In his hands Vishnu
is shown carrying a conch (Shankha), a mace (Gada), and discus (Chakra).
A crown adorns his head while he wears earrings, a garland (Mala) of
flowers, and a gem around his neck. His blue body is draped in yellow
clothes and is marked by rich and regal ornamentation.
The four arms indicate the all-pervading and all-powerful nature of
Vishnu. The physical existence of Vishnu is represented by the two arms
in the front while the two arms at the back represent his presence in
the spiritual world. The creative and intellectual aspects of the mind
are represented by the right side of his body while love, kindness and
compassion - associated with the heart - are represented by the right
side of his body. One of the Upanishads (set of religious Hindu texts),
titled Gopal Uttartapani describes the four arms of Vishnu.
The lower right hand is said to represent creativity and holds the
conch, which is the symbol of the five elements. The Conch or Shankha is
named Panchajanya, or the originator of the five basic elements - water,
fire, air, earth and sky or space. It is said that the sound that
evolves from blowing this conch is the primeval sound of creation. The
blowing of the Conch by Vishnu is said to remind his devotees to
practice kindness and compassion towards all of existence, kindness and
compassion being the language the Lord uses to address his devotees.
The upper right hand represents cohesiveness and holds the discus which
symbolizes the mind and shines like a tiny sun. Vishnu uses the discus
as a weapon to slay evil by cutting off the heads of demons. The Discus
or Chakra is named Sudarshan. This name is derived from two words - Su,
which means “good”, and Darshan, which means “vision”. The
discus as a weapon thus indicates the necessity of destroying one’s
ego and illusory self-existence and developing the vision to identify
the eternal truth. The discus has six spokes and symbolizes a lotus with
six petals, thus representing the power that controls all six seasons.
The upper left hand represents liberation or dispersion and holds the
lotus which symbolizes the power from which the universe emerges. The
lotus of Vishnu is named Padma. Since a lotus resides in muck and yet
stays fresh and pure, Vishnu’s lotus becomes the symbol of purity and
represents the unfolding of creation. It represents truth or Satya and
the originator of the rules of conduct or Dharma; and knowledge or Gyana.
The lower left hand represents individual existence and holds the mace,
which symbolizes the primeval force from which all mental and physical
strength is derived. The Mace, or Gada is named Kaumodaki.
Shesh Nag, the divine
snake, with its thousand hoods, in the common representations of Vishnu
depicts mind of an individual with its numerous desires, which, just
like the venom of a snake, kill by virtue of their evil possessive
nature. The lord is shown as sitting over the coiled snake as if to
depict that instead of desires controlling him, it is he who has control
over desires. It is an indication of the necessity of an individual to
control one’s desires so as to grasp the eternal truth and become one
with the Supreme Being.
The all-pervasive nature of Vishnu is symbolized by all that’s blue in
various representations of his. The sky in the background of his
representation depicts the fact that he pervades the entire universe.
Since the sky is blue in color, the same color of his body indicates his
infinite nature. Just like the blue sky he too is formless and
immeasurable.
The yellow color of his clothing associates his existence to the world.
They indicate that he would incarnate himself in our world for upholding
righteousness and destroying evil.
The flower garland around Vishnu’s neck is a symbol of the devotee’s
love for him. The gem decorating his neck is a representation of
Vishnu’s function of fulfilling the genuine desires and needs of his
devotees. The crown on his head symbolizes his supreme authority. The
two earrings of his represent the inherent opposites in creation -
knowledge and ignorance; happiness and unhappiness; pleasure and pain.