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Vishwaksena – Foremost Deity
Tirumala is a place of eternal auspiciousness, with festivals, fortnightly, monthly and annual festivals for the Lord Srinivasa. In this Adi Varaha Kshetra, the Kainkaryas held for the Lord are held regularly with Vaikhanasam. In every festival held in Vaishnava temples, the programs begin with the worship of Vishwaksena as the Vaishnava Ganapati.
“Yasya dvirada vaktraadya: paarishadya: parasshatam vighnam nighnanti satatam…” Vishwaksena is the eternal abode”. Such Vishwaksena is one of the supreme devotees of Srimannarayana.
Once the gods, unable to bear the sufferings caused by the demons, came to Vaikuntha and prayed to Srimannarayana to save them from the clutches of the demons. Then Vishnu called Chandra and told him to take on the task of the demons.
Appreciating Chandra’s bravery and prowess in chasing and defeating those demons with the grace of the Lord, Narayana gave him the command of the entire army. He is Vishwaksena.
It is said that Vishwaksena is the form of Sri Mahavishnu, who resides in Sri Vaikuntha. He is the leader of all auspiciousness and the remover of obstacles. The Vaikhanas Agama says that those who worship and meditate on Vishwaksena do not face any obstacles, dangers or difficulties.
The Sri Vaishnava Agamas worship Vishwaksena as the foremost deity. Vishwaksena is depicted with four arms, wearing a conch, a discus, and a mace, with his four fingers folded and his index finger pointing upwards. In some images, a staff is worn instead of a mace. The Agamas state that if one takes refuge in the Lord, he will remove all sins and light the light of knowledge in the devotees.
Wives of Vishwaksena
Suthravathi Devi and Jaya Devi are both wives of Vishwaksena. Vishwaksena is the head of all the Vaishnava groups and the commander of Srimannarayana. ‘Vishva’ means the one who leads all these worlds as a ‘sena’. He is the head of the fourteen worlds in this creation: Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Rasatala, Mahatala, Patala, Bhuloka, Bhuvarloka, Suvarloka, Maharloka, Janoloka, Tapoloka, Satyaloka.
Just as the Shaivagama worships Ganapati first in every auspicious event and offers the Agratambulam, the Sri vaikhanasagama worships Vishwaksena first in every event. If the Shaivagama worships Ganapati as a lump of turmeric, the Srivaishnavas worship Vishwaksena as a koorcha. When someone undertakes any event, it becomes successful only through the power of will.
Without a strong will, we cannot do anything. The symbol of such a will is the Rakshabandhana Sutra. The symbol of that will is Sutravathi Devi, who is also the wife of Vishwaksena. Mother Jayadevi, who gives victory to those who accept the Sankalpa without any difficulties or obstacles in their work, is also the wife of Vishwaksena.
In the Tirumala temple, where Nityakainkaryam is conducted according to the Aagama of Srivaikhanasa, every function, such as Nityahomam, Nitya Aradhana, Kalyanotsavam, Vasanthotsavam, Jeshtabhishekam, etc., begins with Vishwaksena Puja.
However, during the Mrit Sangrahana program held the day before during Brahmotsavam, Pavitrotsavam, and Pushpayagam, Vishwaksena, the commander of all armies, proceeds in four streets in a festive atmosphere. He participates in the Medhini Puja in the Vasant Mandapam and departs.
Vishwaksena is the God who conducts all the festivals without any obstacles. Let us devote ourselves to such Vishwaksena in the service of Lord Narayana
