार्दन ।
इदानीमस्मि संवृत्तः सचेताः प्रकृतिं गतः ॥“Seeing this gentle human form of yours again, Janardana, I am myself once more.”ARJUNA · 11.51

Darshan

Stand where Arjuna stood.

Step onto the chariot at Kurukshetra and speak to Krishna in your own words, in English or Hindi. He answers from the Gita, chapter and verse, and if you ask, He will show you His universal form.

VI · Srimad Bhagavad Gita

The song of the Lord.

Seven hundred verses in eighteen chapters, sung in the Bhishma Parva. Sanjaya relays it to the blind king Dhritarashtra. Each chapter is a yoga, a way of joining.

Kashmir school painting of Krishna teaching the Gita to Arjuna — Sri Krishna teaching the Gita to Arjuna, Kashmir school

Verse for today

VII · Japa

One hundred and eight.

ॐ नमो नारायणाय, the eight-syllable mantra of Narayana. A mala has 108 beads and a guru bead, the meru, which is never crossed. Tap for each repetition, or press the space bar.

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