11

As I discuss in this question, the Sri Vaishnava sect (of which I am a member) places great importance on the Divya Desams, the 108 sacred places of Vishnu which are mentioned in the poems of the Alwars. Now two of the Divya Desams are not even on Earth! As I discuss here, there is Thiruparkadal, Vishnu's ocean of milk, and then there is Paramapadam, the abode of Para Vasudeva or the supreme Vishnu as well as the destination of those who have attained Moksha. (See my answer here for more information on Para Vasudeva.)

enter image description here

In any case, here is how the Sri Vaishnava Acharya HH Chinna Jeeyar Swami describes Paramapadam in one of his discourses:

Swamiji narrated the seating arrangement of Paravasudeva in Vaikuntam starting with Kurma (holy tortoise) forming the base on which Adisesha lies down as the bed hosting eight different demi-gods on 8 sides namely, Dharma, Adharma, Aiswarya, Anaiswarya, Jnana , Ajnana, Vairagya and Avairagya (each with three heads namely, Satva, Rajas and Tamas) and 12 different Ganas holding various weapons. All of these demi-gods hold a Lotus that hosts Simha Mukhas (Loin Faced demi-gods) on four corners and Sadasiva with 25 heads in the middle holding Bhadrasanam on which, Vaikuntanadha is seated with Sreedevi, Bhudevi and Neela devi. Vaikuntanadha holds a mudra with his right hand extending an invitation to all the souls to come to him. His left hand is placed on the ‘Bhadrasanam’ giving it the needed support. In the other two hands he holds the divine conch and the discuss like ornaments to assure his devotees that he is not exposed to the evil eye.

Bhadrasana refers to a sitting posture, but my question is, what scriptures describe Sadashiva carrying Vishnu in Paramapadam?

As you can see in the image above, how Paramapadam is usually depicted is with Vishnu sitting directly on his serpent couch along with his wives Lakshmi, Bhudevi, and Niladevi. But HH Chinna Jeeyar Swami seems to be saying that Sadashiva is on the serpent couch and then Vishnu and his wives are being carried by him.

I'm also surprised that Sadashiva is playing a role at all; as I discuss in this answer, in Shaivism Sadashiva denotes the supreme Shiva, whom Shaivites equate with Brahman. But Sri Vaishnavas believe that Para Vasudeva (the supreme Vishnu) is Brahman, and that Shiva is a Jiva, so what role could Sadashiva play? The only Vaishnavas I know of who acknowledge the existence of Sadashiva are the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, who believe on the basis on the Brahma Vaivarta Puranas that Sadashiva came from the body of Krishna.

On a side note, I found it strange that Sadashiva was described as 25-headed, when he's usually depicted as 5-headed as I discuss here. But this webpage says there is a so-called "Mahasadashiva" form, which has 25 heads relating to the 25 elements found in the Samkhya system. (24 elements of Prakriti plus Purusha.)

29
  • 6
    Why do you believe in such stories? Sadashiva is Nirguna Brahman of Advaita so there is no point in discussing him having 25 heads.
    – Pinakin
    Feb 23, 2016 at 11:01
  • 9
    @ChinmaySarupria Well, I believe in Visistadvaita, so I believe that Saguna Brahman is supreme, not Nirguna Brahman. And philosophical Shaivites, the kind that emphasize the Shaiva Agamas, don't believe in Nirguna Brahman either. They think Sadashiva is a being endued with a form, usually 5-headed but apparently with a 25-headed variant. Feb 23, 2016 at 11:55
  • 4
    Shiva Linga is Sadashiva. The upper part - Brahma, middle part - Vishnu, lower part - Rudra, bottom part - Shakti. When we see both the lower part and bottom part together, it becomes Maheswar and Maheshwari or Mahakaal and Mahakaali, so all these parts add up to 4 and when we see all these parts together, it is called Sadashiva. That is 5th. Maybe they got 5th head from there.
    – Pinakin
    Feb 23, 2016 at 12:12
  • 5
    @AnilKumar Well, obviously this description elevates Vishnu; Sri Vaishnavas believe that Vishnu is supreme. In any case, I'm a Sri Vaishnava and HH Chinna Jeeya Swami is a Sri Vaishnava Acharya (although he's not my Acharya), so I'd like to find out where he got this description from and if it's a general belief of the Sri Vaishnava sect. Feb 23, 2016 at 14:30
  • 5
    @SK There are no statutes of limitations. Again, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. But in this case, I actually do have an answer. Someone contacted Chinna Jeeyar Swami on my behalf, and he specified exactly which Pancharatra Agamas describe this. I just haven't posted it yet, because I haven't found them in English translation. Dec 5, 2017 at 1:16

2 Answers 2

0

I find it strange that sadashiva is twenty-five headed as he's usually described as five-headed:

According to Shaivite texts, the supreme being, parashivam manifests itself as pentads. His five deeds are known as panchakrityas and are assigned to his five aspects, panchamurti: Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Maheshwara and Sadashiva - that is creation, preservation, destruction, illusion and liberation.

The five faces then emanating from these five aspects 'in whom we cannot find any distinctions from himself' are then praised as 'panchabrahmas', the five creators of the five realities.

This at least explains where the twentyfive-fold aspect comes from...

Wikipedia article on SadaShiva

  • DR. S.P. SABHARATHANAM SIVACHARYA. "Kamika Agama Uttara Pada". Hmalayan Academy. Retrieved 28 September 2017.

  • B.N. Sharma (1976). Iconography of Sadasiva. Abhinav Publications. pp. 1–3.

24
  • 2
    please provide the link about the source, thank you. Nov 30, 2020 at 9:25
  • 2
    Wikipedia is not a valid source Dec 12, 2020 at 3:44
  • 5
    I can only repeat. Your answer needs to be backed by valid sources. Just saying it is there in Shaivite texts because wikipedia says so is not good enough Dec 12, 2020 at 4:32
  • 2
    You are repeating the same again. It has already been discussed and concluded. I agree with the conclusion and I don't want to discuss it again. I am asking you to discuss if you feel otherwise. I can't be much clear than this.
    – Mr_Green
    Dec 14, 2020 at 8:43
  • 2
    You mean the whole community is being silly? are you trolling? Just calling me silly doesn't make it valid. Take out some time, instead of responding to me, and read the help page and FAQ.
    – Mr_Green
    Dec 14, 2020 at 9:15
-1

There were two scriptures mentioned by Jeeyar according to the poster and apparemtly jeeyar said both have it. have shown that at least padma samhita does not have it and in fact has the exact opposite of whqt the questioner says Jeeyar said.

The answer is no scriptures says what Jeeyear said.

https://archive.org/stream/PadmaSamhitaSeethaPadmanabhanSampathR.N.Vol1/Padma%20Samhita%20%20Seetha%20Padmanabhan%20Sampath%20R.N.%20Vol%202_djvu.txt

"Another peculiar characteristic of this Paficaratra text must be mentioned here. Though it is mainly Vaishnava in character, yet it includes general topics and ideas comprehensive of non- Vaishpava deities, as part of the architecture of the temples, and also in the main and ancillary worship. In chapter 29 of Carya, from si. 194 onwards it gives a vivid description of the various deities to be installed and worshipped in the various fivaranas in a CaturaSayata temple. In Ch. 30, along with Vtshpu Mantras, Mantras of Brahma, Kubera, Indra, Kama, Aswtns, Soma, ViguSSa, Sanmukha, Durga and others are given. The first ten slokas of Ch. 31, gives the Vignsfotpathi.

to the Kriya-Pada also, in ch. 22, while describing the form and colour of the various Parivara deities, along with Garuda and Hayagriva, the names of Soma, Kama, Gajanana, Sanmukha, Dhanadha, Rudra, Kshetrapala, Veerabhadra, Vinayaka, Ajamukha, ViSvedeva, Sapta-Rishis, Asvins are all given. Again in the Bahya-Yaga, in the Y5ga-peeta that is made, places are mentioned for Durga, Rudra, VigmSfa, the Dikpalas and others. In the centre of the Yoga-Peeta, Lord SadaSiva, is said to be medi- tated upon. [Ch. 3 rfl. 112.] Padma Carya,"


"Here while describing the daily devout routine of worship of the Vaishnavas, contemplstion of Sadasiva in the centre of Yoga- peeta is mentioned"

Its not clear where jeeyar got the degrading material from.

0

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .