The One With Not Enough Arms

“It is said in the Vedic literature that innumerable universes issue forth when Maha-Vishnu exhales in His yoga-nidra, and innumerable universes enter His body when He again inhales. We have to imagine that these universes, which, according to our limited knowledge, are expanded unlimitedly, are so great that the gross ingredients, the five elements of the cosmic manifestation, namely earth, water, fire, air and sky, are not only within the universe, but are covering the universe in seven layers, each layer ten times bigger than the previous one.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Volume 2, Chapter 32)

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Ahh, another day in paradise for the modern husband.  We are in advanced times, you see.  Long gone are the days where it is enough for the man to simply provide for his family.  No more grandmothers and great-grandmothers around to intervene, to ensure that the gender more suited, by nature, to tend to children assumes the responsibility.  Instead, you have to do practically everything, and there is little to no appreciation for it.  What can be done? The children are entirely dependent on the parents. They have no one else. Someone needs to be paying attention, so it might as well be you. On this day, where your self-control went out the window, when you were about ready to rage-quit the family, there is a silver lining. Because of the difficulty you cannot help but appreciate the glaring contrast with the one individual responsible for all of the universes.

In the part of the country in which you live, driving is a must.  There is not even a bus-stop nearby.  People might be able to get around using the relatively newer ridesharing apps, but that is typically reserved for one-way trips, like picking up a car at the mechanic or getting dropped off at the airport.  No, the people running the household need to drive, to get around, to pick up food, to travel to the office or school.  What should happen if one of the adults in that same household does not drive?  What if that adult intentionally opts out of that responsibility?  Well, the burden then falls on the other person.  The one with a valid driver’s license.  The one who does not mind stepping up to help.

On this particular day, you come to learn that the family supplies are depleted.  Of essentials like bread, milk, water, and other such items.  The volume of the notification reveals that it is practically an emergency, though no one said anything previously.  The issue has to be addressed immediately, although you only returned home a few minutes prior.  After a difficult day at the office, where the stress continues until the next morning.  There are pressing issues, mind you, but the house cannot be ignored.  Therefore, you do what any self-respecting husband would:  you reach for the car keys and start the engine.  List in hand, you drive to the supermarket.

It is not the worst trip, if you are being honest.  At least no one is yelling at you in the store.  The nighttime brings increased space in the aisles.  This is likely the least busy time in the store.  You manage to pick up everything on the list.  Some of the items are difficult to find, but after searching for a while you locate a suitable replacement.  After zooming through the self-checkout lane, you head back home.

In the infinite wisdom of the esteemed leaders of the area, plastic bags are now banned.  The criminals can roam free, you see.  They are released from jail mere moments after being booked, in a kind of revolving-door system.  But fear not, as the rest of us are safe now that the plastic bags and plastic straws are banned.  Sarcasm aside, you went to the store prepared.  You have these large multi-use bags.  You filled the bags up at the store and upon returning, you make sure to carry both bags at once.  This is to avoid return trips to the car, which is parked across the street from your house.

Upon entering the front door, you find the rest of the family seated.  On the couch in the living room, staring at their smart devices, of course.  Nothing new here. No one reaching out to help.  No audible appreciation.  Instead, one of them starts yelling.  You forgot one important item, it seems.  The notification was sent to your phone.  They want to know why you didn’t check your phone.  If you had, you wouldn’t have made such a silly mistake.  By the way, the bags are still in your hands.  At this point, you are ready to throw one of the bags right in the face of the person complaining.  You do not even have sufficient resources for checking the phone in your pocket or removing your shoes.  You only have two arms. These people expect so much, in a steady stream of tasks, and show no appreciation for it.

Amidst your frustration, you cannot help but reflect on the image of the Supreme Lord in Vaikuntha.  It is a peaceful image, as it should be.  The conditions match the name of the place.  It is Vaikuntha, which refers to the absence of anxieties.  There is no competition.  There is no reason for anyone to be upset.  That is because God is there, resting comfortably on the dedicated servant known as Ananta Shesha Naga.  There is the goddess of fortune nearby.  She is massaging Vishnu’s feet, which are lotus-like.  The navel is also like a lotus, from which a stem emerges that leads to the birth of Brahma.  Brahma is also known as Svayambhu, which refers to someone who is “self-born.”  This is technically accurate, as there is no womb in the typical sense.  Nevertheless, Vishnu is the cause.

Appropriate to your situation is the image of Vishnu breathing in and out.  Each exhale produces countless universes.  Lest anyone think Vishnu lacks responsibility, that He merely produces cats and dogs that run around causing trouble, there is an expansion.  Vishnu decides to appear within each of those universes, which are like bubbles.  The comparison to the bubble is accurate, because those universes will cease to be at a certain point in time.  The dissolution will be as effortless as the original creation.

अव्यक्ताद्‍ व्यक्तय: सर्वा: प्रभवन्त्यहरागमे
रात्र्यागमे प्रलीयन्ते तत्रैवाव्यक्तसंज्ञके

avyaktād vyaktayaḥ sarvāḥ
prabhavanty ahar-āgame
rātry-āgame pralīyante
tatraivāvyakta-saṁjñake

“When Brahma’s day is manifest, this multitude of living entities comes into being, and at the arrival of Brahma’s night they are all annihilated.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.18)

Actually, the entire process is effortless.  Vishnu maintains each one of those universes that He creates through His breathing.  He further expands to reside within the heart of every living being.  This feature is known as Paramatma.  While we are individual soul, or jivatma, Vishnu is always supreme, or Paramatma.  He can manage this entire creation process, witnessing everything that goes on, retaining everything in memory, and not be bothered in the least.  He does all of this without breaking a sweat.  The wise shift their behavior in such a way that they are pointed in the direction of Vaikuntha.  In other words, they wish to return to that place, which is the spiritual world, so that they can enjoy with the one who has more than enough arms to carry the burden of that which gives the ordinary person trouble on a recurring basis.

In Closing:

To the ordinary giving trouble,
Within universe like a bubble.

With pressing issues to resolve,
But eventually everything to dissolve.

Whereas in Vaikuntha at rest,
Lovingly lotus feet pressed.

By Lakshmi and servants attending,
Troubled mind to that place sending.