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**Explanation<br> *Ananta* means literally "without end" (*a* = not, *anta* = end). Vishnu as Ananta is infinite in every conceivable dimension — His knowledge has no boundary, His compassion has no limit, His power cannot be measured, His existence has no end. He is also directly identified with *Ananta-Shesha* — the cosmic serpent of infinity on whom He reposes.

**Spiritual Interpretation<br> The Taittiriya Upanishad's definition of Brahman — *Satyam Jnanam Anantam Brahma* — places *Anantam* (infinity) as the third fundamental attribute of the divine reality. Vishnu as Ananta is this infinite dimension of Brahman — not infinite merely in quantity but infinite in the qualitative sense — absolute, unconditional, beyond all limiting boundaries of any kind.

The mathematical concept of infinity gives a faint glimpse — no matter how much you take from infinity, it remains infinite. Similarly, however many universes Vishnu creates, however many devotees He liberates, His infinite fullness remains absolutely undiminished.

**Puranic Reference<br> The *Ananta-Shayana* form — Vishnu reclining on the infinite serpent Ananta-Shesha in the cosmic Kshira-Sagara (ocean of milk) — is the supreme iconographic expression of this name. The Bhagavata Purana (2.2.19) describes this form in detail — the Lord in cosmic repose on the infinite serpent, His body dark as a rain cloud, Lakshmi at His feet, Brahma arising from the lotus at His navel.

The serpent Ananta is said to have one thousand hoods — each representing an infinite dimension of Vishnu's being. Even after attempting to describe Vishnu through all these hoods across all of time, Ananta has not exhausted the description — confirming that Vishnu is truly Anantah.

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श्लोक - नाम क्रमांक: 659

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