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Lord Vishnu — traditional painting, Varanasi — Public Domain
Lord Vishnu
विष्णु
വിഷ്ണു
The Preserver · Narayana · Lord of the Universe
🕉 Vaishnavism
🦅 Garuda (Eagle)
💛 Goddess Lakshmi
Lord Vishnu is the preserver and protector of the universe — one of the Trimurti alongside Brahma and Shiva. He is Narayana, resting on the cosmic ocean atop Adi Shesha. Whenever dharma declines and adharma rises, Vishnu descends to Earth in an avatar to restore cosmic order. His ten Dashavatar span Matsya the fish to the yet-to-come Kalki.
Vishnu appears in the Rigveda as a solar deity. Through the Puranas his mythology expanded: Matsya saved the Vedas from a great flood; Kurma supported Mount Mandara during Samudra Manthan; Varaha rescued the earth; Narasimha slew Hiranyakashipu to protect Prahlada; Vamana reclaimed the three worlds from Bali; Parashurama purged corrupt kings; Rama upheld dharma against Lanka; Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita on Kurukshetra. Kalki is yet to come at the end of Kali Yuga.
Vishnu is depicted in a four-armed form holding the Shankha (conch), Sudarshana Chakra (discus), Kaumodaki (mace), and a lotus. He wears yellow silk (Pitambara), adorned with the Kaustubha gem and Vaijayanti garland. He rests on Adi Shesha in the primordial ocean, with Lakshmi at his feet. As Padmanabha he reclines on Shesha in eternal yogic sleep — Ananta Shayana.
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