The Breathing of Mahā-Viṣṇu - How All the Universes are Manifested
When human beings look up at the stars, they often feel insignificant. Yet, modern science's understanding of the cosmos is severely limited compared to the profound revelations of the Vedic scriptures. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the visible sky is just the ceiling of one single universe. In truth, there are millions of universes, and their creation and destruction are managed effortlessly by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By understanding how all the universes are manifested, we can begin to appreciate the supreme, inconceivable opulence of the Lord.
Exhalation of Mahā-Viṣṇu
The creation of the cosmos does not require a chaotic "Big Bang" or tedious mechanical engineering. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that beyond the physical universe lies the Causal Ocean. Here, the Supreme Lord expands as Mahā-Viṣṇu. In His mystic slumber, He simply breathes. As He exhales, millions of universes emanate from His pores, and as He inhales, they are all drawn back into His body and annihilated.
- When it is necessary to create the material universe, Visnu expands Himself as the Maha-Visnu. This Maha-Visnu lies down on the Causal Ocean and breathes all the universes from His nostrils.
- It is stated that from the skin pores of the Maha-Visnu, all the universes are emanating. In each universe there is a Brahma, a supervisor, who is the supreme creature and manager. These managers live only as long as the Maha-Visnu exhales.
- When He exhales, all the universes are created, and when He inhales, they all return into His body. In this way so many universes and Brahmas are coming and going.
- Beyond the material sky, further than we can see with our eyes and beyond the sevenfold coverings of the universe, there is the Causal Ocean in which all the universes are floating like footballs.
Internal Management of the Universe
Once the universes are exhaled into the Causal Ocean, the Lord does not leave them empty. Śrīla Prabhupāda details the profound science of the puruṣa-avatāras. From Mahā-Viṣṇu, the Lord expands as Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, who personally enters into each and every universe to maintain it and generate Lord Brahmā, the secondary creator.
- Maha-Visnu is the first incarnation in the creation, and from Him all the universes are generated and all material manifestations are produced, one after another.
- The Lord, through His plenary portion, enters into each and every universe to create the material manifestation. He also enters into each and every heart in all living entities and into each and every atom also.
- The second (plenary expansion of Lord Krsna), Garbhodakasayi Visnu, enters into all the universes to create diversities in each of them.
- Sri Advaita Acarya is the creator of millions and millions of universes, and by His expansions (as Garbhodakasayi Visnu) He maintains each and every universe.
The All-Pervading Supersoul
The management of the cosmos becomes even more intimate. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu comes the third expansion, Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. This form of the Lord acts as the Paramātmā, or Supersoul. He diffuses Himself throughout the universe, entering into the heart of every living entity and even into the core of every atom, ensuring that the Lord is the ultimate support of everything.
- He (Ksirodakasayi Visnu) is the second incarnation from Karanodakasayi Visnu, who is the origin of material creation and who expands as Garbhodakasayi Visnu, who then enters into each and every universe.
- The third (plenary expansion of Lord Krsna), Ksirodakasayi Visnu, is diffused as the all-pervading Supersoul in all the universes and is known as Paramatma, who is present even within the atoms.
- Ksirodakasayi Visnu is the Supersoul of all living entities and the maintainer of all the universes. Sesa Naga is His further subpart - CC Adi 1.11.
- Although the Lord is the shelter of everything and although all the universes rest in Him, He, as the Supersoul, is also the support of everything.
Universes Within Kṛṣṇa's Mouth
Despite the staggering magnitude of these cosmic expansions, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, remains playfully situated in Vṛndāvana. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights a beautiful pastime: when Mother Yaśodā asked Kṛṣṇa to open His mouth to see if He had eaten dirt, the Lord casually displayed the entirety of the cosmic manifestation resting within Him.
- In His childhood Krsna played just like an ordinary child, but when His mother, Yasoda, wanted Him to open His mouth so that she could see whether He had eaten dirt, within His mouth He showed her all the universes. This is Krsna.
- Krsna, by and by, opened His mouth, wherein the mother found all the universes situated. Seeing this, she was doubtful in her mind, but she was convinced in a different manner of the mystic nature of her son.
- Thus she (mother Yasoda) became fatigued (after trying to tie up Krsna), but in the meantime the Lord opened His mouth, and the affectionate mother saw within the mouth of her son all the universes situated together.
- Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura cites the example of mother Yasoda's seeing the whole cosmic manifestation within the mouth of Lord Krsna. By the grace of Lord Krsna, mother Yasoda saw all the universes and planets within the mouth of Krsna.
Conclusion
The vastness of the material creation is designed to inspire awe and reverence in the conditioned soul. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches us the ultimate secret: all the universes combined constitute only one fourth of the Lord's energy. By practicing pure devotional service, we can transcend this temporary, breathing cosmos of Mahā-Viṣṇu and enter the eternal spiritual sky to associate directly with the supreme proprietor, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category All The Universes. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.