Essay name: Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas
Author:
Kum. Geeta P. Kurandwad
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
The essay studies the Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas by exploring the significance of the ten principal incarnations of Lord Vishnu as depicted in various ancient Indian texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas. The research also investigates the social, political, philosophical, and religious impact.
Chapter 4 - Significance of Vaishnava Myths
115 (of 234)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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offered into the sacrificial fire, there arose immediately from the fire
a golden chariot like those of Indra, and one pennon having the
emblem of lion as well as a celestial bow having a golden frame, two
quivers filled with unending arrows and celestial armour.
Further, this myth appears ambiguous about how Bali attains
the sovereignty in heaven, or even if he does, Skanda Purāṇa relates
that Bali became the sovereignty of the earth. But because Bali's
reign is so righteous, Indra seeks out Viṣṇu for help, saying "All the
world has gone to the Devaloka O Keśava !" Due to Bali's virtuousness
as king, the earth has become like heaven.
The description of Vāmana :
Through penance, Aditi wins boon from Lord Viṣṇu, that he will
be born as her son, the younger brother of Indra to win back the
sovereignty for Śukra and reinstate the gods in their proper dwelling.
Aditi must carry the fetus for a thousand years or alternately, her
tapas has lasted a thousand years; but after a long time period of one
kind of discomfort or another, Viṣṇu is born from Aditi. Besides those
myths mentioned later in which Viṣṇu is not born from Aditi at all,
two myths tells of Viṣṇu's birth from Aditi, but not as a dwarf.
Kūrma Purāṇa (I.16) states that Viṣṇu was born as Upendra, and
subsequently goes to Bali's sacrifice "assuming the form of a dwarf".
(I.16.48). In the Mahābhārata (III.13. 23-25) Viṣṇu is born and
remains a child, and he is said to be born as the twelth Aditya.
The Bhāgavata Purāṇa mentions the Kaśyapa, the wise prajapati
performed Vamana's Samskaras including Jātakarma and other
