Vishnu

Vishnu

Painting depicting Vishnu, c. 1730

Vishnu titles: God of Preservation, Restorer of Dharma, The Protector of Good, Bestower of Karma, The Supreme Being (Vaishnavism), Member of Trimurti

Other names: Narayana, Hari, Madhava, Keshava, Achyuta, Janardana, Govinda and various others listed in the Vishnu Sahasranama

Affiliation: Parabrahman, Trimurti, Brahman, Bhagavan, Ishvara, Dashavatara

Abode: VaikunthaKshira Sagara

Mantra: Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya. Hari Om

Weapon: Sudarshana Chakra (discus), Kaumodaki (mace), Sharanga (bow), Nandaka (sword)

Symbols: Padma (lotus), Shaligram, Panchajanya (conch)

Day: Thursday

Mount: Garuda, Shesha

Festivals: Holi, Rama Navami, Krishna Janmashtami, Narasimha Jayanti, Deepavali, Onam, Vivaha Panchami, Vishu, Vijayadashami, Kartik Purnima, Tulasi Vivaha, Buddha Purnima, Ananta Chaturdashi, Shayani Ekadashi, Prabodhini Ekadashi, Vaikuntha Ekadashi and other Ekadashis

Consort: Lakshmi and her forms

Vishnu, also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation (sattva).

Vishnu is known as The Preserver within the Trimurti, the triple deity of supreme divinity that includes Brahma and Shiva. In Vaishnavism, Vishnu is the 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. He is one of the five equivalent deities in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta tradition of Hinduism.

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. 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.

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.