Garbhodakasayi Vishnu











The Indictment of Vishnu: A Storybook Introduction



Lord Yama (the Bailiff):  Hear ye.  Hear ye.  All rise for the honorable Judge Brahma.  The Court of Heaven is called to order.

Brahma, upon reaching the bench:  Please be seated.  Bailiff Yama, please name the defendant and read the charges against him.

Yama:  In accordance with the laws of the universe, both of dharma and of karma, WE the attendants and protectors of all creation hereby accuse Lord Vishnu, the Preserver, with acts not in keeping with said laws.  As such he shall be afforded a trial by jury and allowed to choose his own representation for the arguments in his defense. 

Brahma:  Has the accused chosen his counsel?

Vishnu:  I have, your Lordship. 

Brahma:  Then, announce your choice.

Vishnu:  I have chosen my loyal friend Garuda, the all-knowing. 

Brahma:  Very well.  And is the prosecution prepared to offer its arguments?

Ganesha:  We are, Your Honor.

Brahma:  Indra, you have been chosen as foreman of the jury.  Are the members of the jury prepared to hear opening arguments?

Indra (Jury Foreman):  We are, indeed.

Brahma:  Then let us proceed.

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    This storybook will center around four stories of Vishnu and his avatars.  Vishnu is a Hindu god.   Along with the gods Brahma and Shiva, Vishnu is part of the Trimurti (think Triumvirate of gods) which represents creation, preservation, and destruction.  Vishnu's role is the Preserver, and his avatars come to Earth to put humankind back on the right path when the evils of the world have led them astray.  The right path in Hinduism is the path of Dharma.  Dharma is a Hindu principle of proper living which deals with right action as it relates to duty, honor, and compassion.  It is similar to justice.  The opposite of Dharma is Adharma (injustice). 

    Dharma is very important in determining how a person should behave in Hindu ethics.  However, it is not always easy to know the Dharmic way.  At times, even those who try vehemently to adhere to Dharma are unable to do so.  Conversely, one can follow the path of Dharma but be misunderstood by others.  For each story in this storybook, there is some disagreement about whether Vishnu acted in accordance with Dharma.  It will be the Court's mission to decide whether Vishnu or his avatars, indeed, acted Adharmically or if others have simply misunderstood the Dharma of his actions.  Each story will begin with the courtroom dialogue format.  Then, one or more depositions will be read to provide the narrative of events from the story.

    The reason that Vishnu is on trial is that he is supposed to uphold Dharma above all others.  The avatars of Vishnu are responsible for bringing Dharma back to humankind.  They do this by destroying evil men and demons as well as by setting an example for good people to follow.  This storybook will charge Vishnu and his avatars with failing in their attempts to live Dharma while on Earth.

    Another important principle in Hinduism is Karma.  Karmic debt is the consequence of Adharmic actions.  In other words, when someone acts in contradiction to Dharma, they acrue a debt equal to the negative impact of their actions.  Karmic debt can be both built up (by bringing about injustice) and worked off (by atoning for injustice).  Simply put, a person's Karmic debt is the sum total of the good and bad consequences of his actions.  In Hinduism, Karma carries over from one life to the next, in the cycle of reincarnation.  In this storybook, Vishnu will be held ultimately responsible for the Karma of his incarnations.


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VISHNU - Vishnu is the Preserver.  His role is very important in Hindu culture, as he protects humanity.  Vishnu himself will stand trial for the killing of the brahmin's wife.  He is also charged with killing many drought demons after they had obtained the promise of peaceful surrender from Aja, King of Ayodhya.  Moreover, Vishnu is responsible for the acts of his avatars, since they are incarnations of himself.  He has incarnated nine times, but this storybook will only deal with those listed below.  His avatars have come to Earth in each of three eras (called Yugas in the Hindu tradition), but these stories all come from the second and third Yugas, Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga respectively. The characters are listed below in chronological order of their incarnations on Earth. 

VAMANA - Vamana is the fifth incarnation of Vishnu.  He was a dwarf, born to a brahmin family.  He came to Earth in the Treta Yuga to save Creation from the demon king Bali.

PARASHURAMA - Vishnu incarnated as Parashurama during the Treta Yuga to put an end to a time of war.  He was the sixth incarnation.  The world was overpopulated with warriors (called kshatriyas), and Parashurama destroyed a great many of them.  He stands trial for teaching the Brahmastra, a powerful weapon, to Karna.  Karna was a kshatriya who was able to trick Parashurama into believing that he was a brahmin. 

RAMA - Rama is the seventh incarnation of Vishnu.  He came to Earth during the Treta Yuga, and was born a prince of Ayodhya.  He was incarnated to rid the seven worlds of Ravana, the demon king of Lanka.  He is accused of Adharma for the killing of Vali, the monkey king.  It is charged that Rama's did not have justification, and--for that reason--the killing Vali constitutes murder.  It's also charged that Rama used dishonorable means to defeat Vali, by hiding in the bushes and ambushing Vali during his combat with Sugreeva, Vali's brother.  Vali himself has testified by deposition.

KRISHNA - Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Vishnu.  He came to Ayodhya in the Dvaphara Yuga.  He is accused of Adharma for the killing of Kansa.

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