Part 21 - Viṣṇu (the Deity of the Motion)

Besides the three strides, Viṣṇu is mentioned as the deity of motion in the Vedas. The epithets urugāya, wide-going,^[1] urukrama, wide-striding,^[2] etc., and the forms like vikramaṇe,^[3] vicakrame,^[4] etc., are used for the deity in the Vedas. Viṣṇu is referred to as the variegated stone found in the midst of the heaven that takes strides.^[5] With light he has fastened the world.^[6]

Setting in motion like a circular wheel, Viṣṇu causes ninety and four periodical revolutions:

caturbhiḥ sākaṃ navatiṃ ca nāmabhiścakraṃ na vṛttaṃ vyatīravīvipat/ bṛhaccharīro vimimāna ṛkvabhiryuvākumāraḥ pratyetāhavam//^[7]

Here Viṣṇu is defined as identical with the time comprising ninety-four periods including the year, two solstices, five seasons, twelve months, twenty-four half months, thirty days, eight watches, and twelve zodiacal signs. Indeed, Viṣṇu regulates the time with his motion.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

cf., yo askabhāyaduttaraṃ sadhasthaṃ vicakramāṇastredhorugāyaḥ/ Ṛgvedasaṃhitā, 1.154.1 yaḥ pārthivāni tribhiridvigāmabhiruru kramiṣṭorugāyāya jīvase/ Ibid., 1.155.4

[2]:

cf., urukramasya sa hi bandhurithā viṣṇoḥ pade parame maddhva utsaḥ/ Ibid., 1.154.5

[3]:

cf., yasyoruṣu triṣu vikramaṇeṣvadhikṣiyanti bhuvanāni viśvā// Ibid., 1.154.2

[4]:

cf., madhye divo nihitaḥ pṛśniraśmā vi vakrame rajasaspātyantau// Ibid., 5.47.3.

[5]:

Ibid

[6]:

cf., vyastabhnā rodasī viṣṇavete dādhartha pṛthivīrmābhato mayūkhaiḥ// Ibid., 7.99.3

[7]:

Ibid., 1.155.6