The Cosmic Role of Karanodakaśāyī Vishnu (Maha Vishnu)

Karanodakaśāyī Vishnu, also known as Maha-Vishnu, is the first and most expansive form of Vishnu in the Vaishnavite tradition, which recognizes three primary forms of the Supreme God: Karanodakaśāyī Vishnu, Garbhodakaśāyī Vishnu, and Ksirodakaśāyī Vishnu.

Karanodakaśāyī Vishnu represents the grand, cosmic aspect of the divine responsible for the creation of all material universes. His name literally means “the one who rests on the causal ocean,” referring to his existence in a vast ocean that lies beyond the boundaries of our material world.

According to ancient texts, Karanodakaśāyī Vishnu floats on this infinite ocean, known as the Karana Sagara (Causal Ocean), and his form is immense, encompassing all of creation. He exists at the threshold between the spiritual realm and the material universe. One of his most significant roles is to create countless universes, each forming like a bubble from the pores of his divine body. Each bubble is a universe filled with stars, planets, and living beings.

The creation process is tied to Vishnu’s breathing. As he exhales, these countless universes emerge and begin to expand, each developing its own unique structure and life. When he inhales, all the universes dissolve back into him, illustrating the cyclical nature of creation and destruction. This ongoing cycle is central to the Hindu understanding of the cosmos, where everything in the material world is constantly being created, maintained, and eventually dissolved.

While Karanodakaśāyī Vishnu is the source of all these universes, he doesn’t directly govern them. Once a universe is created, he expands into Garbhodakaśāyī Vishnu, who enters each universe to shape and maintain its structure. In this sense, Karanodakaśāyī Vishnu acts as the original cause, setting everything in motion.

Ancient scriptures like the Bhagavata Purana describe Karanodakaśāyī Vishnu’s connection to Maya, the material energy that creates the physical world. By merely glancing upon Maya, Karanodakaśāyī Vishnu activates the dormant forces of creation, allowing the material worlds to manifest. This glance also plants the seeds of spiritual life, sending individual souls (Jivatmas) into the material world. These souls then embark on their journey through the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Karanodakaśāyī Vishnu is also considered the Supersoul of the entire cosmos, overseeing the creation and dissolution of entire universes. In contrast, his form as Ksirodakaśāyī Vishnu is the Supersoul residing within every individual being. While Ksirodakaśāyī Vishnu governs individual lives, Karanodakaśāyī Vishnu is in charge of the cosmic scale, managing the existence of all universes.

Despite his involvement in the material world, Karanodakaśāyī Vishnu remains unaffected by it. He is completely transcendent, beyond the limits of time, space, and matter. His resting posture on the Causal Ocean, where he lies upon the serpent Ananta Śeṣa, represents his state of supreme calm, power, and omnipresence.