Vishṇu Śarmā

Vishṇu Śarmā was a devout Vaishṇava brāhmaṇa. He did tapas (austerity) for three years at Ayodhyā. Bhagavān Vishṇu appeared before him and made two sacred places there: Cakratīrtha, and the mūrti (sacred image) of Bhagavān Vishṇu known as Vishṇuhari. The name Vishṇuhari joins the devotee’s name, Vishṇu Śarmā, with the name of Bhagavān Hari. Vishṇuhari presides over the tīrthas (pilgrimage places) of Ayodhyā, and pilgrims to the city begin their yātrā (pilgrimage) with a visit to Vishṇuhari.

The pilgrim

Vishṇu Śarmā knew the essence of the Vedas and the Vedāṅgas. He was devoted to holy rites and absorbed in bhakti (devotion) to Bhagavān Vishṇu. He came to Ayodhyā during his pilgrimage.

On arriving, he was sure that Bhagavān Vishṇu must be present in Ayodhyā in person. This certainty came from his knowledge of the Purāṇas and the depth of his bhakti. To bring about a direct darśana (sight) of Bhagavān Vishṇu, he began severe tapas.

Three years of tapas

His tapas was arranged through the seasons.

• Summer: he sat in the middle of the pañcāgni (five fires): fire blazing on four sides and the sun overhead.
• Rainy season: he stayed in the rain with no shelter.
• Early winter (Hemanta): he took holy baths in the cold lake and did Vishṇu pūjā by the rules.

All this time he lived on green roots and fruits. He brought all his senses under control and kept his mind free from impurities. He fixed his mind on Bhagavān Vishṇu alone. He practised prāṇāyāma (control of the vital breath) and repeated the syllable Oṃ again and again, so that the lotus of his heart opened.

Inside the lotus of the heart he pictured the circles (maṇḍalas) of the Sun, the Moon and Agni. Within them he meditated on Bhagavān Hari in a form with a body, wearing yellow robes and holding the conch, the discus and the iron club (gadā). He worshipped him with flowers. He meditated on Bhagavān Hari as Brahman, and he repeated the twelve-syllable mantra:

Oṃ namo bhagavate Vāsudevāya

This means “Oṃ, salutations to Bhagavān Vāsudeva.”

This tapas went on for exactly three years.

The stotra and the appearance of Bhagavān Acyuta

At the end of three years, Vishṇu Śarmā offered an earnest stotra (hymn of praise). In it he called Bhagavān Vishṇu by many names: Vishṇu, Kṛshṇa, Rāma, Nārāyaṇa, the lotus-navelled one, the slayer of Kaiṭabha, the supporter of Mount Mandara, the master of all yajñas, the infinite one, and the father and mother of all worlds.

Bhagavān Acyuta was pleased by this praise, offered with great devotion, and appeared before him. He sat on Garuḍa, held the conch, the discus and the iron club, and wore yellow robes. He said:

“O dear one, I am pleased with your great tapas now. All your pāpa (sin) has gone because of this prayer. Choose your vara (boon). No one who has not performed tapas can see me.”

The vara: Vishṇuhari and Cakratīrtha

Vishṇu Śarmā asked for one thing only: firm bhakti to Bhagavān Vishṇu. He did not ask for power, wealth or moksha (liberation). This unselfish request moved Bhagavān Vishṇu deeply. He granted the vara and went further. He said:

“May your steady devotion to me be the giver of moksha. May your Vaishṇava devotion to me stay firm. Let the river Jāhnavī, the giver of moksha, be present right here. O greatly fortunate one, this holy place will become famous by your name.”

With these words, Bhagavān Vishṇu dug the earth with his Sudarśana Cakra (discus). The holy waters of Gaṅgā came up from the nether worlds. This place became known as Cakratīrtha, the tīrtha of the Cakra.

Bhagavān Vishṇu then said: “Let my mūrti stay here with your name placed before it. It shall be well known as Vishṇuhari. It shall be the giver of moksha.”

Vishṇu Śarmā then set up a mūrti of Bhagavān Vishṇu at that spot. Since then, Bhagavān Vishṇu has lived at Ayodhyā as Vishṇuhari, holding the conch, the discus and the iron club, and wearing yellow garments.

The yearly festival of Vishṇuhari begins on the tenth day of the bright half of Kārttika and ends on Pūrṇimā, the full-moon day.

Sources

• Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Ayodhyā Māhātmya, Chapter 1