| Revision as of 18:57, 19 July 2003 view sourceMkweise (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users4,391 editsmNo edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 19:19, 19 July 2003 view source Mkweise (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users4,391 edits Hari is not just an alternate name, but refers to his shapeless formNext edit → | ||
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| '''Vishnu''' |
'''Vishnu''' is a ] god. He is the second god of the ] (also called the Hindu Trinity, all came from an ] laid by ]), along with ] and ]. The triumvirate signify the cycle of life: Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the protector, and Shiva is the destroyer. He is a ]. In later belief, he was attented to by the ]. In later times, he has been identified with ]. | ||
| Vishnu's consort is ], the Goddess of wealth. His mount is ], the eagle. He, along with the ]s, helped broker the truce between ] and ]. | Vishnu's consort is ], the Goddess of wealth. His mount is ], the eagle. He, along with the ]s, helped broker the truce between ] and ]. | ||
| Vishnu is usually depicted as a four-armed humanoid with blue skin, often sitting or resting on a ] flower. He also has a shapeless, ] form called '''Hari'''. | |||
| It is believed that he manifested himself as a human being in ten ]s. His avatars are said to be | It is believed that he manifested himself as a human being in ten ]s. His avatars are said to be | ||
Revision as of 19:19, 19 July 2003
Vishnu is a Hindu god. He is the second god of the Trimurthi (also called the Hindu Trinity, all came from an egg laid by Ammavaru), along with Brahma and Shiva. The triumvirate signify the cycle of life: Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the protector, and Shiva is the destroyer. He is a life-death-rebirth deity. In later belief, he was attented to by the vasu. In later times, he has been identified with Bhumiya.
Vishnu's consort is Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. His mount is Garuda, the eagle. He, along with the rishis, helped broker the truce between Vritra and Indra.
Vishnu is usually depicted as a four-armed humanoid with blue skin, often sitting or resting on a lotus flower. He also has a shapeless, ] form called Hari.
It is believed that he manifested himself as a human being in ten Avatars. His avatars are said to be
- Matsya, the fish
- Kurma, the tortoise
- Varaha, the boar
- Narasimha, the Man-Lion (Nara = man, simha = lion)
- Vamana, the Dwarf
- Parashurama
- Rama
- Krishna (meaning "dark" or "black")
- varies by sect: Siddhartha Gautama, Chaitanya, Balarama and others
- Kalki ("time"), who is yet to be manifested: an apocalyptic figure
Vishnu is the chief god of Vaishnavism.
It is not clearly known when or how the worship of Vishnu began. In the Vedas, and the information on Aryan beliefs, Vishnu is listed as a lesser god, strongly associated with Indra. It was only later in Hindu history that he became a member of the Trimurti and one of the most important deities of the religion.