Thread by @poonamdut

Explanation of the symbolism of Vaiṣhṇava Icons
#Sanatan

Ocean of Milk:

The Ocean of Milk (kṣīrābdhi) symbolizes the state of undifferentiated unity of Prakṛti (primordial matter) prior to emergence of the universe.
#Sanatan

Stands for pure unadulterated state when the three Guṇas – three cosmic forces; Rajas = centrifugal force – expansion, Tamas = centripetal force – contraction & Sattva = centralizing force — exist in perfect harmony. Universe emerges when balance of three Guṇas is disturbed.

It also represents the collective consciousness. In the story dealing with churning of ocean of milk (Samudra-manthana) we have the allegory of churning the mind through meditation in order to produce the essence (butter) in the form of Self-realisation and God-realisation.

The ocean is also symbolic of the space or ether or infinity, and Vishnu is identified with the sun whose function of creation, preservation and destruction in our solar system is identical to that of the Supreme Lord in the entire universe.

Ananta Śeṣa:

Ananta śeṣa is the name of the serpent with a thousand heads (a “thousand” being symbolic of infinity) upon which Vishnu reclines. The serpent in non-different from Vishnu Himself. Ananta means the endless or infinite, and śeṣa means the 'remnant' or 'residue'.

When the Universe is withdrawn it cannot entirely cease to be, there must remain a germ in subtle or latent form of all that has been and will be, so that the world can be re-projected when the time comes.

This remainder of the universe is embodied by Ananta śeṣa floating upon limitless ocean of the causal waters and forming the couch upon which Vishnu rests.

Another meaning of the term śeṣa is 'servant' and the master is known as śeṣi or the Principle and the Subordinate.

Blue-black Colour:

Vishnu is always represented as being dark blue or black in colour. Darkness or absence of light is colour of limitless & all-pervading space.

The very name Vishnu means 'the all-pervader' and so the colour reinforces this idea of the Infinite, beyond limitation and the basis of all spatial manifestation.

Black is not a color; a black object absorbs all the colors of the visible spectrum.

So too Lord Vishnu is the sum total of the entire cosmos and all its particles. Though Vishnu Himself is depicted as black, the avatāras (incarnations) appear in different ages in different colors according to the predominant quality (guṇa) of that age.

In the Golden age in which the cohesive-tendency (sattva) predominates, the Lord appears in a white form. In the second age in which the expansive-tendency (rajas) predominates, he appears as red in colour,

in the third age in which there is a mixture of rajas and tamas, His colour is yellow and in the age of Kali in which the disintegrating-tendency (tamas) prevails, his colour is black. (Brahma Puraṇa 246).
Credit: Rami Sivan