FIVE FORMS/MANIFESTS/MODES OF LORD VISHNU
According to Sri VaishNaVa Agamas, Lord Vishnu has five forms (aspects or modes).They are Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Archavatara and Antaryami. The deity absolute, Parabrahman, manifests in five possible aspects
1) PARA:
ParA is the highest form of Vishnu found only in Sri Vaikuntha also called Nityavibhuti or Moksha. The Lord (ParamAthma) is seen along with his consorts Sri, Bhumi and Nila and is surrounded by Nityasuri-s. He is hence called Vaikunta Natha. The Para form is the first immanent manifestation of the Supreme Being He has chosen to be unlimited by anything and is endowed with the fullness of the six qualities – jnAna, bala, aisvarya, vIrya, sakti, teja (knowledge/wisdom,strength,wealth,courage, power/energy and lustre).
2) VYUHA:
The Vyuhas are emanations from the above mentioned Para Vasudeva form, He is in lying posture on the multi-tasking aid Snake, Anantha, who acts as the Lord’s couch, umbrella, sandals and sentinel.
3) VIBHAVA:
Apart from the Vyuhas, the Lord is said to assume various manifestations, from time to time, to protect the virtuous, punish the evil-doers(wicked) and re-establish Dharma. (Dushta Nigraha, Sishta Paripaalana) These manifestations are called Vibhava-s, more popularly as Avatara-s or ‘descents’ into the world. The Bhagavad Gita is the classical source for the theory of Avatara where Lord Krishna Himself says :Dharma samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge” (For establishing “Dharma –I shall Manifest myself in Yuga after yuga)
Among the many manifestations of the Lord, the well-known avataras are Ten in number, viz.,Mathsya, Kurma, Varaha, Nrisimha, Vamana, (fish, tortoise, boar, man-lion and Dwarf) Rama,Balarama, Krishna,and Parasurama and Kalki.
4) ARCHA:
“The fourth form of the Lord , Archavatara or Image manifestation, is very easily accessible and visible to all on earth. “The other forms can be only imagined or meditated upon and since they are beyond our reach in the other manifests…, In Arcavatara alone the Lord as idols/deities in temples receives prayers from devotees and grants their prayers and blesses them; Saranagati or Prapatti or surrender is done to the Lord in the Archa form only.” Though installed and made by human beings the Image form of the supreme deity gets imbued with divinity the moment it is consecrated and installed / worshipped..
An inanimate object (i.e. idol/image or likeness of Vishnu), if duly consecrated according to the Pancharatra rites), acquires a miraculous power, and the Shakti of Vishnu descends into it. It is meant for the purpose of daily worship.
5) ANTARYAMI:
Antaryami or “Sukshma Vasudeva” is the fifth form in which the ultimate reality Lord Vishnu exists in a very subtle from, in the hearts of all living beings.Invisible and full of bliss, the Antaryami ” literally means one who controls from inside. It is stated that Narayana resides in that infinitesimal small place below the heart of every being’. Smaller than the smallest and bigger than the biggest , the Lord resides both inside and outside of every individual or thing in the universe.As Antaryami, the Lord accepts manasika puja of the devotees, such as meditation, mental offering of sacred water, fruits, food etc. and mental salutations (Mangalsasanam). Such worship to the Antaryami form can be done by anyone at any place and at any time. At the time of the death of a person, Antaryami escorts the soul to the Lord (Param Brahma)