Vishnu Shatpadi stotram

Adi Shankara describes six characteristics of Vishnu in Vishnu Shatpadi stotram. The six characteristics of Vishnu described are

1. Vishnu eliminates pride by being our controlling manas that removes mirages we see.
2. Vishnu is like the pollens flowing in a river, bliss that spreads everywhere spurring creation.
3. Like ocean has waves and waves don’t make an ocean, we are manifestations of Vishnu, we never become Vishnu
4. Vishnu makes everything to manifest and does not hide anything
5. Vishnu descends into multiple manifestations, governs Universe on behalf of parameswara.
6. Holds and control the guna, removing fear in everything

Example by mahA-periyava A paper in which something is written gets burnt and becomes blackened. Yet we are able to read letters in it. When it further gets burnt it becomes white ashes where nothing is visible. The intermediate blackened stage is Vishnu, ultimate white ash is Shiva.

When manifestations burn up to lose color and form, they become ‘mass’ of particles, which further burns up and becomes energy. Vishnu is the ‘mass’ in between that holds the Universe. Shiva is the ultimate energy. Manas is the ‘butter’ that floats on top when curd of consciousness is stirred.

When stirring stops sufficiently, manas the butter dissolves into curd of consciousness and is no longer identifiable. (CU 6.1, 6.2) A person in deathbed is able to recognize others as long as manas (that controls the prAnA) is differentiated from the consciousness.

Once manas merges into the consciousness, it loses control of prAna and person dies. (CU 6.15) Vishnu is the ‘manas’ (the intermediate stage) that floats on top of Shiva, the consciousness. If Shiva is like Energy underlying all the Universe matter forms, Vishnu is the property of ‘Mass’ that underlies all the Universe’s matter forms.

If Shiva is like consciousness underlying all biological forms, Vishnu is the ‘manas’ that underlies all the Universe’s biological forms.