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Who is Vishnu?

 

Brahma is the creator of the universe and Shiva is the destroyer of evil. Vishnu is the preserver and protector of the universe.

His role is to return to the earth in troubled times and restore the balance of good and evil. So far, he has been incarnated nine times, but Hindus believe that he will be reincarnated one last time close to the end of this world.

 

Two of Vishnu's incarnations, Rama and Krishna, are also the subject of the epic stories Ramayana and Mahabharata, respectively.

 

Vishnu is represented with a human body, often with blue coloured skin and with four arms. His hands always carry four objects in them, representing the things he is responsible for. The objects symbolise many more meanings than are presented here:

  • The conch: the sound this produces 'Om', represents the  sound of creation

  • The chakra, or discus: symbolises the mind

  • The lotus flower: an example of glorious existence and liberation

  • The mace: represents mental and physical strength

Vishnu is usually represented in two positions.

  • Standing upright on a lotus flower with Lakshmi, his consort, close by him

  • Reclining on the coils of a serpent, with Lakshmi massaging his feet. They are surrounded by the Milky Ocean.

Vishnu rides on the King of Birds, Garuda, who is an eagle.

 

The nine incarnations of Vishnu are:

  • Matsya (fish)

    • Some Hindus believe that this is the similar to the biblical representation of Noah

  • Kurma (turtle)

    • Churning of the Ocean

  • Varaha (pig/boar)

    • In this avatar, Vishnu recovered the stolen Vedas (Holy book)

  • Narasimha (half lion, half man)

    • Vishnu managed to vanquish (defeat) a demon who had gained immunity from attacks from man, beast or god.

  • Vamana (dwarf sage with the ability to grow)

    • In this story, the evil demon Bali had taken over the earth and had pushed all of the gods from the heavens as well. Vishnu took the form of a dwarf, who tricked Bali into giving him as much of Bali's empire as he could cover in three steps. Vishnu as Vamana grew so large that with one step he had covered the earth, with the second the heavens, thus returning the ownership to the gods.

  • Parasurama (fierce man/hunter)

    • Vishnu rids the earth of irreligious and sinful monarchs (kings)

  • Rama (greatest warrior/ideal man)

    • As Rama, he kills the demon King Ravana, who abducted (kidnapped) his wife Sita

  • Krishna

    • Krishna is the hero of the Mahabharata, an epic poem. He also delivered his famous message, known as the Baghavad Gita. The Bhagwad Gita is considered to be a very sacred book for Hindus

  • Buddha

    • who appeared in the 5th century BCE. In some traditions, Balarama replaces Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu.

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Reference: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/deities/vishnu.shtm

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