The Pancharatra ideology :
Adi murthi or Para Vasudeva
Santha
Adi murthi or Para Vasudeva represents , in the Pancharatra ideology , the transcendental form ( Para ) of Vishnu , abiding in the highest realm . Parama-Pada ( Vaikunta ), as the divinely auspicious and charming image ( Divya Mangala Vigraha ). He has four arms and seated in a relaxed posture on the coils of the serpent Adishesha ( Ananta ) who represents the premordial principles of time ( Anantotsange Smasinam ). The five hoods of serpent are spread over the head of Vishnu as a parasol .
He is associated with Lakshmi ( Sri ) and ever attended by Garuda , Vishvaksena and others . He is complete with all the six attributes in their entirety ( Shadguna Paripurna ); Wisdom ( Jnana ), Sovereignty ( Aiswarya ), Energy ( Sakti ), Strength ( Bala ), Valour ( Virya ) and Lustre ( Tejas ).
At his instance ( i . e by the power of his will , ichha sakti ) Lakshmi differentiates herself into the power of action ( Kriya Sakti ) and the power of becoming ( Buthi Sakti ). Because of these three powers the emanations proceed ( Vyuha ): Vyuha Vasudeva as the purusha ; Vyuha Sankarshana as the prakrti ; and Aniruddha as ahamkara ( cosmic self consciousness ). These are various manifestations of the six divine attributes mentioned above .
He is four armed . His front left hand is placed upon his left leg and his front right hand is holding a phala . His upper hands carry Shanka ( Conch ) and Chakra ( Discus ). He is bedecked with all the ornaments .
The Sheshashayana Para Vasudeva became a regular features in almost all the later narrative depictions in sculptures and the paintings . The Chalukyan artists introduced this feature and it continued even after them .
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