It is said that the Soul has control over the four-fold state – the wakeful state, the dream state, the deep sleep state, and TurIya state where even the breath is suspended. The external senses such as the mind, breath, and suspended breath influence these states.
According to Sri Adi Sankaracharya, the Lord expresses His energies in four forms in each of His acts of Creation, Protection, and Dissolution. To support this, he quotes the following Shloka from the Vishnu Purana –
brahmA dakshAdayah kAlas_tathaivAkhila jantavah
vibhUtayo hareretA jagatah srishti_hetavah (Vishnu Purana)
The four energies of the Lord used for creation are – Brahma, Prajaapati (like Daksha), time, and all existing creatures.
vishNur_manvAdayah kAlah sarva_bhUtAni ca dvija
stither_nimitta_bhUtasya vishNoretA vibhUtayah (Vishnu Puran)
The four engines of the Lord for protection are – the omnipresent Vishnu, the law makers (like Manu), time, and all existing creatures.
rudrah kAlotankAdyASca samastAScaiva jantavah
caturdhA pralayAyaitA janArdana-vibhUtayah (Vishnu Puran)
The four energies of the Lord for dissolution are – Rudra, time, the god of death, and all existing creatures.
Thus He is appropriately named Caturatma or the four-aspected-one.
Sargaadishu Prithak Vibhootayah chatasrah aatmaanah moortayah yasya sah – In each of his functions of Creation, Protection and Dissolution He has got four distinct energies and hence he is called Caturatma says Sri Adi Shankaracharya.
Lets chant the Holy Name of the Lord with four energies and seek to remain in His devotional service with all four of the aspects – Mind, Intelligence, ego and body.
Name 139 – VishnuSahasranama