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For other meanings, see Vishnu (disambiguation).
Vishnu
Preservation / supreme god
Devanagari विष्णु
Affiliation Trimurti
Abode Vaikuntha
Weapon Sudarshana Chakra and the Kaumodaki
Consort Lakshmi
Mount Garuda
Planet Vaikuntha
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Vishnu (IAST viṣṇu, Devanagari विष्णु), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana, is supreme being or Ultimate Reality for Vaishnavas and a manifestation of Brahman in the Advaita or Smarta traditions of Hinduism. The Trimurti ( English: ‘three forms’ Sanskrit: trimūrti) is a concept in Hinduism "in which the cosmic functions of creation Vaikunta (Sanskrit वैकुण्ठम् or Paramapadham is the abode of Lord Vishnu. Sudarshana Chakra ( Sanskrit: सुदर्शन चक्रम् is a spinning disc like weapon with very sharp edge which serves as an attribute of the Hindu The Kaumodaki is the divine mace weapon of Vishnu. It is believed to be invincible and without parallel Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth GARUDA is India's Grid Computing initiative connecting 17 cities across the country Vaikunta (Sanskrit वैकुण्ठम् or Paramapadham is the abode of Lord Vishnu. The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration ( IAST) is a popular Transliteration scheme that allows a lossless Romanization of Indic SRi is a specification (spec badge given to mid-sized or larger cars which are fitted with performance engine suspension or other performance enhancements as standard Narayana ( Sanskrit: नारायण nārāyaṇa) or Narayan is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism. Advaita Vedanta ( IAST Advaita Vedānta; Sanskrit अद्वैत वेदान्त əd̪vait̪ə veːd̪ɑːnt̪ə is a sub-school of the Smartism (or Smarta Sampradaya, Smarta Tradition, as termed in Sanskrit) is a denomination of the Hindu Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent.

The Vishnu Sahasranama[1] describes Vishnu as the All-Pervading essence of all beings, the master of and beyond the past, present and future, the creator and destroyer of all existences, one who supports, sustains and governs the Universe and originates and develops all elements within. The Vishnu sahasranāma (literally "the thousand names of Vishnu " is a list of 1000 names for Vishnu, one of the main forms of God

In the Puranas, Vishnu is described as being the color of clouds (dark-blue), four-armed, holding a lotus, mace, conch and chakra (wheel). For other meanings see Purana (disambiguation. The Puranas ( Sanskrit: sa पुराण purāṇa, "of ancient times" Nelumbo nucifera is known by a number of common names including Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, and sacred water-lily A mace is a simple Weapon that uses a heavy head on the end of a handle to deliver powerful blows A conch (pronounced in the USA as "konk" or "konch" ˈkɒŋk or /ˈkɒntʃ/ is one of a number of different Species Sudarshana Chakra ( Sanskrit: सुदर्शन चक्रम् is a spinning disc like weapon with very sharp edge which serves as an attribute of the Hindu Vishnu is also described in the Bhagavad Gita as having a 'Universal Form' (Vishvarupa) which is beyond the ordinary limits of human sense perception [2].

It is also within the Puranas that the information regarding Vishnu's avatars is given. Avatar or Avatara (अवतार IAST Avatāra) is often inaccurately translated into English as incarnation Nine of these avatars, or 'incarnations' are described as having occurred in the past, with one still to happen at the end of Kali Yuga. Kali Yuga ( Devanāgarī: sa कलियुग lit "Age of Kali " "age of vice" is one of the four stages of development that the world goes The Bhagavad Gita mentions their purpose as being to rejuvenate Dharma[3] and vanquish negative forces. The Sanskrit term ( Devanāgarī: धर्म Pali transliteration dhamma) is an Indian spiritual and religious In virtually all the Sanatana Dharma traditions, Vishnu is worshipped, either directly or through avatars such as Rama, Krishna, Varaha and Narasimha. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Rama ( IAST: rāma Devanāgarī: राम Khmer: Phreah Ream Thai: Phra Ram Lao: Phra Lam Tagalog: Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism In Hinduism, Varaha (वाराह is the third Avatar of Vishnu, in the form of a Boar. Narasimha ( IAST Narasiṃha Sanskrit नरसिंह (other spellings are Narasingh, Narasinga) is an Avatara of Vishnu It should be however noted that although its is usual to speak of Vishnu as the source of the avataras, this is only one of the names of god in Vaishnavism who is also known as Narayana, Vasudeva and Krishna and behind each of those names is a divine figure with attributed supremacy in Vaishnavism. Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Narayana ( Sanskrit: नारायण nārāyaṇa) or Narayan is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and [4]

In the Trimurti, Vishnu is responsible for the maintenance or 'preservation' of the Universe, with the other roles of creation and destruction being under the care of Brahma and Shiva, respectively. The Trimurti ( English: ‘three forms’ Sanskrit: trimūrti) is a concept in Hinduism "in which the cosmic functions of creation The Universe is defined as everything that Physically Exists: the entirety of Space and Time, all forms of Matter, Energy A creation myth is a supernatural mytho-[[religion religious]] story or explanation that describes the beginnings of humanity, Earth, life, and The ultimate fate of the universe is a topic in Physical cosmology. Brahma is the Hindu god ( deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva

Contents

Etymology

A 13th century Cambodian statue of Vishnu
A 13th century Cambodian statue of Vishnu

The traditional Sanskrit explanation of the name Viṣṇu involves the root viś, meaning "to settle, to enter", or also (in the Rigveda) "to pervade", and a suffix nu, translating to approximately "the All-Pervading One". The Kingdom of Cambodia ( formerly known as Kampuchea (, transliterated: Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea) is a country in South East Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge" An early commentator on the Vedas, Yaska, in his Nirukta, defines Vishnu as 'vishnu vishateh; one who enters everywhere', and 'yad vishito bhavati tad vishnurbhavati; that which is free from fetters and bondages is Vishnu. "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. Yāska (यास्कः(6th-5th centuries BC according to Shukla Georgetown University was a Sanskrit grammarian who preceded Pānini. Nirukta ("explanation etymological interpretation" is one of the six {{IAST|Vedānga}} disciplines of Hinduism, treating Etymology, particularly '

Adi Sankara in his commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama states derivation from this root, with a meaning "presence everywhere" ("As he pervades everything, vevesti, he is called Visnu"). Adi Shankara ( Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍ Devanāgarī: आदि शङ्कर Ādi Śaṅkara, aːd̪i ɕaŋkərə (see below The Vishnu sahasranāma (literally "the thousand names of Vishnu " is a list of 1000 names for Vishnu, one of the main forms of God Adi Sankara states (regarding Vishnu Purana, 3. Adi Shankara ( Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍ Devanāgarī: आदि शङ्कर Ādi Śaṅkara, aːd̪i ɕaŋkərə (see below 1. 45): "The Power of the Supreme Being has entered within the universe. The root Viś means 'enter into. '" Swami Chinmayananda, in his translation of Vishnu sahasranama further elaborates on that verse: The root Vis means to enter. Swami Chinmayananda ( May 8, 1916 - Aug 3, 1993) was born Balakrishna Menon (Balan The entire world of things and beings is pervaded by Him and the Upanishad emphatically insists in its mantra "whatever that is there is the world of change. " Hence, it means that He is not limited by space, time or substance. Chinmayananda states that which pervades everything is Vishnu. [5]

Regarding the suffix, Manfred Mayrhofer [6] proposes that the nasal is analogous to jiṣṇu "victorious". Manfred Mayrhofer (born 26 September 1926 in Linz, Austria) is an Indo-Europeanist specialized on Indo-Iranian languages Mayrhofer further suggests that the name goes back to an already Indo-Iranian *višnu, and was replaced by rašnu in Zoroastrian Iran. Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings

The root viś is also associated with viśva "all" (possibly by popular etymology, the word is generally believed to derive from Indo-Iranian *vi-k'o-, influenced by sarva "all", but a minority opinion does, indeed, derive viśva as from vik'-so, (J. Folk etymology is a term used in two distinct ways A commonly held misunderstanding of the origin of a particular word a False etymology. Knobloch (1980)).

Suggestions involving other roots include vi-ṣṇu "crossing the back", vi-ṣ-ṇu "facing towards all sides" and viṣ-ṇu "active", as well as attempts to explain Vishnu as a combination of two unrelated words, or as being derived from a non-Aryan root [7] The name is continued in Prakrit veṇhu, viṇhu.

Vishnu in Smriti and Shruti

In the Vedas

A 4th-6th century CE Sardonyx seal representing Vishnu with a worshipper. The inscription in cursive Bactrian reads: "Mihira, Vishnu and Shiva".
A 4th-6th century CE Sardonyx seal representing Vishnu with a worshipper. The inscription in cursive Bactrian reads: "Mihira, Vishnu and Shiva". The Bactrian language is an extinct Eastern Iranian language which was spoken in the Central Asian region of Bactria. Mihira is an ancient Indian word meaning "Ice" It is another name for the Iranian sun god Mithra. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva

In the Rigveda, Vishnu is mentioned 93 times. The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge" He is frequently invoked alongside other deities, especially Indra, whom he assists in killing Vritra, and with whom he drinks Soma. Indra ( Sanskrit: इन्द्र or इंद्र Indra, Malay: Indera, Thai: พระอินทร์ Phra-Intra In the early Vedic religion, Vritra ( Sanskrit: वृत्र ( Devanāgarī) or Vṛtra ( IAST) "the enveloper" was an Asura Soma ( Sanskrit: सोम) or Haoma ( Avestan) from Proto-Indo-Iranian * sauma-, was a ritual drink of importance His companionship with Indra is still reflected by his later titles Indrānuja and "Upendra", both referring to Vishnu as being the brother of Indra. His distinguishing characteristic in the Vedas is his association with Light, or even his identification with the Sun. The Sun (Sol is the Star at the center of the Solar System. The most celebrated act of Vishnu in the Rigveda is the 'three steps' by which he strode over this (universe) and in three places planted his step. The 'Vishnu Sukta' of the Rig Veda (1. 154) says that the first and second of Vishnu's strides (those encompassing the earth and air) are visible to men and the third is in the heights of heaven (sky). This last place is described as Vishnu's supreme abode in RV 1. 22. 20:

The princes evermore behold / that loftiest place where Visnu is / Laid as it were an eye in heaven. (trans. Griffith)

Griffith's "princes" are the sūri, either "inciters" or lords of a sacrifice, or priests charged with pressing the Soma. Ralph Thomas Hotchkin Griffith (1826-1906 scholar of Indology, B The verse is later quoted as expressing Vishnu's supremacy by Vaishnavites,

(In the Rigveda the Sun is not a high-ranking deity, c. f. e. g. RV 2. 12. 7,

He who gave being to the Sun and Morning, who leads the waters, he, O men, is Indra. (trans. Griffith)

where Indra appears as senior to the Sun. )

One early commentator, Aurnavabha, who is mentioned by Yaska in his Nirukta, interprets the three steps as the different positions of the sun at his rising, culmination, and setting. Yāska (यास्कः(6th-5th centuries BC according to Shukla Georgetown University was a Sanskrit grammarian who preceded Pānini. Though such solar aspects have been associated with Vishnu by tradition as well as modern-scholarship, he was not just the representation of the sun for in Rigveda he traverses in his strides both vertically and horizontally.

In hymns I. 22. 17, 1. 154. 3, 1. 154. 4 he strides across the earth with three steps, in VI. 49. 13 , VII. 100. 3 strides across the earth three times and in I. 154. 1,I. 155. 5,VII. 29. 7 he strides vertically, with the final step in the heavens. The same Veda also says he strode wide and created space in the cosmos for Indra to fight Vritra. By his stride he said to have made dwelling for men possible, the three being a symbolic representation of its all-encompassing nature. This all-enveloping nature, assistance to Indra and benevolence to men were to remain the enduring attributes of Vishnu. As the triple-strider he is known as Tri-vikrama and as Uru-krama for the strides were wide. (The reference to the three strides of Vishnu in the Rig Veda is most possibly a prototype for the later legend of Vamana. )

In the Vedas, Vishnu appears not yet included in the class of the Adityas (unless it is implied that he is identical with Surya, and included as the eighth Aditya), but in later texts he appears as heading them. In Hinduism, the Ādityas are a group of Devas or celestial gods the sons of Āditi and Kashyapa. In Hinduism, Surya ( Devanagari: सूर्य sūrya, lit "the Supreme Light" Malay: Suria; Thai:

It is inexplicable how Vishnu (and Shiva) rose to the prominence enjoyed currently by referring only to the Vedic hymns as Indra and Agni are invoked far more. It must be remembered that these hymns are liturgical in nature and meant primarily for the Soma sacrifice, especially dear to Indra. They may not represent the popular religion of those times as Jan Gonda cautions. Gonda also gives an elaborate theory of how the notion of Vishnu spread over various hymns contains the germs of future attributes. In some Rigvedic hymns, Indra seeks the help of Vishnu in destroying Vritra, indicating that he is not sufficient to accomplish it on his own. In the early Vedic religion, Vritra ( Sanskrit: वृत्र ( Devanāgarī) or Vṛtra ( IAST) "the enveloper" was an Asura

In another interpretation, the characteristic of Vishnu as the supreme god appeared much earlier in the Vedic texts. For example, the following Vedic hymns express that point of view:

  1. Purusha Sukta of Taittiriya Aranyaka (3. Purusha sukta ( puruṣa sūkta) is hymn 10.90 of the Rigveda, dedicated to Purusha, the "cosmic man" 13. 2) also refers master of Hri and Lakshmi (Vishnu) as Purusha, the supreme god. Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth
  2. Visvakarma Sukta of Rig Veda (10. 82) refers to Vishnu indirectly as the supreme god.
    1. 10. 082. 06: The waters verily first retained the embryo in which all the gods were aggregated, single deposited on the navel of the unborn (creator), in which all beings abide. The reference to the navel of the unborn is an indication of reference to Vishnu.
  3. The Rig Veda (1. The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge" 22. 20) states, oṃ tad viṣṇoḥ paramam padam sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ: "All the suras (i. e. , the devas) look always toward the feet of Lord Vishnu. "

There are also hymns in Rigveda which describe Vishnu as Jagathkartha -meaning 'he who created everything'.

The foreword of P. Sankaranarayan's translation of Vishnu sahasranama, Bhavan's Book University, cites Rig Veda V. The Vishnu sahasranāma (literally "the thousand names of Vishnu " is a list of 1000 names for Vishnu, one of the main forms of God I. 15b. 3, for the importance of chanting Vishnu's name, "O ye who wish to gain realization of the supreme truth, utter the name of Vishnu at least once in the steadfast faith that it will lead you to such realization. "

In the Brahmanas

Four-armed Vishnu, Pandya Dynasty, 8-9th century CE.
Four-armed Vishnu, Pandya Dynasty, 8-9th century CE. Origin The origin of the word “Pandya” has been a subject of much speculation

By the age of the Brahmanas, various stories can be found associating Vishnu with the act of religious sacrifice (Yajna). The Brāhmaṇa s ( Devanagari: sa ब्राह्मणं are part of the Hindu śruti literature In Hinduism, Yajna ( Devanagari यज्ञ IAST yajña; also anglicized as Yagna, Yagya or Yadnya The sacrifice being the core of interest for these texts, this association goes a long way in explaining the importance of Vishnu. How this association came about is not clear, but the various stories in the Brahmanas seem to explain a fait accompli. Vishnu is said to have become the most important of all gods by truly 'understanding' the meaning of the sacrifice before all else. In the Shatapatha Brahmana, he is described as winning the sacrifice back from Asuras as a dwarf, where the kernel of the Vamana incarnation can be seen. In Hinduism In Hinduism, the Asura ( Sanskrit: असुर are a group of power-seeking deities sometimes referred to as Demons or sinful Vamana ( Devanagari: वामन IAST: Vāmana) is a personality described in the Puranic texts of Hinduism as the Fifth Aitareya Brahmana: 1:1:1 mentions Vishnu as the supreme god.

In the Upanishads

The Upanishads that form the philosophical culmination of the Vedas are dated at approximately 900 BCE. The Upanishads ( Devanagari: उपनिषद् IAST: upaniṣad also spelled "Upanisad" are Hindu scriptures that constitute the core teachings The purportedly oldest of these texts are the Chhandogya and Brhadaranyaka Upanishads. The former does not name Vishnu and the latter mentions him as part of ritual to obtain an exceptionally wise and learned son along with other deities. The slightly later Katha-upanishad, however, describes Vishnu in prominence -

He who has no understanding, who is unmindful and always impure, never reaches that place, but enters into the round of births. But he who has understanding, who is mindful and always pure, reaches indeed that place, from whence he is not born again. But he who has understanding for his charioteer (intellect), and who holds the reins of the mind, he reaches the end of his journey, and that is the highest place of Vishnu.

Krishna reveals his Vishvarupa form to Arjuna during their discourse of the Bhagavad Gita.
Krishna reveals his Vishvarupa form to Arjuna during their discourse of the Bhagavad Gita.

His rise to supremacy is apparent in the epics (Mahabharata, Ramayana, and from this period he may be considered a manifestation of the Singular god. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Thus, according to this interpretation, the division in Hinduism of Vaishnavism and Shaivaism appeared only with the Puranas, where Vishnu's descents in ten principal Avatars become his distinguishing characteristic. For other meanings see Purana (disambiguation. The Puranas ( Sanskrit: sa पुराण purāṇa, "of ancient times" Avatar or Avatara (अवतार IAST Avatāra) is often inaccurately translated into English as incarnation

In the Bhagavad Gita

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna teaches Arjuna the nature of the Supreme being and the different processes of Yoga, ultimately culminating in devotional surrender, similar to that of the catursloki of the Bhagavata Purana. Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism Arjuna or Arjun ( Sanskrit: अर्जुन arjuna) is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, whose name Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the [8] [9]

Theological attributes

Main article: Vaishnavism
Vishnu and Lakshmi riding on Vishnu's Vahana Garuda - Painting in LACMA from Rajasthan, Bundi, c.1730
Vishnu and Lakshmi riding on Vishnu's Vahana Garuda - Painting in LACMA from Rajasthan, Bundi, c. Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth Vâhana or a Hindu vehicle, sometimes called a mount, is an animal mythical entity or Chimera (or sometimes a divine attribute closely GARUDA is India's Grid Computing initiative connecting 17 cities across the country The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, also known as LACMA, is an Art museum in Los Angeles County California. 1730

Vishnu takes form as an all-inclusive deity, known as Purusha or Mahāpurusha, Paramātma [Supreme Soul], Antaryāmi [In-dweller], and he is the Sheshin [Totality] in whom all souls are contained. In Hindu theology Paramatman or Paramātmā is the Absolute Atman or Supreme Soul or Spirit (also known as Supersoul or Oversoul) He is Bhagavat or Bhagavan, which in Sanskrit means "possessing bhāga (Divine Glory)".

Vishnu possesses six such divine glories, namely,

However, the actual number of auspicious qualities of Vishnu is countless, with the above-mentioned six qualities being the most important. Other important qualities attributed to Vishnu are Gambhirya (inestimatable grandeur), Audarya (generosity), and Karunya (compassion. )

The Rigveda says: Vishnu can travel in three strides. The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge" The first stride is the Earth. The second stride is the visible sky. The third stride cannot be seen by men and is the heaven where the gods and the righteous dead live. (This feature of three strides also appears in the story of his avatar Vamana called Trivikrama. Vamana ( Devanagari: वामन IAST: Vāmana) is a personality described in the Puranic texts of Hinduism as the Fifth ) The Sanskrit for "to stride" is the root kram; its reduplicated perfect tense is chakram (guņa grade) or chakra (zero-grade), and in the Rigveda he is called by epithets such as vi-chakra-māņas = "he who has made 3 strides". The root is the primary lexical unit of a Word, which carries the most significant aspects of semantic content and cannot be reduced into smaller constituents Reduplication, in Linguistics, is a morphological Process by which the root or stem of a Word, or part of it is repeated The perfect aspect is variously considered either an aspect or tense which calls a listener's attention to the consequences generated by an action rather than the The Sanskrit word guṇa has the basic meaning of "string" or "a single thread or strand of a cord or twine" The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge" An epithet (from Greek ἐπίθετον - epitheton, neut of ἐπίθετος - epithetos, "attributed added" is a The Sanskrit word chakra also means "wheel". That may have suggested the idea of Vishnu carrying a chakra. The chakram ( Devanāgarī: चक्रम is a throwing Weapon that was used by the ancient Indians it is a flat Metal disc with a sharp outer

Three forms

In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, a school of Vaishnavism, the Satvata-tantra describes three different forms, or aspects, of Vishnu as Maha Vishnu, Garbhodaksayi Vishnu and Kshirodakasayi Vishnu, with each form having a different role in the maintenance of the Universe and its inhabitants:

"For material creation, Lord Krishna's plenary expansion assumes three Vishnus. Gaudiya Vaishnavism (also known as Chaitanya Vaishnavism) is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534 in India Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Maha Vishnu (also known as Karanodakshayi Vishnu) is the principal Vishnu deity of the maha tattva (material universe Garbhodakshayi Vishnu is second in the hierarchy of Vishnu Avatars in the maha tattvas (material universes The first one, Maha-Vishnu, creates the total material energy, known as the mahat-tattva. The second, Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, enters into all the universes to create diversities in each of them. The third, Kshirodakasayi Vishnu, is diffused as the all-pervading Supersoul in all the universes and is known as Paramatma. In Hindu theology Paramatman or Paramātmā is the Absolute Atman or Supreme Soul or Spirit (also known as Supersoul or Oversoul) He is present even within the atoms. Anyone who knows these three Vishnus can be liberated from material entanglement. "[14]

Five forms

Vishnu in the form of Lord Venkateshwara at Tirumala
Vishnu in the form of Lord Venkateshwara at Tirumala

In Sri Vaishnavism, another school, Vishnu assumes five forms:

  1. In the Para Form, Para is the highest form of Vishnu found only in Sri Vaikunta also called Moksha, along with his consort Lakshmi, (and Bhuma Devi and Nila devi, avatars of Lakshmi) and surrounded by liberated souls like Ananta, Garuda, and a host of Muktas (liberated souls). Venkateshwara ( Telugu వెంకటేశ్వరుడు, వెంకన్న Sanskrit: sa वेंकटेश्वर also known as Venkatachalapathy Vaikunta (Sanskrit वैकुण्ठम् or Paramapadham is the abode of Lord Vishnu. In Indian religions, Moksha ( Sanskrit: sa मोक्ष mokṣa) or Mukti ( Sanskrit: sa मुक्ति literally "release" Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth Bhūma Devī or Bhūmi-Devī or Bhū Devī is the divine wife of Lord Varaha, an Avatar of Lord Vishnu. GARUDA is India's Grid Computing initiative connecting 17 cities across the country
  2. In the Vyuha form which itself divides into four, Vishnu assumes four forms, which exercise different cosmic functions and controls activities of living beings.
  3. In the Vibhava form, Vishnu assume various manifestations, called Vibhavas, more popularily known as Avataras from time to time, in order to protect the virtuous, punish the evil-doers and re-establish righteousness. Avatar or Avatara (अवतार IAST Avatāra) is often inaccurately translated into English as incarnation
  4. In the Antaryami; "Dwelling within" or "Suksma Vasudeva" form, Vishnu exists within the souls of all living beings and in every atom of matter[15].
  5. In the Arcavatara or Image manifestation, the Lord is easily approachable to the devotees since they cannot worship Para, Vyuha, Vibhava and Antaryami forms directly, which can only be imagined or meditated upon because they are beyond our reach. Such images can be
    1. revealed by the Lord himself, for example, Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam; or
    2. installed by devas or celestial beings such as Guruvayur Temple installed by Vayu; or
    3. installed by humans, and consecrated according to Vaishnava Agama shastras or scriptures such as Lord Jagannath of Jagannath Temple (Puri) at Puri. Tirumala Venkateswara Temple (తిరుమల వేంకటేశ్వర దేవాలయం also known as Tirupati Venkateswara Temple is a famous Hindu temple The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ranganatha, a reclining form This article is about a notable Hindu pilgrimage location in Tamil Nadu, India. Deva (देव in Devanagari script pronounced as /'d̪evə/ is the Sanskrit word for "god Deity " The Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple (ഗുരുവായൂര്‍ ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണ ക്ഷേത്രം is one of the most famous temples in India. In Hinduism Vayu ( Sanskrit: वायु, IAST: Vāyu Malay: Bayu Thai: Phra Pai is a primary deity the father of Śāstra (anglicized either shastra or sastra) is a Sanskrit word used to denote Education /knowledge in a general sense Jagannath (also spelled Jagganath) is considered amongst Vaishnavas to be a very merciful form of Krishna. The Jagannath Temple in Puri is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath ( Krishna) and located in the coastal town of Puri in the state of WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Puri is a city in the east Indian state of Orissa. [16]

See also Pañcaratra

Relations with other Deities

A statue of Vishnu with Lakshmi (left) and Saraswati in Stanford Museum
A statue of Vishnu with Lakshmi (left) and Saraswati in Stanford Museum

Vishnu's consort is Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Pāñcarātra are Vaishnavite devotional texts dedicated to a single deity Sriman Narayana who manifests in different forms The Iris & B Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University, formerly the Stanford University Museum of Art is an Art museum on the campus of Stanford Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth Maya is the samvit (the primary intelligence) of Vishnu, while the other five attributes emerge from this samvit and hence Maya is his ahamata, activity, or Vishnu's Power. Maya ( Sanskrit sa माया māyā) in Indian religions, has multiple meanings This power of god, Maya, is personified and is called Maya, Vishnumaya, or Mahamaya, and She is said to manifest Herself in, 1) kriyāshakti, (Creative Activity) and 2) bhütishakti (Creation) of Universe. Hence this world cannot part with his creativity i. e. , ahamta, which is a feminine form and is called Maya.

Vishnu is also associated with Bhudevi or Prithvi, the earth goddess; Tulsi; Ganga, goddess of river Ganges and also Saraswati, goddess of learning. Bhūma Devī or Bhūmi-Devī or Bhū Devī is the divine wife of Lord Varaha, an Avatar of Lord Vishnu. Prithvi ( Sanskrit: pṛthvī, also pṛthivī) is the Hindu Earth and Mother Goddess. Ocimum tenuiflorum (also known as Ocimum sanctum, Tulsi, Tulasī (तुलसी‌ in Sanskrit and Hindi, ( In Hinduism, the river Ganga ( Sanskrit and Hindi गंगा Gaṅgā) or Ganges River (as called by westerners is considered The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent Saraswati (pronounced as; Sanskrit: sa सरस्वती sarasvatī; Malay: Saraswati Thai: สุรัสวดี is the In the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, verses 2. Brahma Vaivarta Purana, ( IAST brahma-vaivarta purāṇa) one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text is divided into four parts 6. 13-95 it is described that Vishnu has three wives, who constantly quarrel with each other, so that eventually, he keeps only Lakshmi, giving Ganga to Shiva and Saraswati to Brahma. Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent Saraswati (pronounced as; Sanskrit: sa सरस्वती sarasvatī; Malay: Saraswati Thai: สุรัสวดี is the Brahma is the Hindu god ( deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva.

Vishnu's vehicle is Garuda, the eagle, and he is commonly depicted as riding on his shoulders. GARUDA is India's Grid Computing initiative connecting 17 cities across the country Another name of him is "Veda-Atma" or The Soul of the Vedas and Vedic truth.

Iconography

According to various Purana, Vishnu is the ultimate omnipresent reality, is shapeless and omnipresent. For other meanings see Purana (disambiguation. The Puranas ( Sanskrit: sa पुराण purāṇa, "of ancient times" Omnipresence is the ability to be present in every place at any and/or every time unbounded or universal presence However, a strict iconography governs his representation, whether in pictures, icons, or idols:

Vishnu seated
Vishnu seated

Vishnu is always to be depicted holding the four attributes associated with him, being:

  1. A conch shell or Shankhya, named "Panchajanya", held by the upper left hand, which represents Vishnu's power to create and maintain the universe. A conch (pronounced in the USA as "konk" or "konch" ˈkɒŋk or /ˈkɒntʃ/ is one of a number of different Species The Panchajanya represents the five elements or Panchabhoota - water, fire, air, earth and sky or space. It also represents the five airs or Pranas that are within the body and mind. Prana (प्राण) is the Sanskrit for " Breath " (from the root prā "to fill" cognate to Latin plenus "full" The conch symbolizes that Vishnu is the primeval Divine sound of creation and universal maintenance. it also represented as Om. Aum (also Om) ॐ is a mystical or sacred Syllable in the Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religions In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna avatara states that of sound vibrations, 'He is Om'.
  2. The chakra, a sharp-spinning discus-like weapon, named "Sudarshana", held by the upper right hand, which symbolizes the purified spiritualized mind. The chakram ( Devanāgarī: चक्रम is a throwing Weapon that was used by the ancient Indians it is a flat Metal disc with a sharp outer Sudarshana Chakra ( Sanskrit: सुदर्शन चक्रम् is a spinning disc like weapon with very sharp edge which serves as an attribute of the Hindu The name Sudarshana is derived from two words - Su, which means good, superior, and Darshan, which means vision or Sight; together, it is "Superior Vision". The chakra represents destruction of one's ego in the awakening and realization of the souls original nature and god, burning away of spiritual ignorance and illusion, and developing the higher spiritual vision and insight to realize god. The chakram ( Devanāgarī: चक्रम is a throwing Weapon that was used by the ancient Indians it is a flat Metal disc with a sharp outer
  3. A mace or Gada, named "Kaumodaki", held by the lower left hand, symbolizes Vishnu's divine power is the source all spiritual, mental and physical strength. A mace is a simple Weapon that uses a heavy head on the end of a handle to deliver powerful blows The Kaumodaki is the divine mace weapon of Vishnu. It is believed to be invincible and without parallel It also signifies Vishnu's power to destroy materialistic or demoniac tendencies called anarthas; within the person's consciousness that hinders them from reaching god. Vishnu's mace is the power of the Divine within us to spiritually purify and uplift us from our materialistic bonds.
  4. A lotus flower or Padma, held by the lower right hand, represents spiritual liberation, Divine perfection, purity and the unfolding of Spiritual consciousness within the individual. Nelumbo nucifera is known by a number of common names including Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, and sacred water-lily Padma ( nelumblum speciosum) the Sacred lotus, is an Aquatic plant that plays a central role in Indian religions such as Hinduism, The lotus opening its petals in the light of the Sun is indicative of the expansion and awakening of our long dormant, original spiritual consciousness in the light of god. The lotus in Vishnu's hand symbolizes that god is the power and source from which the universe and the individual soul emerges. It represents Divine Truth or Satya, the originator of the rules of conduct or Dharma, and Divine vedic knowledge or jnana. Satya is a Sanskrit word that loosely translates into English as " Truth " or "correct The Sanskrit term ( Devanāgarī: धर्म Pali transliteration dhamma) is an Indian spiritual and religious Jñāna (also spelled Gñāna; Devanagari ज्ञान is the Sanskrit term for Knowledge or Philosophy. The lotus also symbolizes that Vishnu is the embodiment of spiritual perfection and purity. Also that He is the wellspring of these qualities and that the individual soul must seek to awaken these intrinsic Divine qualities from Vishnu by surrendering to and linking with Him.
Vishnu with Lakshmi, on the serpent Ananta Shesha, as Brahma emerges from a lotus risen from Vishnu's navel
Vishnu with Lakshmi, on the serpent Ananta Shesha, as Brahma emerges from a lotus risen from Vishnu's navel

To this may be added, conventionally, the vanamaala flower garland and Vishnu's bow, the Shaarnga, and his sword Nandaka. Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth In Hindu ( Vedic) tradition Shesha (Śeṣa in IAST transliteration Devanagari: शेष is the king of all nagas, one of the primal A verse of the Vishnu Sahasranama stotram states;"vanamālī gadhī shārngī shanki chakri cha nandaki / shrīmān nārāyaņo vişņo vāsudevo abhirakşatu//"; translation: Protect us Oh Lord Narayana who wears the forest garland,who has the mace, conch , sword and the wheel. And who is called Vishnu and the Vasudeva.

In general, Vishnu is depicted in one of the following three ways:

  1. Standing upright on a lotus flower, often with Lakshmi, his consort, beside him on a similar pedestal;
  2. Reclining on the coiled-up thousand-hooded Shesha Naga, with his consort Lakshmi, seated at his feet; the assemblage rests on the "Kshira Sagar" (ocean of Milk). Nelumbo nucifera is known by a number of common names including Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, and sacred water-lily Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth In Hindu ( Vedic) tradition Shesha (Śeṣa in IAST transliteration Devanagari: शेष is the king of all nagas, one of the primal Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth In this representation, Brahma is depicted as sitting on a lotus that grows out of Vishnu's navel. Brahma is the Hindu god ( deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. Nelumbo nucifera is known by a number of common names including Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, and sacred water-lily
  3. Riding on the back of his eagle mount, known as Garuda. Eagles are large birds of prey which are members of the Bird order Falconiformes and family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera GARUDA is India's Grid Computing initiative connecting 17 cities across the country Another name for Garuda is "Veda atma"; Soul of the Vedas. The flapping of his wings symbolizes the power of the Divine Truth of Vedic wisdom. Also the eagle represents the soul. Garuda carrying Vishnu symbolizes the soul or jiva atma carrying the Super soul or Param atma within it.

Avatars

Main article: Avatar#Avatars of Vishnu
The bas-relief of the Churning of the Sea of Milk shows Vishnu in the centre, his turtle avatar Kurma below, asuras and devas to left and right, and apsaras and Indra above, from Ankor Wat
The bas-relief of the Churning of the Sea of Milk shows Vishnu in the centre, his turtle avatar Kurma below, asuras and devas to left and right, and apsaras and Indra above, from Ankor Wat

There are ten avatars of Vishnu (dashavatara) commonly considered as the most prominent[17]:

  1. Matsya, the fish. Avatar or Avatara (अवतार IAST Avatāra) is often inaccurately translated into English as incarnation Hinduism, Samudra manthan ( Devanagari: समुद्र मंथन or The churning of the ocean of milk is one of the most famous episodes in the Avatar or Avatara (अवतार IAST Avatāra) is often inaccurately translated into English as incarnation "Kurma" is also an alternative transliteration of Korma. In Hinduism In Hinduism, the Asura ( Sanskrit: असुर are a group of power-seeking deities sometimes referred to as Demons or sinful Deva (देव in Devanagari script pronounced as /'d̪evə/ is the Sanskrit word for "god Deity " APSARA (Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap is the Cambodian management authority responsible for protecting the archeological park of Indra ( Sanskrit: इन्द्र or इंद्र Indra, Malay: Indera, Thai: พระอินทร์ Phra-Intra Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) (អង្គរវត្ត is a Temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for King Suryavarman II This article concerns the Hindu avatar For the ancient kingdom see Matsya Rajya. Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two
  2. Kurma, the turtle. "Kurma" is also an alternative transliteration of Korma. Turtles are Reptiles of the Order Testudines (all living turtles belong to the Crown group Chelonia) most of
  3. Varaha, the boar. In Hinduism, Varaha (वाराह is the third Avatar of Vishnu, in the form of a Boar. The boar or wild boar ( Sus scrofa) is an Omnivorous, gregarious Mammal of the biological family Suidae.
  4. Narasimha, the Man-Lion (Nara = man, simha = lion). Narasimha ( IAST Narasiṃha Sanskrit नरसिंह (other spellings are Narasingh, Narasinga) is an Avatara of Vishnu The lion ( Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four Big cats in the Genus Panthera.
  5. Vamana, the Dwarf Brahmin (priest). Vamana ( Devanagari: वामन IAST: Vāmana) is a personality described in the Puranic texts of Hinduism as the Fifth DWARF is a widely used standardized Debugging data format. DWARF was originally designed along with ELF, although it is independent of Object file Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism.
  6. Parashurama, Rama with the axe, who appeared in the Treta Yuga. Parashurama a Brahman ( Sanskrit: परशुराम or Parasurama ( Axe-wielding Rama) the sixth Avatar of Vishnu, The Treta Yuga ( Devanagari: त्रेता युगis the second out of four Yugas or ages of man in the religion of Hinduism, following the
  7. Rama, Sri Ramachandra, the prince and king of Ayodhya. Rama ( IAST: rāma Devanāgarī: राम Khmer: Phreah Ream Thai: Phra Ram Lao: Phra Lam Tagalog: Ayodhya (अयोध्या IAST Ayodhyā) is an ancient city of India, the old capital of Awadh, in the Faizabad district
  8. Krishna (meaning 'dark coloured' or 'all attractive') appeared in the Dwapara Yuga along with his brother Balarama. Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism Dvapara Yuga ( Devanagari: द्वापर युग is the third out of four Yugas or ages described in the scriptures of Hinduism. Balarama (बलराम Balarāma) also named Baladeva, Baldau, Balabhadra and Halayudha, is the elder brother of the divine Balarama is included as the eighth or ninth Dasavatara in some versions of the list which either contain no reference to Buddha, or list Krishna as the source of all avatars, svayam bhagavan (this viewpoint is specific to Bhagavata, Gaudiya, Vallabhacarya and Nimbarka sampradayas). This article is about a Hindu philosophical concept the original or absolute manifestation of God Bhagavata, with the literal meaning of that which comes from Bhagavan or the Lord signifies in the context of Hinduism. [18]
  9. Buddha
  10. Kalki ("Eternity", or "time", or "The Destroyer of foulness"), who is expected to appear at the end of Kali Yuga, the time period in which we currently exist. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder In Hinduism, Kalki ( Devanagari: कल्कि also rendered by some as Kalkin and Kalaki) is the tenth and final Maha Avatara (great Kali Yuga ( Devanāgarī: sa कलियुग lit "Age of Kali " "age of vice" is one of the four stages of development that the world goes

Some versions of the above list include Hayagriva amongst the Dasavataras. Hayagriva (also Hayagreeva) is a horse-headed deity that appears in both Hinduism and Buddhism.

Apart from the above mentioned ten principal avatars, another 22 avatars are given in Chapter 3, Canto 1 of the Srimad Bhagavatam. The Bhagavata Purana (also known as Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, or simply Bhāgavatam) is one of the Puranic texts of Hindu literature Following this list the Bhagavatam states that as well as these avatars "the incarnations of the Lord are innumerable, like rivulets flowing from inexhaustible sources of water"[19].

There has also been some comparison between the avatars of Vishnu and Darwin's Theory of Evolution, as the incarnations generally mirror increasing phylogenetic sophistication in keeping with the theory's proposal of terrestrial reptiles and mammals evolving from aquatic and amphibian life. Charles Darwin 's On the Origin of Species (published 24 November 1859) is a seminal work in Scientific literature and arguably the Terrestrial animals are Animals that live predominantly or entirely on land as compared with Aquatic animals which live predominantly or entirely in the water (e [20] [21]

Thousand names of Vishnu

Vishnu with Lakshmi (Lakshmi-Narayana) at Halebidu
Vishnu with Lakshmi (Lakshmi-Narayana) at Halebidu

Vishnu has a large number of names, that are collected in the Vishnu sahasranama ("Vishnu's thousand names") from within the larger work Mahabharata. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Halebidu ( Kannada ಹಳೆಬೀಡು is located in Hassan District, Karnataka The Vishnu sahasranāma (literally "the thousand names of Vishnu " is a list of 1000 names for Vishnu, one of the main forms of God The character Bhishma recites the names before Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, praising him (Vishnu) as the supreme god. Bhishma: One of the strongest characters of the Mahabharata. He was the great-uncle of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas A unparalleled archer he once Kurukshetra ( Hindi: कुरुक्षेत्र is the name of a City in Kurukshetra District of the Indian state of Haryana हरियाणा These Sahasranama are regarded as essence of all Vedas by followers of Vaishnavism who believe sincere chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama results in spiritual well-being and a greater awareness of god. "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and

The names are generally derived from the anantakalyanagunas (meaning: infinite auspicious attributes). Some names are:

Footnotes

  1. ^ Sri Vishnu Sahasaranama - Transliteration and Translation of Chanting
  2. ^ Prabhupada, AC Bhaktivedanta. Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ( Sanskrit:, abhaya-caraṇāravinda bhakti-vedānta svāmī prabhupāda, Bangla: অভয়চরনাবিন্দ Bhagavad-gita As It Is Chapter 11 Verse 3. vedabase. net. Retrieved on 2008-05-10. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. ". . see the cosmic manifestation"
  3. ^ Bhagavad Gita 4.7 ". . . at that time I descend Myself"
  4. ^ Matchett, Freda (2000). Krsna, Lord or Avatara? the relationship between Krsna and Visnu: in the context of the Avatara myth as presented by the Harivamsa, the Visnupurana and the Bhagavatapurana. Surrey: Routledge, 254. ISBN 0-7007-1281-X.   p. 4
  5. ^ Swami Chinmayananda's translation of Vishnu sahasranama pgs. 16-17, Central Chinmaya Mission Trust .
  6. ^ Indo-Aryan etymological dictionary, 1996, II. 566f.
  7. ^ Mayrhofer, A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary (1976) III. 231f. , J. Gonda, Aspects of Early Visnuism (ISBN 81-208-1087-2, reprint 1993) for a collection of references).
  8. ^ Gupta, Ravi M. (2004). Caitanya Vaisnava Vedanta: Acintyabhedabheda in Jiva Gosvami's Catursutri tika. University Of Oxford.  
  9. ^ Gupta, Ravi M. (2007). Caitanya Vaisnava Vedanta of Jiva Gosvami's Catursutri tika. Routledge. ISBN 0415405483.  
  10. ^ http://www.vedabase.net/bg/9/18/en1 . . the basis of everything, . . the eternal seed
  11. ^ http://www.vedabase.net/bg/10/42/en1 . . I pervade the entire universe
  12. ^ http://www.vedabase.net/bg/11/12/en1 . . effulgence of the Supreme Person. .
  13. ^ http://www.vedabase.net/bg/18/66/en1 . . surrender unto Me. .
  14. ^ Quoted from the Satvata-tantra translation by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
  15. ^ SrimAn nArAyaNa
  16. ^ SRIVAISHNAVISM - A CONSCISE STUDY - PART III.
  17. ^ Garuda Purana Texts 1. Garuda Purana is one of the Puranas which are part of the Hindu body of texts known as Smriti. 86. 10-11
  18. ^ [http://www.salagram.net/Dasavatara-page.htm Dasavatara Page] (salagram. net)
  19. ^ Bhagvata Purana, 1.3.26
  20. ^ Incarnations of Vishnu & Theory of Evolution.
  21. ^ Hindu gods

External links

Dictionary

Vishnu

-proper noun

  1. (Hinduism) One of the Trimurti (trinity) in Hindu mythology, and the most popularly worshiped god in Hinduism. Vishnu is commonly depicted as being blue in colour and having four arms: with each hand holding either a lotus, a mace, a conch shell or Chakra weapon. Vishnu is the Supreme being or Ultimate Reality for Vaishnavas and a manifestation of Brahman in the Advaita or Smarta traditions of Hinduism.
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