Chatvaarah Bhujaah asya asti iti Caturbhujah
He is called Caturbhujah because He has four arms.
Interestingly the name ‘Caturbhujah’ appears both in the first and last Dhyana Shlokas of Vishnu Sahasranamam, namely ‘Shuklambaradharam Vishnum Shashivarnam Caturbhujam’ and ‘Chandrananam Caturbahum Shreevatsankitavakshasam’. The four hands carry the Conch, the Mace, the Discus, and the Lotus respectively.
In his four arms, the Lord carries four symbols. The club (Gada) and discus (Sudarshana Chakra) weapon which are for the Lord’s enemies i.e. those who transgress dharma and the laws of nature. The Sudarshana Chakra, with one thousand spokes, represents the wheel of inexorable time (kala-chakra). The lotus (Padma) and conch-shell (Shanka) are to give pleasure to the Lord’s devotees.
The Sound of the Conch shell is to assure devotees of His protection and warn the enemies or the one’s on the path of Adharma. The Mace indicates that He is ready to fight and protect His devotees and can give the unrighteous ones a tap to jolt their senses. The Disc protects the devotees but never spares the troublemeakers. The Lotus gives pleasure to the devotees with its soothing effects.
Lets chant the Holy Name of the One with the four arms, whose each arm indicates the purpose of each item held in the hand. Some are the assurances as they are meant for a devotee, some are scary as seen by the demons or the enemies of the Lord and His devotee. Each is a reminder to us to seek His protection at His Lotus feet and be assured that He will take care of us with each of His four arms.
Nama 142 – Vishnusahasranama
End of Shloka
Lokaadhyakshah Suraadhyaksho Dharmaadhyakshah Kritaakritah | CaturAtma Catur-vyuhas_Catur-damshtrah Catur-bhujah