Unique Attributes : Preserver, protector,
calmness and patience
Other Names : Narayan, Badrinath, Adinath, Hari, Jagannatha,
Kesava, Padmanabha, Siddhartha
Consort : Laxmi Ji
Primary Scriptures : Vishnu Purana, Vishnu Sahasranama
Abode : Vaikuntha Dham
Mula Mantra : Om Namoh Bhagwate Vasudevaya
In the Bhagvat Gita it is mentioned that whenever evil begins to
flourish on earth, god incarnates on earth as a human to annihilate the
evil forces. Lord Sri Vishnu being the preserver and sustainer of life
on Earth has had nine avatars (incarnations) as a living being; the most
famous of which are of Lord Rama and Krishna. Lord Vishnu constitutes
the trinity of Hindu gods including Brahma and Shiva. Sri Vishnu the
restorer of 'Dharma' is the supreme lord of the biggest Hindu cult
'Vaishanavism' and temples dedicated to the lord are found spread across
the length and breadth of the country.
Lord Vishnu is often depicted in a reclining position on the ferocious
naga Shesha floating in cosmic water. This pose of Sri Hari is a symbol
of the calmness and righteousness with which the Lord carries out his
function of a preserver and sustainer. He is often represented to be of
dark blue color the color of clouds, and with four arms holding
different things making his role as a sustainer clear. Sri Hari's skin
color is a symbol of the divinity and cosmic character associated with
the lord. In one hand he is shown holding a lotus, in the second a conch
(shankh), in the third a discus (sudarshan chakra) and in the fourth one
a mace (gada). The lotus symbolizes the beauty of life; the discus the
brightness of sun to remove darkness by exterminating evil, the mace
represents power and knowledge and finally the conch stands for the
sound of 'Om', Goddess Lakshmi, pureness & perfection and the cosmic
waters.
Lord Sri Hari is known by innumerable names and about a thousand names
of the lord are given in 'Vishnu Sahasranama'. His consort is the
beautiful goddess of wealth Lakshmi Ji with whom he resides in Baikuntha
or Vaikuntha. His vahan (vehicle) is the Garuda (eagle) on whom he is
often depicted riding to Vaikunth. Lord Vishnu is hailed as the Supreme
Being - Ishvara by Vaishnavites and is prayed in the other forms he
manifested himself on earth. It is believed that Lord Vishnu is an
eternal immortal spirit which permeated even before the creation of
Universe in primeval waters.