Of Stones and Shells

Partha Desikan

Professor Sethuramayya’s haiku, Avani and Ishaan

Partha Desikan

Prologue:
The very large span in seven of the eight aishvaryas (as different from corresponding siddhis which men attain through sadhana) that Bhagavan possesses is indicated in sloka 90 of the Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, along with its significance to the cosmic creation play. Bhagavan is of course Vishnu and Vyapaka, a great spanner of extremes. This sloka has 12 names in it, numbering 839 to 850.
839. Bhagavan is anu: the very first, very minute singularity that was created by his srshtisankalpa. (animaa)
840. He is brhat, huge, the vast expanse of all his creation. (mahimaa)