Story of SriRangam Svayamvakta Vimana - Part 5

As per Lord Brahma's instruction, Vivaswan, the surya (sun) worshiped the Swayamvakta Vimana. Vivaswan is the son of Sage Kashyapa. Sage Kashyapa is the son of Sage Marichi who is the son of Lord Brahma. Hence, Vivaswan is the great grand son of Lord Brahma. Vivaswan is also called as the Aditya since he is born of Sage Kashyapa and Aditi. Aditi is the daughter of Daksha, who is the son of Brahma. The lineage of Vivaswan came to be known as Surya dynasty, Raghu kula. Raghuvanshi is the lineage of kings tracing its ancestry to Vivaswan, Surya. Vivasta Manu is the son of Vivaswan and is  known as Arka Tanaya or son of Arka (Surya). Vivasta Manu, son of Vivaswan is the King of all mankind and considered to be the first human being. There are 14 manvantras and each manvanatra, a manu rules that manvanatra. Vivasta Manu was the manu of the 7th manvantra. Manu had nine sons and one of the sons was Ikshvahu. 

Story of SriRangam Svayamvakta Vimana - Part 4

Brahma was amazed to see this form of Para Vasudeva whith four arms (with a Shanku, Chakra, Padma and Gada) in his hands. Brahma stood up chanting the four vedas through his four mouths. Lord Sriman Narayana also referred as Para Vasudeva or Maha Vishnu described about the four types of idols and vimanas to Brahma. The first type of idol is the 'Swayamvyakta', meaning God himself choosing to show up as an idol. Hence, SriRanga vimana is a Swayamvyakta vimana and is one of the earliest of all other eight vimanas of the first class, viz Swayamvyakta. 

Lord Sriman Narayana and Sri Ranga Vimana at SriRangam, Tamilnadu

In Garuda Purana, in a conversation between Garuda and Chaturmukha (four faced) Brahma, it is stated that SriRangam in Tamilnadu, is one of the eight swayam vyakta kshetras - others being Srimushnam in Tamilnadu, Venkatadri in Andhra Pradesh, Saaligramam in Nepal, Naimisharanya in Uttar Pradesh, Totadri in Guntur District (Andhra Pradesh), Pushkara near Ajmer and Badri Narayanashrama. 

ಶ್ರೀರಂಗಂ ವೇಂಕಟಾದ್ರಿಶ್ಚ ಶ್ರೀಮುಷ್ಣಮ್ ತೋತಪರ್ವತಂ ಸಾಲಗ್ರಾಮಂ ಪುಷ್ಕರಂಚ ನರನಾರಯಣಾಶ್ರಮಂ

ನೈಮಿಶಮ್ ಚೇತಿ ಮೇ ಸ್ಥನನ್ಯಸೌ ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿವೈ ಯೇತುಸ್ವಷ್ಟಾಕ್ಷರೈಕಾಕ: ವರ್ಣಮೂರ್ಥಿರ್ ವಸಾಮ್ಯಹಂ

ತಿಷ್ತಾಮಿ ಕ್ರಿಶ್ಣ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರೇ ಪುಣ್ಯ ಸಪ್ಥಕೋಗಥ: ಆಷ್ಟಾಕ್ಷರಸ್ಯ ಮಂತ್ರಸ್ಯ ಸರ್ವಾಕ್ಷರ ಮಯ ಸದಾ 

श्रीरंगं वेंकटाद्रिश्च श्रीमुष्णम् तोतपर्वतं सालग्रामं पुष्करंच नरनारयणाश्रमं

नैमिशम् चेति मे स्थनन्यसौ मुक्ति प्रधानिवै येतुस्वष्टाक्षरैकाक: वर्णमूर्थिर् वसाम्यहं

तिष्तामि क्रिश्ण क्षेत्रे पुण्य सप्थकोगथ: आष्टाक्षरस्य मंत्रस्य सर्वाक्षर मय सदा |

Brahma installed this vimana in satyaloka at the banks of River Viraja and started to worship Lord Narayana. He worshiped the Lord for many years, appointed Vivaswan, the sun God to offer pooja (prayers) for the Lord. And this is how Lord Narayana in this form appeared all by himself in this vimana to Brahma in the very beginning. Brahma himself at first knew Lord Sriman Narayana only in this form, that form of Lord Sriman Narayana who is the Supreme, who existed in Karana Ocean (causal ocean). Sriman Narayana, Para Vasudeva in this form is still visible to the eyes of human beings, in this Kshetra SriRangam which is also called as 'Bhuloka Vaikunta' (Heaven on Earth), even today. 

Story of SriRangam Svayamvakta Vimana - Part 3

Initially Lord Sriman Narayana appeared like a Hamsa (Swan)

Story of SriRangam Svayamvakta Vimana - Part 2

Once again, Lord Sriman Narayana appeared in front of him in the form a swan and preached the Vedas. In Srimad Bhagavata, it is mentioned that Sri Bhagawan (Lord Narayana) said, "Brahma desired to attain the answer to the question that was puzzling him, and thus he fixed his mind on Me. At that time, in my form of Hamsa, I became visible to Brahma". Hamsa means "swan", and the specific ability of the swan is to seperate a mixture of milk and water, extracting the rich, milky portion. Similarly, the Lord appeared as Hamsa, or the swan, in order to separate the pure consciousness of Brahma from the confused modes of material nature. 

     स  मम  अचिन्तयद्  देवः 

प्रश्न पर तितिर्षया 

तस्याहं  हंस रूपेण 

सकसं  आगमं  तदा (SB 11.13.19)

sa mam acintayad devah

prasna-para-titirshaya

tasyaham hamsa-rupena

sakasam agamam tada (SB 11.13.19)

The four Vedas that the Supreme Lord gave to Brahma were later stolen by two asuras. Brahma hadn't at that time created any asuras. So, Brahma wondered how these asuras came into existence. Brahma had to again seek Lord Narayana's help to protect him and rescue the stolen Vedas. This time, Lord Sriman Narayana appeared in front of Brahma in the form of Matsya (Fish), promised Brahma that he will manifest Himself again, come back to rescue the Vedas. So, Brahma thought that this is his Lord's real form.

Later the same Lord Narayana manifested himself as Lord Hayagreeva (The Horse God) to rescue the Vedas from the asuras. Now, Brahma initially thought that the swan is his dear Lord who created him. Then, he realized that his Lord looks like a fish. Now, he was surprised to see his Lord manifest himself with a horse face. 

Read about who these asuras are, how they got created, how they stole the Vedas and how did Lord Narayana manifested Himself in a Hayagriva Avatara, here. 


Brahma's task of creating the Universe was in the beginning stage. He was so displeased since everything was transient and disappeared in course of time.  It is mentioned in SriRanga Mahatamya (Puranic Legend), Brahma went to Ksheera Sagara (Milky Ocean) to meet the only savior Lord Vishnu seeking help. And lo, this time Lord Vishnu appeared like a kurma (tortoise) and it indeed puzzled Brahma. Brahma could not believe that his Supreme Lord again appeared in a different form and this time He looked like a turtle. 

Story of SriRangam Svayamvakta Vimana - Part 1

This lustrous vimana at the left is SriRanga Vimana and still glitters in the temple town called as SriRangam, my birth place. Ever, wonder how did this vimana came to this place?

At the very beginning of time, the spiritual world brought forth the material Universe, within which Lord Vishnu reclined in deep cosmic slumber on Sesha, His serpent bed. While Lord Vishnu slept, a lotus stem grew from His navel. Atop of the stem was a lotus flower, on which Brahma appeared, the first created being. 

Tracing back the lineage of Lord Krishna - Part 1

The Story of Lunar (Moon) Dynasty (Soma Kula)

The Birth of Budha, the great grand son of Brahma 

Suka describes the dynasty of Soma, the moon (Lunar Dynasty), to King Parikshit. From Lord Vishnu's navel sprang a lotus on which Brahma appeared. Atri is the son of Brahma and he was as qualified as his father, Brahma. Atri was one of the prajapatis who came from Brahma in the very first Manvantra. Atri once shed tears of jubilation and from his tears, born was a son called as Soma. Anusuya, wife of Rishi Atri was impregnated by the tears of Atri. Soma, the moon was full of soothing rays. He also had two more brothers Duttareya and Durvasa. Soma was considered to be the partial representation of Lord Brahma, Duttareya, the partial representation of Lord Vishnu and Durvasa was considered to be the partial representation of Lord Shiva. Brahma appointed his grand son Soma as the director of Brahmanas, drugs and luminaries.

Sons of Sage Atri and Anusuya

Sage Atri is a mind born son of Lord Brahma. He was created by Brahma in the very first manvantra. The Lunar dynasty is supposed to have come from Sage Atri. Soma is the moon God, his dynasty is called as the Lunar Dynasty.

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Shri Sukha tells Maharaj Pariskhit that he will explain about the dynasty of the moon God.

श्रीशुक उवाच

अथातः श्रूयतां राजन वंशः सोमस्य पवनः |

यस्मिन्नैलादयो भूपाः कीर्त्यन्ते पुण्यकीर्तयः || SB 9.14.1

Shri Suka said to Mahārāja Parīkṣit: O King, thus far you have heard the description of the dynasty of the sun-god. Now hear the most glorious and purifying description of the dynasty of the moon-god.

तस्य दृग्भ्योअभवत पुत्रः सोमो अमृतमयः किल | SB 9.14.3

From Atri’s tears of jubilation was born a son named Soma, the moon, who was full of soothing rays.

In the fourth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, it is been described that there were three sons born of Sage Atri and his wife Anusuya.

अत्रेः पत्न्या अनुसुया त्रीञ्जज्ञे सुयशसः सुतान् |

दत्तं दुर्वाससं सोमं आत्मेश ब्रह्मसम्भवान् || SB 4.1.15

Anusuya, the wife of Sage Atri, gave birth to three very famous sons - Duttatreya, Durvasa and Soma who were partial representations Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma respectively.