Category:God's Plenary Expansions
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is not a solitary figure but continuously expands Himself into innumerable forms to execute different functions in the material and spiritual worlds. These expansions are known as viṣṇu-tattva, or plenary expansions (such as Nārāyaṇa, Rāma, Nṛsiṁha, and the three puruṣa-avatāras). Unlike the living entities, who are separated minute expansions (vibhinnāṁśa), the plenary expansions (svāṁśa) are equally potent and fully equipped with all the opulences of the original Personality of Godhead. Although they act in various capacities—such as maintaining the universes or entering everyone's heart as the Supersoul—all plenary expansions are identical in their supreme spiritual nature and are absolute objects of worship for pure devotees.
- The Original Fountainhead and His Expansions: The primeval Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is the original source from whom all plenary expansions and incarnations emanate to execute His supreme will.
- The Cosmic Administrators: The Lord expands as the three puruṣa-avatāras (Mahā-Viṣṇu, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, and Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu) to perfectly create, maintain, and oversee the material universes.
- The Omnipresent Supersoul: Through His plenary expansion as Paramātmā, the Supreme Lord sits in the heart of every living entity, acting as the ultimate guide, witness, and well-wisher.
- The Absolute Equality of Viṣṇu-tattva: Every plenary expansion of the Lord possesses the exact same supreme potency, opulence, and infallible nature as the original Personality of Godhead.
- Plenary Expansions vs. Separated Parts: It is crucial to distinguish between the Lord's plenary expansions (svāṁśa), who are absolute, and the living entities (vibhinnāṁśa), who are minute, separated parts.
- The Transcendental Destinations: The innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets in the spiritual sky are presided over by the various plenary expansions of Nārāyaṇa, offering eternal association to pure devotees.
- The Vision of a Pure Devotee: A liberated soul sees beyond material bodily designations, recognizing the presence of the spiritual spark and the Lord's plenary expansion as the Supersoul everywhere.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: The Absolute Truth of God's Plenary Expansions.
Subcategories
This category has the following 8 subcategories, out of 8 total.
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G
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Pages in category "God's Plenary Expansions"
The following 92 pages are in this category, out of 92 total.
1
A
- A devotee's vision must be perfect. He should ignore bodily distinctions and should see only the presence of the part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, and the Lord Himself in His plenary expansion as Supersoul. That is the vision of a pure devotee
- Accompanied by plenary expansions, the fully opulent Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is all-auspicious for the entire universe, was transferred from the mind of Vasudeva to the mind of Devaki - SB 10.2.18
- All the incarnations appearing within this material universe are plenary expansions from Ksirodakasayi Visnu. Therefore, the business of minimizing the overload of sinful activities on this earth does not belong to the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- All the plenary expansions of the Personality of Godhead are equally potent, as confirmed in the Brahma-samhita (BS 5.38): The Lord expands Himself as the flames of a fire expand one after another
- Although His (Krsna's) personal abode is Goloka Vrndavana & He is always staying there, still, by His different manifestations of energy and by His plenary expansion, He is present everywhere in all parts of the material and spiritual creation. BG 1972 p
- As we have discussed many times, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krsna has many plenary expansions, and each and every one of them, although equally powerful, executes different functions
B
- Because of their (the plenary expansions and incarnations of the Supreme Lord) activities in controlling maya, sometimes they are known as mayika, or having a relationship with maya. This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam - SB 2.6.42
- Because the Supreme Personality of Godhead has entered this cosmic manifestation in the form of His plenary expansion and caused the creation, the Vaisnava philosophers see everything in this material world in relationship with the Supreme Lord
- Before the creation there were no Karanarnavasayi or Garbhodakasayi or Ksirodakasayi Visnus, or was there Brahma nor Sankara. The Visnu plenary expansion and the living entities beginning from Brahma are separated parts and parcels
- Brahma is the plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Svayambhuva Manu was the direct son of Brahma
- By His partial plenary expansion (Maha-visnu), He enters into material nature, and then into each and every universe (as Garbhodakasayi Visnu), and then (as Ksirodakasayi Visnu) into all the elements, including every atom of matter
D
- Demigods and all other living entities belong to the energy principle, as does the universe itself. No one but the Lord and His plenary expansions are in the category of the energetic principle
- Due to His causeless mercy upon all living entities within the universe, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, along with His plenary extensions, appeared in the family of Maharaja Iksvaku as the Lord of His internal potency, Sita
E
- Even in the nonliberated stage, a living entity can be directly engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Personality of Godhead Lord Krsna or His plenary expansions like Rama and Narasimha
- Expansions of the Lord are limitless, but some of them are the living entities. The living entities are not as powerful as the Lord's plenary expansions, and therefore there are two different types of expansions
H
- Had Krsna been a plenary expansion of Narayana, the original verse would have been differently composed; indeed, its order would have been reversed. But there cannot be mistakes, illusion, cheating or imperfect perception in the words of liberated sages
- He (God) can so exist because He is all-perfect and omnipotent. Everything other than Him, including His plenary expansions, the visnu-tattvas, is His part and parcel
- He (Sankarsana) is an infallible plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the Visnu category, and He is beyond the creation of material nature. He is the original source of the living entities
- He (the devotee) should ignore bodily distinctions and should see only the presence of the part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, and the Lord Himself in His plenary expansion as Supersoul
- He was a leader among gentlemen and a servant of the devotees. He was a totally qualified plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore who could equal him in the performance of gigantic ritualistic ceremonies?
- Here (in BG 8.8) it is clearly stated that the supreme enjoyer is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His different manifestations and plenary expansions as Narayana, Vasudeva, etc. BG 1972 purports
- Here in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the most authentic scripture on the science of Godhead, it is clearly stated that His brothers were His plenary expansions
- How is Pradyumna, the great general of the Vrsni family? Is He happy? And is Aniruddha, the plenary expansion of the Personality of Godhead, faring well?
I
- If all of them (all species of life) were plenary expansions of the Supreme Absolute Truth, then there would be no question of liberation, because Brahman would already be liberated.
- In the Brahma-samhita it is stated that the Supreme Lord, by His partial or plenary expansion, is present not only within this universe and each and every universe, but in every atom, although He is one without a second
- In the reservoir of water first created by the perspiration of Garbhodakasayi Visnu, the Lord lies on the Sesa plenary expansion of Visnu, who is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam and in the four Vedas
- In the spiritual world, however, beyond the mahat-tattva, there is no question of incarnations, but there are plenary expansions of the Lord in different Vaikunthas
- In the tenth and eleventh verses Krsnadasa Kaviraja describes Garbhodakasayi Visnu and Ksirodakasayi Visnu, successive plenary expansions of Maha-Visnu. Brahma appears upon a lotus growing from the navel of Garbhodakasayi Visnu - CC Intro
- In their prophecies the learned sages and brahmanas accepted Prthu Maharaja as a plenary partial expansion of the Lord. During the presence of Lord Krsna a king declared himself Vasudeva, and Lord Krsna killed him
- In this dynasty the Supreme Personality of Godhead Narayana descended by His plenary expansion. The names of the sons of Aditi are as follows: Vivasvan, Aryama, Pusa, Tvasta, Savita, Bhaga, Dhata, Vidhata, Varuna, Mitra, Satru and Urukrama
- In this verse (SB 3.28.12) it is clearly stated that one must meditate by fixing the vision on the tip of the nose and concentrating one's mind on the kala, or the plenary expansion, of Visnu
- It is not contradictory for a devotee to call the Supreme Lord by any one of the various names of His plenary expansions, because the original Personality of Godhead includes all such categories
- It is said that Arjuna is an empowered incarnation of Nara-Narayana. He is even sometimes called Nara-Narayana. The Nara-Narayana incarnation is also one of Lord Visnu's plenary expansions
- It is stated clearly here (in SB 3.29.22) that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His plenary expansion of Supersoul, is present in all living entities
- It was foretold that all the asuras, who are enemies of the demigods, would be cut down by Lord Visnu by His white and black plenary expansions and that the Supreme Personality of Godhead would appear and perform wonderful activities
L
- Lord Brahma is a powerful expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although Brahma is jiva-tattva, he is empowered by the Lord, and therefore he is considered a plenary expansion of the Supreme Godhead
- Lord Krsna is Narayana, the father of Brahma, because Lord Krsna's plenary expansion Garbhodakasayi Visnu, after placing Himself on the Garbha Ocean, created Brahma from His own body
- Lord Rama is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His brothers, namely Bharata, Laksmana and Satrughna, are His plenary expansions. All four brothers are visnu-tattva and were never ordinary human beings
M
- Maitreya continued: O best of the Kuru dynasty (Vidura), I shall now describe before you the descendants of Svayambhuva Manu, who was born of a part of a plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- May I (Vidura) inquire whether Aniruddha is doing well? He is the fulfiller of all the desires of the pure devotees and has been considered from yore to be the cause of the Rg Veda, the creator of the mind and the fourth Plenary expansion of Visnu
N
- Nalakuvara & Manigriva said: You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, cause the birth and death as well as the liberation of the living entities, and You are full with all Your plenary expansions. You can bestow on everyone all kinds of benedictions
- No one can reach the spiritual sky or enter into the eternal abode (Vaikuntha Goloka Vrndavana) of the Lord without the proper understanding of Krsna and His plenary expansion Visnu. BG 1972 purports
P
- Paramatma realization - realization of the plenary expansion of the Absolute Truth within everyone’s heart - is also an incomplete understanding of the Absolute Truth
- Persons who are worshipers of Hiranyagarbha, the plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Garbhodakasayi Visnu, do not directly approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Vaikuntha
S
- Sankarsana is the origin of Karana Visnu, who is the original form who creates the universes, and that Sankarsana is but a plenary expansion of Sri Nityananda Rama
- Since the plenary expansions (of Personality of Godhead) exist within the original person, one may call Him by any of these names
- Sukadeva Gosvami said: The best of the ksatriyas, Kartaviryarjuna, the King of the Haihayas, received one thousand arms by worshiping Dattatreya, the plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana
T
- That incarnation is yellowish in hue and is always associated with His plenary expansions (such as Sri Nityananda Prabhu) and personal expansions (such as Gadadhara), as well as His devotees and associates (such as Svarupa Damodara)
- That Lord Krsna is Narayana, the father of Brahma, because Lord Krsna’s plenary expansion Garbhodakasayi Visnu, after placing Himself on the Garbha Ocean, created Brahma from His own body
- The devotee, who wants to enjoy the association of the Lord, enters into the Vaikuntha planets, which are innumerable, & the Supreme Lord by His plenary expansions as Narayana with 4 hands & with different names associates with him. BG 1972 Introduction
- The great sages said: The male is a plenary expansion of the power of Lord Visnu, who maintains the entire universe, and the female is a plenary expansion of the goddess of fortune, who is never separated from the Lord
- The heart of every living entity is the seat of the Supersoul, Paramatma, a plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Without His presence the living entity cannot get into the working energy according to his past deeds
- The Lord expands Himself into plenary parts and separated parts to enjoy transcendental pastimes, and if a living being refuses to engage in these transcendental blissful pastimes, he is at liberty to merge into the Absolute
- The Lord's family members were either incarnations of His plenary expansions or demigods from the heavenly planets, and thus before His departure He separated them by His internal potency
- The mahat-tattva is chiefly in the mode of ignorance, and it generates the false ego. It is a plenary expansion of the Personality of Godhead, with full consciousness of creative principles and time for fructification
- The Paramatma feature of the Personality of Godhead is one of three plenary expansions, or visnu-tattvas, collectively known as the purusa-avataras. One of these visnu-tattvas who is within the universe is known as Ksirodakasayi Visnu
- The personal plenary expansions are visnu-tattvas, and the separated expansions are living entities. Since the living entities are very small, they are sometimes described as the marginal energy of the Lord
- The presiding Deity of the anti-material world is Sri Krsna, who exists in His original personality as well as in His many plenary expansions
- The saintly persons and great sages predicted the future activities of King Prthu, who was already explained as a partial incarnation of a plenary expansion of the Lord
- The source of the sentiment of servitude is indeed Lord Balarama. The plenary expansions who follow Him are all influenced by that ecstasy
- The Supersoul, the plenary expansion of the Personality of Godhead, exists in everyone's heart, but in the heart of the devotee He reveals Himself as ever-increasingly new
- The Supreme Lord expands Himself in two ways - by personal plenary expansions and separated minute expansions
- The Supreme Lord has two kinds of parts and parcels: the living entity is called vibhinnamsa, and the Paramatma, or the plenary expansion of the Supreme Lord, is called svamsa
- The Supreme Person, in His different plenary expansions, lives on innumerable Vaikuntha planets, and the chief planet is Krsnaloka. Just as within the material universe the chief planet is the sun, in the spiritual world the chief planet is Krsnaloka
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead in His plenary expansion as the Paramatma, or Supersoul, sits in everyone's heart and can understand the attitudes and desires of His devotees
- The svamsa plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality is as powerful as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself
- The unconditioned marginal potency acts in the spiritual kingdom, and the Lord, by His different plenary expansions, maintains them in different transcendental relations displayed in the spiritual sky
- The various expansions of the Supreme Lord who act to empower the material energy are known as plenary expansions or incarnations. As illustrated by the example of many flames lit from one flame, all these plenary expansions are as good as Visnu Himself
- There are hundreds and thousands of plenary expansions of Visnu, such as Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and Vasudeva, but here in this material world, the Visvatma, the Supersoul for all living entities, is Ksirodakasayi Visnu
- There are innumerable personalities, but not all of them are direct visnu-tattva plenary expansions of God. Many living entities are classified among the sakti-tattvas. Such incarnations, empowered for specific purposes, are known as saktyavesa-avataras
- There is not even the slightest difference between the potency of the Supreme Person and that of His plenary expansion as Paramatma. But the vibhinnamsa parts and parcels possess only a minute portion of the potencies of the Lord
- These members (Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha) of the quadruple manifestation are never to be considered ordinary living beings. Each of Them is a plenary expansion of the Absolute Godhead
- They (God's intimate pastimes) have nothing to do with the Lord's plenary expansions as the purusavataras and Their pastimes of the creation, maintenance or annihilation of the material worlds - according to fanatics
- They (the citizens of mathura) thought that Krsna and Balarama were two plenary incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, who had appeared in Vrndavana
- They (Uttanapada and Priyavrata) were very competent to rule the universe to maintain and protect the citizens because both of them were descendants of a plenary expansion of Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- This mantra is addressed to the four Deities, or the Lord with His plenary expansions. The central figure is Lord Sri Krsna because the plenary portions are His aides-de-camp
- This personality (Krsna) and His plenary expansions can be known only by antimaterial activities commonly known as bhakti-yoga, or devotional service
W
- When all the brahmanas engage in performing sacrifices in your kingdom, all the demigods, who are plenary expansions of the Lord, will be very much satisfied by their activities and will give you your desired result
- When God descends personally or by His personal plenary expansions, such incarnations are called amsa, kala, guna, yuga & manvantara incarnations, & when God's associates descend by the order of God, such incarnations are called saktyavesa incarnations
- When the body becomes old, a perfect yogi can find a young, able body. Giving up his old body, the yogi can enter into the young body and act as he pleases. Being a plenary expansion of Lord Vasudeva, Lord Rsabhadeva possessed all these mystic yoga powers