Vishnu
Vishnu (विष्णु, IAST: Viṣṇu), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as The Preserver within the Trimurti, the triple deity of supreme divinity that includes Brahma and Shiva.[1]
In Vaishnavism, Vishnu is the Supreme Being, and the god of preservation (sattva). He is supreme Lord who creates, protects, and transforms the universe. Tridevi is stated to be the energy and creative power (Shakti) of each, with Lakshmi being the equal complementary partner of Vishnu.[2]
According to Vaishnavism, the supreme being is with qualities (Saguna), and has definite form, but is limitless, transcendent and unchanging absolute Brahman, and the primal Atman (Self) of the universe.[3]
There are both benevolent and fearsome depictions of Vishnu. In benevolent aspects, he is depicted as an omniscient being sleeping on the coils of the serpent Shesha (who represents time) floating in the primeval ocean of milk called Kshira Sagara with his consort, Lakshmi.[4]
Whenever the world is threatened with evil, chaos, and destructive forces, Vishnu descends in the form of an avatar (incarnation) to restore the cosmic order and protect dharma. The Dashavatara are the ten primary avatars of Vishnu. Out of these ten, Rama and Krishna are the most important.[5]
Further reading
Vishnu, Wikipedia
Notes
- ↑ Gavin Flood, An Introduction to Hinduism (Archived 23 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine.) (1996), p. 17.
- ↑ David Leeming (2005). The Oxford Companion to World Mythology. Oxford University Press. p. 236. ISBN 978-0190288884.
- ↑ Edwin Bryant; Maria Ekstrand (2004). The Hare Krishna Movement: The Postcharismatic Fate of a Religious Transplant. Columbia University Press. p. 16. ISBN 978-0231508438. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Vanamali (20 March 2018). In the Lost City of Sri Krishna: The Story of Ancient Dwaraka. Simon and Schuster. p. 737. ISBN 978-1620556825.
- ↑ Zimmer, Heinrich Robert (1972). Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization. Princeton University Press. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-691-01778-5.
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