Vaiśvānara
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Vaiśvānara literally means ‘one who leads all human beings’.
Vaiśvānara as per Bhagavadgītā[edit]
This word has been used in several senses. It is one of the names of Agni, fire or fire-god. The Bhagavadgītā[1] refers to it as an aspect of Kṛṣṇa who resides in the bodies of living beings and digests the food they eat.[2]
Vaiśvānara as per Māndukya Upaniṣad[edit]
In the Vedānta philosophy it refers to Brahman/ātman as consciousness, associated with the whole created world.[3] The Vedāntasāra of Sadānanda calls him as Virāṭ also.[4] He is called Vaiśvānara since he leads all human beings according their puṇya[5] or pāpa[6] to the respective goals.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore