Representation of Vishnu, the primary bearer of the epithet

Ananta (Sanskrit: अनन्त, lit. 'Without end'), is a Sanskrit term, and primarily an epithet of Vishnu.[1]

Vaishnavism

Vishnu sleeps on the coils of Ananta (the World Snake). He will awake for the next cycle of creation which heralds the destruction of all things. Sculpture. From India, c. 14th century CE. National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

It is one of many of the names of Vishnu.[2] Ananta is also a name of Shesha, the celestial snake, on which Vishnu reclines in the cosmic ocean.[3]

In the Mahabharata, Ananta, or Shesha, is the son of Kashyapa, one of the Prajapatis, through Kadru as her eldest son. Kadru had asked her sons to stay suspended in the hair of Uchchaihshravas’s tail who on refusing to do so were cursed to die at the serpent-yajna of Janamejaya. Ananta was saved by Brahma who directed him to go to the nether world and support the world on his hoods, and thus became the king of the Nagas in Patala. By the grace of Ananta, Garga was able to master the sciences of astronomy and causation.[4]

It is said that Rudra will emanate from the face of Ananta and consume the three worlds at the end of a kalpa.[4]

Ananta is also an epithet of Brahma, Shiva, Skanda, Krishna, Balarama, earth, and the letter A.[5]

Vedanta

Ananta is one of four types of objects or categories of being:

  • Ananta has a beginning but no end
  • Nitya has neither beginning nor an end
  • Anitya has a beginning and an end
  • Anadi has no beginning, but has an end

According to the Vedanta School, the term Ananta used in the phrase "anadi (beginningless) ananta (endless) akhanda (unbroken) satcitananda (being-consciousness-bliss)" refers to the Infinite, the single non-dual reality.[6]

It denotes Brahman[7] as one of six attributes which are prajna, priyam, satyam, ananta, ananda and stithi that are said to manifest themselves in space, which is common to all six bases.[8]

Brahman has no initial cause and is known as anadikarana, the uncreated who is not a product, which means Brahman has no material cause and is not the material cause of anything.[9] Ananta is the infinite space,[10] the infinite space is Brahman.

Yoga

According to the Yoga School, Ananta is the serpent of infinity who eavesdropped on the secret teaching that was being imparted to Goddess Parvati by Lord Shiva; the secret teaching was Yoga. On being apprehended Ananta was sentenced by Lord Shiva to impart that teaching to human beings for which purpose Ananta assumed the human form and was called Patanjali.[11] In his Yoga Sutras, Patanjali stresses upon the use of breath to achieve perfection in posture which entails steadiness and comfort, by making an effort, the effort meant is the effort of breathing. The effort of breathing has been highlighted by the term, Ananta, in Sutra 2.47.[12] Ananta was called Patanjali because he desired to teach Yoga to human beings, he fell from heaven to earth landing in the palm of a virtuous woman named Gonika.[13]

Jainism

According to Jainism the pure soul of each life form is:[14]

  • Ananta-gyana (Endless Knowledge)
  • Ananta-darshana (Endless Perception)
  • Ananta-caritra (Endless Consciousness)
  • Ananta-sukha (Endless Bliss)


The 14th of the 24 Jain Tirathankaras is known as Ananta or Anant Nath.[15]

Buddhism

Ananta also appears in the Buddhist iconography as one of three female deities emanating from Dhyani Buddha Amitabha.

References

  1. ↑ Roshen Dalal (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books. p. 27. ISBN 9780143414216.
  2. ↑ Shri Vishnu Sahasranamam.
  3. ↑ Stephen Knapp (2005). The Heart of Hinduism: The Eastern Path of Freedom, Empowerment and Illumination. iUniverse. p. 159. ISBN 9780595350759.
  4. 1 2 Parameshwaranand (2001). Encyclopaedic dictionary of the Puranas Vol.1. Sarup and Sons. p. 65. ISBN 9788176252263.
  5. ↑ Ganga Ram Garg (1992). Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 424–5. ISBN 9788170223757.
  6. ↑ Michael James (2012). Happiness and the Art of Being. Arul Books. p. 257. ISBN 9781475111576.
  7. ↑ M.P.Pandit (1988). Upanishads: Gateways of Knowledge. Lotus Press. p. 127. ISBN 9780941524445.
  8. ↑ Paul Deussen (June 2010). The Philosophy of the Upanishads. Cosimo Inc. p. 90. ISBN 9781616402402.
  9. ↑ Narsimhacarana Panda (1995). The Vibrating Universe. Motilal Banarsidas. p. 21. ISBN 9788120812918.
  10. ↑ M.N.Behera (2003). Brownstudy of Heathenland. University Press of America. p. 14. ISBN 9780761826521.
  11. ↑ Gregor Maehle (25 June 2012). Ashtanga Yoga The Intermediate Series: Mythology, anatomy and Practice. New World Library. pp. 41, 134. ISBN 9781577319870.
  12. ↑ Srivatsa Ramaswami (2000). Yoga for Three Stages of Life. Inner Traditions. p. 96. ISBN 9780892818204. ananta meaning of.
  13. ↑ R.S.Bajpai (2002). The Splendours and Dimensions of Yoga. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. p. 113. ISBN 9788171569649.
  14. ↑ Arun Kumar Jain (2009). Faith and Philosophy of Jainism. Gyan Publishing House. p. 6. ISBN 9788178357232.
  15. ↑ Pratiyogita Darpan: General Studies of Indian History. Upkar Prakashan. p. 44.
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