Vaikuntha, aka: Vaikuṇṭha, Vaikuṃṭha, Vaikuṇṭhā; 12 Definition(s)

Introduction

Vaikuntha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Then the Bhagavān Viṣṇu built the Vaikuṇṭha city on the top of all the lokas or worlds to dwell with his consort Lakṣmī. Mahādeva, too, built the exceedingly beautiful Kailāśa and stayed there with his Bhūtas and played with them at his will. See the Devī-bhāgavata-purāṇa (chapter on the Devī-yajña).

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

A Vaikuntha stone is of the hue of a jem on the hood of a serpent, of dark colour and bears one circular mark.

1) Vaikuṇṭha (वैकुण्ठ).—The dwelling place of Mahāviṣṇu.

2) Vaikuṇṭha (वैकुण्ठ).—Another name of Mahāviṣṇu. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Chapter 342, Stanza 80, that when Viṣṇu made creation with the five elements, his powers did not have any hindrance (Kuṇṭhita) and so he got the name Vaikuṇṭha.

3) Vaikuṇṭha (वैकुण्ठ).—A Brahmin saint who lived in the Tretāyuga. The living things got deliverance from sin, the moment they came into contact with him. This power of Vaikuṇṭha to give living things deliverance, is mentioned in Padma Purāṇa, Brahma khaṇḍa, Chapter 3, as follows:

Vaikuṇṭha once lighted a ghee-lamp in the presence of Viṣṇu in Kārttika and returned home. At that time a rat came there and began to drink the ghee. Then the lamp blazed into a flame. The rat was terrified at this, and ran away. But by the grace of Viṣṇu the rat got deliverance from all its sins.

That rat was killed by snake-bite. The men of Yama came with ropes. Instantly the messengers of Viṣṇu also came on Garuḍa. Yama’s men got afraid of Viṣṇu’s messengers and humbly aksed them: "For what goodness of him are you taking this great sinner to Vaikuṇṭha?" They replied: "He had blazed a lamp before the presence of Viṣṇu. That act has earned for him a place in Vaikuṇṭha. The goodness earned by lighting a lamp with devotion and love in Kārttika, could be described only by Mukunda." After that the rat was taken to Vaikuṇṭha.

1a) Vaikuṇṭha (वैकुण्ठ).—A name of Hari.^*

• * Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 15. 46.

1b) The abode of Viṣṇu, established by Him at the request of Śrī in his manifestation as Vaikuṇṭha: Famous for Naiśreyasa vana, filled with different trees and birds. It had seven enclosures into which sin had no free entrance. On the seventh were stationed two guardian deities. These once prevented Lakṣmī from entering in during the yoganidrā of Hari;¹ happiness (saubhāgya) of beings retired to, during the burning of the worlds.²

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa III. 15. 13-27; 16. 27-30; VIII. 5. 5.
• 2) Matsya-purāṇa 60. 2; 245. 34; 285. 19.

1c) A manifestation of Hari born of Vaikuṇṭhā and Śubhra in Cākṣuṣa epoch. At the request of his spouse Śrī, Vaikuṇṭha (Heaven) came into existence in the Vaivasvata epoch, to the right of Śivaloka.^*

• * Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 5. 4-6; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 3. 117; 32. 3; IV. 29. 136; 40. 9; Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 1. 41; V. 5. 21.

1d) The 22nd kalpa.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 290. 8.

1e) In the Cyavana āśrama of Gayā;¹ the abode of Viṣṇu.²

• 1) Vāyu-purāṇa 108. 74.
• 2) Ib. 24. 20; 109. 16.

1f) A class of gods,¹ Jayādevas, fourteen in number in the epochs of Raivata Manu and Svāyambhuva.²

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 5. 4; Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 1. 21.
• 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 36. 51 and 58; III. 3. 9, 58 and 67; 4. 31; Vāyu-purāṇa 66. 9; 67. 40-41.

2) Vaikuṇṭhā (वैकुण्ठा).—The mother of Vaikuṇṭha devas.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 67. 40.

Vaikuṇṭha (वैकुण्ठ) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. VI.9.15) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Vaikuṇṭha) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Kavya (poetry)

Vaikuṇṭha (वैकुण्ठ) is the name of an important person (viz., an Ācārya or Kavi) mentioned in Rājaśekhara’s 10th-century Kāvyamīmāṃsā.—It is another name of Lord Viṣnu. Who is one of the sixty-four disciples of Śrikaṇṭha.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Vaikuṇṭha (वैकुण्ठ)—One of the several gaṭhas (bathing places) in the twelve forests on the banks of the Yamunā.

Vishnuloka is the home of the Supreme Lord Vishnu. It is the eternal abode of Narayana or Vishnu or Hari, his consort Lakshmi, and Shesha, upon whom they rest. In most of the extant Puranas, and Vaishnava traditions, Vaikuntham (Vishnuloka) is located in the direction of the Makara Rashi (Shravana Zodiac) which coincides with the Capricorn constellation. Vishnu's eye is supposed to be located at the South Celestial Pole as well.

Vaikuntha is known as Paramdhama where liberated souls dwell for eternity enjoying pure bliss and happiness in the company of God Narayana or Vishnu. Vaikuntha is beyond the periphery of the material universe and hence, cannot be perceived or measured by material science and logic.

etymology: Vaikuntha (Sanskrit वैकुंठ, vaikuṃṭha), Vaikuntha-loka, Brahmaloka-sanatana or Abode of Brahman, Brahmajyoti, Param Padam (‘supreme abode’), or Paramapadam.

Jīva Gosvāmī explains that Vaikuṇṭha cannot be attained by dualistic action, or in other words, by result-oriented action of any kind. This is to say that it cannot be attained by any method other than nondual devotion, which is not a method in the sense of generating any extraneous effect. It is immediate and direct centering of awareness in the nondual complete whole, facilitated through the agency of His own internal potency.

Vaikuṇṭha is attained by nondual devotion. Although nondual devotion makes use of the mind and physical senses, which is to say that it manifests through these agencies, it is not mental or physical action. This means that it is not dualistic action performed by an apparent isolated doer, through instruments (the mind and senses) that are distinct from the doer, and generating an effect that is again distinct from both the doer and its instruments. Nondual devotion, rather, is directly the potency of the nondual Absolute.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

vaikuṇṭha (वैकुंठ).—n m (S) The paradise of Visn̤u. It is stated by some to be in the Northern Ocean, by others, on the eastern peak of Mount Meru.

vaikuṇṭha (वैकुंठ).—n m The paradise of Vishnu.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Vaikuṇṭha (वैकुण्ठ).—a. Unassailable (durdharṣa); इन्द्रो वैकुण्ठोऽपराजिता सेनेति वा अहमेतमुपास (indro vaikuṇṭho'parājitā seneti vā ahametamupāsa) Bṛ. Up.2.1.6.

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Vaikuṇṭha (वैकुण्ठ).—1 An epithet of Viṣṇu; मन्दं जहास वैकुण्ठो मोहयन्निव मायया (mandaṃ jahāsa vaikuṇṭho mohayanniva māyayā) Bhāg.1.8.44.

2) Of Indra.

3) Holy basil.

-ṇṭham 1 The heaven of Viṣṇu; ततो वैकुण्ठमगमद्भास्वरं तमसः परम् (tato vaikuṇṭhamagamadbhāsvaraṃ tamasaḥ param) Bhāg.1.88.25.

2) Talc.

Derivable forms: vaikuṇṭhaḥ (वैकुण्ठः).

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