Vyuha Doctrine — Four Cosmic Emanations
व्यूहसिद्धान्तः
The central doctrine of Pancharatra theology. The supreme Vishnu (Para Vasudeva) emanates into four Vyuhas: (1) Vasudeva — pure consciousness, source of Jnana and Bala; (2) Sankarshana — cosmic dissolution, source of Aishvarya and Virya; (3) Pradyumna — creation, source of Shakti and Tejas; (4) Aniruddha — sustenance and governance. These four create the cosmos and preside over the four functions of existence.
Shlokas (2)
+ Add ShlokaThe Four Vyuhas (Sattvata Samhita)
Sattvata Samhita / Ahirbudhnya Samhita
वासुदेवः परं ब्रह्म संकर्षणश्च जीवकृत्। प्रद्युम्नो मनसः कर्ता अनिरुद्धोऽहंकृतिः स्मृतः॥
Vāsudevaḥ paraṃ brahma Saṃkarṣaṇaśca jīvakṛt, Pradyumno manasaḥ kartā Aniruddho'haṃkṛtiḥ smṛtaḥ.
Vasudeva is the Supreme Brahman; Sankarshana is the source of individual souls; Pradyumna is the creator of the cosmic mind; Aniruddha is identified with the cosmic ego (ahamkara).
The Supreme Para Vasudeva
Bhagavad Gita 10.12 (cited in Pancharatra commentaries)
परं ब्रह्म परं धाम पवित्रं परमं भवान्। पुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यमादिदेवमजं विभुम्॥
Paraṃ brahma paraṃ dhāma pavitraṃ paramaṃ bhavān, puruṣaṃ śāśvataṃ divyamādidevamajaṃ vibhum.
You are the Supreme Brahman, the Supreme Abode, the supremely pure. You are the eternal, divine, primordial God — unborn and all-pervading.