The Preserver — Supreme God of Hinduism
The story where this form appears — one sitting, one face.
Vishnu (विष्णु) — "the one who pervades" or "the one who enters" — is one of the three major deities in Hinduism (Trimurti), alongside Brahma (creator) and Shiva (destroyer). Vishnu is the preserver and sustainer of the universe, the one who maintains cosmic order (dharma) across all ages. When the world falls into chaos, Vishnu descends (avatar) to restore dharma. He is worshipped as the Supreme Being in Vaishnavism, one of the four major Hindu traditions. Vishnu is depicted with blue skin (shyamala), four arms holding conch (shankha), discus (chakra), mace (gada), and lotus (padma). His consort is Lakshmi (goddess of prosperity). His vehicle (vahana) is Garuda (the eagle). He sleeps on the cosmic serpent Shesha in the ocean of milk between cosmic cycles.
In the Rig Veda (1500-1200 BCE), Vishnu is a solar deity associated with the three steps — he takes three steps across the sky (sunrise, noon, sunset). The Gayatri Mantra addresses Savitri (the sun's power), but Vishnu is closely associated with this solar principle. The Vedic Vishnu is not yet the supreme deity of Vaishnavism, but his seeds are present.
Through the Puranas (especially Vishnu Purana and Bhagavata Purana), Vishnu became the supreme deity — the maintainer of the universe, the one who incarnates whenever dharma declines. The concept of avatar (descent) was developed to explain how the ultimate reality enters the world in various forms.
Hindu theology identifies three functions of the ultimate reality: creation (Brahma), preservation (Vishnu), and dissolution/transform (Shiva). Vishnu is the preserver — he maintains the creation that Brahma established and ensures it continues until Shiva dissolves it for the next cycle.
Vishnu's avatars (in traditional order):
The Bhagavata Purana mentions that Vishnu has unlimited avatars (as many as there are living beings in need), but these ten are the primary (pradhana) ones.
Vishnu is dharma personified. The teaching: the cosmic order is not self-sustaining — divine intervention (avatar) is needed when adharma (unrighteousness) threatens to overwhelm dharma. This is the avatar doctrine.
Unlike Shiva's destruction or Brahma's creation, Vishnu's function is preservation — he maintains the creation, protects the devotees, and ensures the cosmic order continues. This is the divine as nurturing presence.
In Vaishnavite bhakti, Vishnu is approached as the most accessible of the Trimurti — more personal than the formless Shiva or the detached Brahma. Vishnu's worship through his avatars (especially Rama and Krishna) makes the ultimate reality approachable through love.
| Text | Description |
|---|---|
| Vishnu Purana | Primary text on Vishnu's nature and avatars |
| Bhagavata Purana | The "Fifth Veda" — Vishnu's glory and Krishna's avatars |
| Rig Veda | Early references to Vishnu (solar aspect) |
| Upanishads | Philosophical treatment of Vishnu as Saguna Brahman |
Vishnu Mantras:
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Om Vishnave Namah
Sri Vishnu Sahasranama (1000 names of Vishnu)
Chant 108 times with japa mala.
Vishnu Puja:
Tulsi Worship:
Vishnu Sahasranama:
Ekadashi Fasting:
Pilgrimage:
Textual Study:
Comparative Study:
Philosophical Analysis:
Four major Vaishnava traditions:
Each has its own philosophy, practices, and temples.
Vishnu is most commonly worshipped through his avatars — especially Rama and Krishna. The avatar is considered not a separate being but Vishnu's direct presence in the world.
