4.8 Mathematics, Zero, Infinity and Vishnu :

4.8.1 After discussing the macrocosmic and microcosmic phenomena, the immutable, the knower of the field and his endless attributes, it is appropriate that we talk a little about mathematics – how He is described as ‘Shunyah’ (emptiness) and Infinite, and their role in development of mathematics, before we proceed further.
4.8.2 In the Vedic period, records of mathematical activity are mostly found associated with rituals. Arithmetic operations (Ganitam) such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions, etc. are enumerated in Narada Vishnu purana, attributed to sage Vyasa. Examples of geometric knowledge (Rekha Ganitam) are found in the Sulva Sutras of Boudhayana (800 BCE) and Apastambha (600 BCE), which describe techniques for construction of the ritual altars.
4.8.3 Space and time were considered limitless in Jain Cosmology. This led to a deep interest in very large numbers and infinite numbers and to develop the notion of logarithms. Buddhist literature also demonstrates awareness of indeterminate and infinite numbers.
4.8.4 Philosophical formulations concerning ‘Shunyah’, that is emptiness or void facilitated in the introduction of the concept of zero (bindu). The importance of zero as an empty place holder in the place value system of numerals is well known from ancient times. The algebraic definitions of zero and its relationship to mathematical functions were developed by Brahmagupta (7th century AD), though opinions are also on record that zero was implied even earlier by Aryabhatta (476 BCE) in his treatise.
4.8.5 Be that, as it may, the recorded reference to shunya and infinity exists in Vishnu sahasranama in the Namaavalis 742 and 743, of shloka 79. The Lord is praised as : ‘Vishamah”: (742) – One to whom there is no equal because nothing is comparable to him. If there is none equal to him, how can anything be greater? – the concept of infinite.
‘Shunyah’ : (743) – One who, being without any attributes, appears as ‘Shunyah’ (emptiness).
Closely follow three other names :
‘Dhritaasih’; - One whose blessings are unfailing, but how can emptiness confer unfailing bliss?
‘Achalah’ : - One who cannot be deprived of His real nature as Truth, Intelligence and Infinity.
‘Chalah’ : - One who moves.

4.8.6 Let us see these in the context of zero. Zero before an integer has no value but after a number, assumes any value depending upon its place. We all know that the smaller the value of the divisor in the division function, the value of the quotient becomes bigger. If the divisor is zero, then the quotient is infinite and that is ‘Vishamah’. Thus, we see the concept of zero, infinity and its place value in numerals, have all been already expressed in a small list of five names of Lord Vishnu.
4.8.7 This simple notational system conceived in Indian scriptures and its significance have been appreciated and integrated later in the Western system. In the words of the great French mathematician of Napoleon’s time, Laplace (of Laplace transformations fame) , ‘ the ingenious method of expressing every possible number using a set of ten symbols, each symbol having a place value and an absolute value, emerged in India. The idea seems so simple nowadays, that its significance and profound importance is no longer appreciated. Its simplicity lies in the way it facilitated calculation and placed arithmetic foremost amongst useful inventions’.

4.9 Purushottamah: Sloka 3, Nama 24
4.9.1 We discussed Purusha above and saw his attributes and his relationship with Akshara. Why call him again as “Purushottamah’ by the superlative form of Purusha, just after a few Naamaavalis? Let us see.


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4.9.2 Again, a whole chapter 15 of Bhagwat Geeta is devoted to ‘Purushottama Yoga’. Sloka 15.18 says “As I transcend the perishable and am even above the imperishable, therefore, am I known in the world and in the Veda as “Purushottama” the highest Purusha.

4.9.3. We saw earlier that the atoms are quite durable and that the electrons appear at the same time to be present everywhere and no where, to explain one of His names. Lets us see further.

4.9.4 Breaking up atoms is easy. We do it each time we switch on a fluorescent light. But it is the breaking up of the atomic nucleii which cracks up the physicist. When they tried to accelerate a proton or other charged particles at an extremely high speed and banged it to another particle, they began to find or postulate smaller particles called Muons, Pions, Hyperons, Mesons, Bosons and so on. They found that these transient particles can come into being and gone again in as little as 10-24 second. “Every second, the earth is visited by ten thousand trillion trillion massless neutrinos shot out by the nuclear reaction of the sun, while converting its Hydrogen to Helium, and virtually all of them pass through the planet and every thing that is on it, including you and me”.

4.9.5 In an attempt to draw things together, the physicists have come up with a ‘Superstring’ theory. They postulate “ that all these ‘small particles’ are actually ‘strings’, vibrating strings of energy that oscillate in eleven dimensions, three we know already and seven others, yet unknown to us”.

4.9.6 The upshot of all this is that we live in a universe whose age one can not quite compute, surrounded by stars whose distances from us and between each other, we do not know, filled with matter we can not identify operating in conformity with physical laws, whose properties we don’t truly understand (Quoted from Bryson 2003).

If this is not “Purushottama”, what else is?

4.10 Sivah Sloka 4 Nama 27

4.10.1 Meaning absolutely pure, pure because of the absence of the three inappropriate, though logically correct, Gunas or characters:-

1. Avyaapti- a statement incorrectly considered as universal; eg all cows are white.

2. Ativyaapti– Unique observation justified as universal; eg, crows are black, crows are birds, therefore, birds are black
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3. Asambhavam– Totally impossible; eg taking bath in a mirage.

This nama represents the Lord who is rid of these three myths.


4.11 Prabhavah, Prabhuh Sloke 4, Namas 34, 35.

Prabhavah : Source

Prabhuh : Lord

4.11.1 The goal of life may vary from person to person, but they can all be grouped into three classes.

(i) Striving for long, efficient life (Sat).

(ii) Seeking after wider knowledge (Chit).

(iii) Searching for more happiness (Ananda).

They can be summarized as sat-chit-ananda or more famously the 3 L’s, Life, Light and Love.

4.11.2 Even as the sea is the origin for the waves, the Lord is for the entire creation. Electricity manifests itself in different forms- heat, cold, light, breeze etc but the source of energy for all these manifestations is the same (Prabhavah and Prabhuh).