May 14: Vishnu Is On-Call to Help You Better Your Life

For many Shivites or worshipers of Shiva, loving Vishnu—the archetype of massive wealth—is a stretch. If you aren’t familiar with the spiritual Indian traditions, Shiva resembles a wandering ascetic—his long hair unkempt, semi-nude body, vacant gaze, he lives in isolation and in perpetual meditation on a mountaintop. He’s the destroyer of the ego, attachment and delusion. Enter his celestial opposite, Vishnu, a cosmic blue being whose role is both preserving life and sustaining the universe. He represents profound well-being and ultimate riches. Usually unavailable to casual calls from pleading humanity, he leaves to his lovely consort, Lakshmi,the task of embellishing creation, bringing gold and wealth to humanity. Yet Vishnu isn’t aloof. In fact, he awakens from his blissful sleep to answer pleas for money during four specific astronomical time shaktis—the energetically powerful Vishnupati days. May 14 brings you one such day for ending money struggles, just as the Sun begins charting its path through a Venus constellation, Taurus— the fixed sign signifying material prosperity and a stable, luxurious life. While to a casual onlooker material wealth may seem unspiritual, the truth is—Vishnu isn’t privy to spiritual evolution. In fact, he also rules enlightenment. On Vishnupati, this blue being can contribute to your evolution and spiritual growth. This makes sense if we consider that the great majority of the world’s population lives on less than $3 a day—meaning that billions of people lack the basic requirements for a dignified human life. And how can one think of God or evolution when one’s children are starving? Nearly impossible. So ending stressful conditions and deprivation are effective ways to evolve the soul—guaranteeing plenty of time for an elevated, more spiritual life without suffering.

No Money Limits

Those who are already financially stable can also receive help from Vishnu. Millionaires, for instance, can acquire a billionaire status through astrology or help from powerful celestial beings like Vishnu. But we must remember that Taurus planets tend to hoard material possessions—a tendency that isn’t conducive to true happiness. Instead, as Dr. Pillai suggests, we can attain an ideal life free of disease and poverty, enjoying the abundance the earth provides, while also helping the underprivileged and contributing to a better, more just world.

Vishnu Myth

In the Rig Veda, Vishnu is both an infinite and all-powerful being. He’s portrayed as a warrior fighting and defeating terrible Asuras (or demons) at the side of his brother Indra, the king of the Gods. Vishnu, also known as Narayana, sleeps lying down on a coiled serpent, Adi Shesha, signifying both eternal stillness and (at times excessive) reliance on the senses. Narayana’s body is dark blue like wet, stormy clouds. Vishnu has four arms holding a lotus flower, a mace, a conch, and a discus known as Sudarshana chakra—symbols of his powers as the bringer of wealth and protection from dark forces.

The Great Flood

The first incarnation of Vishnu on the earth plane was Matsya or the Fish Avatar. During the first Satya Yuga—or Era of Righteousness—a king named Manu observed severe penances in honor of the Creator Gods. One day as he was bathing during his worship in a local river, a small fish jumped into his hands and asked the king to save its life. Compassionately, the king accepted and put the fish in a jar of water. When the fish grew in size beyond the constraints of the jar, the king threw it back into the river. Soon the fish grew so much that not even the river could host him. The king then threw it into the Ganges. The same happened when the fish outgrew the Ganga. When the time came to throw the fish in the much vaster ocean, the king finally realized that this was none other than Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu appreciated the help from the king and assigned to him a very special task. He announced that the world would soon come to an end due to a great flood. He asked the king to build a huge boat, taking also seven sages, seven seeds of each plant, one animal of each species to save them from drowning and destruction. He also promised him protection and help by pushing the boat onto Mount Himavan, which would ensure the survival of the Earth’s population, fauna and flora, ushering the beginning of the new yuga or era. On May 14, you can appeal to Vishnu and Lakshmi by reciting their respective vibrational sounds: OM NAMO NARAYANA and SHREEM 108 times each. You can also participate in the available powerful rituals in honor of Vishnu by sponsoring Fire Labs—the ultimate means of communication for calling on benevolent celestial beings and receive their favors. Happy Vishnupati! By Donatella Lalitha Riback