Five Feats Of Engineering Attributed To Vishnu

“It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 14.4)

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“What amazing vision. Who could see into the future like that? From an idea in their mind to a finished product. So many component parts. Then there is the production on a massive scale. Purchasing the glass from this area of the world. Getting a certain kind of antenna. Then finding a factory to put everything together at a decent price, with predictable output to meet the overwhelming demand. This person deserves so much credit.”

Inventors of innovative technologies like smartphones, televisions, and automobiles receive such praise. Though used for increasing convenience in everyday life, in one view the resulting objects are works of art. There is tremendous intelligence applied; everything doesn’t come together randomly.

In a similar manner, the Supreme Lord Vishnu can be appreciated for His successes in engineering. One need only look out the window from whatever building they reside at present to see evidence.

1. Universes

Not just one. Many. Countless, in fact. It is said that Vishnu simply lies down. There needn’t be guesswork as to the visual. There are plenty of details available. Vishnu is one physical manifestation of the Almighty. He is not an abstract concept. He is not a figure of the imagination.

“Lord Vishnu has four hands, and each hand holds a particular item—either a conchshell, wheel, club or lotus flower.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 3.1.23 Purport)

The opulently adorned, four-handed one is in a restful state. From His breathing emerge the universes. No random collision. No big bang of chemicals. Rather, the entire picture, a series of matter-spirit combinations, is due to Him. The work is as effortless as an involuntary movement of the body.

2. Planets

The universes are not empty. They consist of planets. These are massive collections of land. What is more amazing is that the planets remain suspended in space. It is as if someone is holding them. A catastrophic calamity it would be should a single planet slip from its place in the universe. Vishnu is responsible for both the creation and subsequent maintenance.

3. Trees

Like the universes, the planets are not barren. There are smaller objects of matter dispersed throughout. One of them is the tree. Standing tall and capable of living for thousands of years, there is beauty from top to bottom. The Vedas give a dividing line in classification. Fruit-bearing trees are considered pious and those that don’t yield anything are considered sinful.

4. Bodies of water

They say that the majority of the earth is covered by water. Goswami Tulsidas remarks that as all the stars are contained in the sky, so all the seeds for continuing life are found in the earth.

“Just as within the earth are found every kind of seed and within the sky live all the stars, Tulsidas knows that Shri Rama’s holy name is the reservoir of all dharma.” (Dohavali, 29)

The seeds are able to grow and blossom into plants and flowers because of water, which is picked up from the oceans by the sun and turned into clouds. What a marvelous system, one that doesn’t require outside intervention. The Supreme Lord created a self-sustaining system of growth, nourishment and maintenance.

5. Inhabitants

From a single exhalation not only are so many universes created, but Vishnu expands to simultaneously reside within each space. Every living being has this expansion inside of them, known as Supersoul. Vishnu is able to populate the areas that He creates. In the Bhagavad-gita, He refers to Himself as the seed-giving father.

The subsequent inhalation by Vishnu returns everything to Him. That is to say there is a time of destruction. The cycle continues, as time is infinite in both directions. As Vishnu’s inconceivable ability in engineering is seen in the manifest world, so He has the same amazing potency to create a means for escaping the cycle.

Through something as basic as sound the Supreme Lord rescues. Those who chant the holy names inherently understand this, and so they never let go of the practice: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Credit to smartphone maker,

Ingenuity with materials taker.

Engineering too in creation found,

Planets, water and trees on ground.

Nature a system self-sustaining,

All from Vishnu’s hand maintaining.

Making way also for rebirth to flee,

Through holy name liberation to see.