| Visnu Sahasra-Nama |
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VISNU SAHASRA-NAMA-II |
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| In Godhead, the male and the female principles are complementary aspects. If God is usually referred to as the Male
(Purusa), it is only in the sense similar to that in which the expression 'man' is employed to signify mankind including 'woman'. God's female aspect is His Sakti (Power). Without Sakti, He cannot fulfil His cosmic functions. Sri Sankara says in the opening verse of the
Saundaryalahari: "Siva is able to create only when He is united with Sakti; if not thus, the God cannot even move." Sivah saktya yukto yadi bhavati saktah prabhavitum na ced-evam devo na khalu kusalah spanditum api There are three principal functions in regard to the world - its creation, preservation, and dissolution. The Godhead which is Trimurti is called Brahma in its aspect as Creator, Visnu in its aspect as preserver, and Siva in its aspect as Dissolver. The three aspects of Sakti, respectively are Sarasvati, Laksmi and Parvati. As has been shown already in the case of Visnu and Siva so also there is no absolute distinction between any two of these aspects. Thus it ought not to confuse us when Visnu is identified with Brahma and Siva, or when Laksmi is identified with Sarasvati and Parvati, or when Visnu and Laksmi are themselves identified with each other. |
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| About Visnu Sahasra-Nama-II |
