In Hinduism, Vishnu is one of the important Trimurties and one of the three main deities. As per the Vaishnava tradition, Vishnu is known as the Absolute Supreme Being. Vishnu keeps the Universe going, protects it from destruction and so is called a Preserver Deity. So far, Vishnu has come to planet Earth in Nine Avatars or forms out of which the tenth Avatar is yet to come. Lord Krishna and Lord Rama are his most popular Avatars. The Hindu goddess of wealth and fortune, ‘Lakshmi’ is Vishnu’s wife.
Vishnu is depicted with a disc (chakra) in his upper right hand, lotus in his upper left hand, conch (shankha) in his lower right hand and a mace (gada) in his lower left hand. A number of appearances have been taken by Vishnu. However, Kshirodakashayi Vishnu, Garbhodakshayi Vishnu and Karanodakshayi Vishnu (Mahavishnu) are his three main guises.
The ten Avatars of Vishnu in order of appearance are Matsya (Fish), Kurma (Turtle), Varaha (Boar), Narasimha (half man, half lion), Vamana (Short man, Dwarf), Parashurama (Hunter, Fierce Man), Rama (Ideal Man, Developed Man, Fighter), Krishna (Cowherd Prince) and the ninth avatar as Buddha (Scientific and Intellectual Man) as well as Balarama (Physically Advanced Man). Vishnu’s tenth and future avatar is to be Kalki).
One ancient Tirth Kshetra (holy place) dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is the Kodlamane Shree Vishnumurthy Temple of Serenity and Mystery, besides the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala and the Sarvatobhadra Temple in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
The name Vishnu means, ‘one who is everything and inside everything’, ‘omnipresent’, ‘remover of all sins’, or ‘all pervasive’. Vishnu has 108 names listed in the tenth part of the Padma Purana (during the 4th – 15th century CE). The Vishnu Sahasranama has mention of more than 1000 names for Lord Vishnu with each name describing the aspect, attribute and qualities of God.
