How Lord Vishnu is associated with Economic Activities?

In the Vedas, Vishnu is the name of a minor god, who is younger brother of Indra and is known for the three steps he took to span the world. But later, in the Puranas we see a shift in Hindu Mythology and he becomes the preserver of the world. What preserve the World? Good governance or dharma? What is good governance? Its adequate wealth generation and adequate wealth distribution.

Vishnu has always been associated with economic activities, just as Krishna as cowherd, is linked to animal husbandry, while his elder brother, Balarama, holds a plough and is linked to agriculture. As Ram, he is considered as fair and just, alluding to proper distribution and wealth. In fact, Vishnu is called down to earth every time the earth is plundered and the earth appeals to him in the form of the earth goddess, Bhu-devi who takes the form of a cow.

In fact, cow is a metaphor for making all kings Gopala or cowherds, those who ensure the earth is being ‘milked’ correctly. What is interesting is that the form of Vishnu connects him with economic activity. And this is best understood when we compare and contrast him with Shiva who became equally powerful god in Puranic times as compared to his less popular Vedic form, Rudra.

Shiva is imagined as a Hermit, linked to desolate mountains, caves and crematoriums. He is smeared with Ash. He wears animal hide. He can be seen wandering alone in the forest, trident and rattle drum in the hand. In contrast, Vishnu is linked to an ocean of milk, to butter, to rivers, to woods, to farmlands and pasturelands. He wears silk fabric, assuming the existence of farmers, spinners, weavers, dyers and washers.

He wears gold ornaments, assuming the existence of miners, smelters, smiths and jewelers. Shiva ash is made effortlessly by burning wood, dung and corpses. Vishnu sandalpaste demands effort. The aromatic stick has to be rubbed on a wet rock for a long period of time. Just comparing and contrasting ash and sandalpaste makes one realize the difference in the philosophy of Shiva and Vishnu, seen through an economic lens. Shiva is about letting go and accepting what is. Vishnu is about making efforts to enjoy the good things in life.

This though recurs when we see how they associate with milk. Shiva is linked to raw unboiled unprocessed milk. Vishnu loves butter and ghee, creation of which demands efforts. Shiva does not seek milk, Vishnu demands to be served, and even enjoys stealing butter and distributing it to all. Shiva is the bull, who cannot be domesticated and but still is vital to economy as bulls make the cows pregnant. Castrated bulls, or bullocks, can be beasts of burden but they cannot make cows pregnant. Vishnu is linked to cows, which is vital for rural economy.

Shiva sits still on the top of mountain, withdrawing from the world, outgrowing hunger. And if there is no hunger, there is no demand, or supply, or market.  The goddess tells Shiva that while outgrowing one’s own hunger is good, surely taking care of other people hunger, feeding others is also good. Thus a counter point is added to Shiva’s hermit ways. Shiva’s hermit ways challenges the hunger of man, but so does the idea of generosity that the Goddess speaks of and Vishnu embodies.

Yes, hunger sustains the market. But whose hunger? One hunger or other people’s hunger. What hunger sustains the world? The shareholder’s or the consumer’s or the employee’s. Capitalism is obsessed with shareholder wealth. Communism with employee’s wealth. Capitalism celebrates consumerism. Communism mocks it. Yet a prefect ecosystem is one where everyone’s hunger is satisfied and more importantly satiated. A satiated Vishnu feeds the world, thus creating Vaikuntha.