In Hinduism, Vishnu, whose name means "All-Pervading," is the protector of the world and the restorer of moral order (dharma). He is peaceful, merciful, and compassionatethe protector of the world and the restorer of moral order (dharma). He is peaceful, merciful, and compassionate. To Vaisnavites, Vishnu is the Supreme Lord.
Vishnu is often shown reclining or asleep as he awaits the next annihilation and renewal of the worldhe awaits the next annihilation and renewal of the world.
Vishnu is best known through his ten avatars (incarnations), which appear on earth when there is disorder in the worldhis ten avatars (incarnations), which appear on earth when there is disorder in the world. Rama and Krishna, whose stories are told in the Epics and the Puranas, are the most popular incarnations of Vishnu by far. [Note: See below for more information about the avatars of Vishnu]
Curiously, the interpretative saga of Lord Vishnu begins with Lord Shiva. Once when man's wickedness overran all restraining boundaries, an infuriated Shiva transformed himself into a wrathful form known as Bhairava. Thus converted, Shiva began his rampage of destruction, killing, maiming, and ripping out hearts of humans and drinking blood, his menacing laughter thundering all around.Once when man's wickedness overran all restraining boundaries, an infuriated Shiva transformed himself into a wrathful form known as Bhairava. Thus converted, Shiva began his rampage of destruction, killing, maiming, and ripping out hearts of humans and drinking blood, his menacing laughter thundering all around.
On behalf of humanity, Vishnu approached Bhairava and requested him to stop the slaughter. Bhairava said: "I will go on killing until my bowl is filled with enough blood to quench my thirst." It was common knowledge that Bhairava's bowl could never be filled and his thirst never quenched.On behalf of humanity, Vishnu approached Bhairava and requested him to stop the slaughter. Bhairava said: "I will go on killing until my bowl is filled with enough blood to quench my thirst." It was common knowledge that Bhairava's bowl could never be filled and his thirst never quenched.
His heart filled with compassion, Vishnu addressed Shiva thus: "Let me give you all the blood you need. You don't have to bleed mankind." So saying, Vishnu struck his forehead with his sword and let his blood spurt into Bhairava's bowl. Ages passed, Vishnu kept pouring his blood into the bowl, while Bhairava kept drinking it.His heart filled with compassion, Vishnu addressed Shiva thus: "Let me give you all the blood you need. You don't have to bleed mankind." So saying, Vishnu struck his forehead with his sword and let his blood spurt into Bhairava's bowl. Ages passed, Vishnu kept pouring his blood into the bowl, while Bhairava kept drinking it.
Bhairava finally realized that Vishnu was sacrificing himself for the sake of the world. Moved by Vishnu's generosity, he declared, "So long as you preserve the world, I will not seek to quench my thirst. But when the world becomes so corrupt that even you cannot sustain it, I will raise my trident and squeeze every drop of blood from the heart of man.Vishnu was sacrificing himself for the sake of the world. Moved by Vishnu's generosity, he declared, "So long as you preserve the world, I will not seek to quench my thirst. But when the world becomes so corrupt that even you cannot sustain it, I will raise my trident and squeeze every drop of blood from the heart of man."
Thus, as exemplified in the above legend, Vishnu is the Preserver, the protector of all humanity. A deity who saves mankind from calamities which result from its own foiblesVishnu is the Preserver, the protector of all humanity. A deity who saves mankind from calamities which result from its own foibles.
According to Hindu belief, Vishnu has incarnated on Earth at least nine times to destroy evil and restore justice in the worldVishnu has incarnated on Earth at least nine times to destroy evil and restore justice in the world. His major manifestations or avatars are as follows:
Matsaya (fish) In this form Vishnu saves the Vedas, the Hindu texts containing all the knowledge of the world, from massive floods that threaten the earth [and saves the world, and much of humanityVishnu saves the Vedas, the Hindu texts containing all the knowledge of the world, from massive floods that threaten the earth [and saves the world, and much of humanity - although probably not the people who had recently converted to Buddhism, which pissed the Hindus off a bit - as well].
Kumra (tortoise) As a tortoise, Vishnu recovers the valuable things that were lost at the bottom of the ocean during the floods, including the nectar of immortalityVishnu recovers the valuable things that were lost at the bottom of the ocean during the floods, including the nectar of immortality.
Varaha (boar) When Vishnu incarnates as Varaha, he battles the demon Hiranyakashyap, who pulled the earth to the bottom of the ocean. Varaha dives into the depths of sea and brings the earth back to safety.he battles the demon Hiranyakashyap, who pulled the earth to the bottom of the ocean. Varaha dives into the depths of sea and brings the earth back to safety.
Narasimha (a being with the head and claws of a lion and the body of a man) In this incarnation, Vishnu finally kills the demon Hiranyakashyap, who had become a powerful tyrant threatening humankind as well as the gods.Vishnu finally kills the demon Hiranyakashyap, who had become a powerful tyrant threatening humankind as well as the gods.
Vamana (dwarf) As the sage Vamana, Vishnu conquers King Bali, a demon who had seized control of heaven, earth, and the netherworlds.Vishnu conquers King Bali, a demon who had seized control of heaven, earth, and the netherworlds.
Kalki (the prophesied god) In Hindu mythology, the tenth avatar of Vishnu has not yet appeared on Earth, but it is said that he will come to destroy evil and restore the moral order of humanitythe tenth avatar of Vishnu has not yet appeared on Earth, but it is said that he will come to destroy evil and restore the moral order of humanity by the end of the Kali Yuga period, the current era in the Hindu calendar. Since we are only 5,000 years into Kali Yuga, which is said to last 432,000 years, it may be a long time before the Kalki avatar appears.
