One of the divine names of Lord Vishnu is Pundarikaksha. Pundarika means lotus. Do you know how he received this name?

Once, Vishnu was performing Shiva Puja. He had collected 1,008 lotus flowers to offer while chanting the Shiva Sahasranama. To test Vishnu's devotion, Lord Shiva secretly removed one lotus flower.

As Vishnu chanted and offered each flower, at the end, he noticed one was missing. Without hesitation, he plucked out one of his own eyes and offered it in place of the missing flower.

Pleased with Vishnu's unwavering devotion, Lord Shiva appeared before him. He placed a lotus in place of Vishnu's eye and blessed him with the name Pundarikaksha.

It was during this event that Shiva also gifted Vishnu the Sudarshana Chakra.

Knowledge Bank

Purpose of Puja

Puja is performed to connect with the divine and experience God's presence. It removes the imagined barrier between the soul and God, allowing God's light to shine unobstructed. Through puja, we align our lives with God's will, turning our bodies and actions into instruments of divine purpose. This practice helps us experience the joy and bliss of God's playful activities (leela). By engaging in puja, we can see the world as a divine realm and all beings as manifestations of God. This leads to a deep sense of unity and bliss, helping us immerse ourselves in divine joy and become one with it.

What does Gabha mean?

Garbha in Sanskrit means the embryo. गीर्यते जीवसञ्चितफलदात्रा ईश्वरेण जठरगह्वरे स्थाप्यते इति गर्भः - to undergo the results of one’s own past karma, the almighty places it in the cavity of the belly.