Vishnu

For other uses of the name Vishnu, see Vishnu (disambiguation).

Vishnu (Sanskrit: (विष्णु, pronounced as "vιŞhŅυ") is a form of God, to whom most Hindus pray. For Vaishnavas, He is the only Ultimate Reality or God, as is Shiva for Shaivites. In Trimurti belief, He is the second aspect of God in the Trimurti (also called the Hindu Trinity), along with Brahma and Shiva.

Known as the Preserver, He is most famously identified with His avatars, or incarnations of God, most especially Krishna and Rama. Additionally, another important name for Vishnu is Narayana.

• Followers of Vaishnavism, unlike Smartas, do not believe that Vishnu is one of many personal forms of God or Saguna Brahman but believe Him to be the Ultimate Reality (i.e., Brahman) exclusively. A Smarta, on the other hand, would consider Vishnu and Shiva to be different aspects of the same Supreme Being. See Ishta-deva for greater discussion.

• Unlike Shaivism, Vaishnavism, the other denomination of Hinduism, believes that Vishnu incarnates periodically for the establishment and protection of righteousness, good Dharma and destruction of evil Adharma; see Avatar for more information.

• Smartas who follow Advaita philosophy, believe that deities such as Vishnu or Shiva are various forms of one ultimate higher power ("Brahman"), which higher reality has no specific form, name, face or features. This idea is encapsulated in the term "Nirguna Brahman" ("featureless reality"). The Vaishnava sect (worshippers of Vishnu) however believe that God can transcend all personal characteristics yet can also have personal characteristics for the grace of the human devotee. Personal characteristics are considered an aid for the devotee to focus on God. The Vaishnava sect also believe that it is not necessarily wrong to view a form of God as long as it is recognized that God is not limited to a particular form. Nonetheless, there are many sects of Vaishnavas, most notably Vadakalai Iyengars, who believe that Vishnu's authentic form is not beyond human comprehension, and that His form is exactly as shown in pictures and idols.

Vaishnavite Hindus also worship Vishnu in an abstract form (i.e., God with vague form) as a Saligrama stone. Use of the saligrama is similar to the use of Lingam, a form of Shiva.

Etymology

Regarding the suffix, Manfred Mayrhofer (Indo-Aryan etymological dictionary, 1996, II.566f.) proposes that the nasal is analogous to jiṣṇu "victorious". Mayrhofer further suggests that the name goes back to an already Indo-Iranian *višnu, and was replaced by rašnu in Zoroastrian Iran.

The root viś is also associated with viśva "all" (possibly by popular etymology, the word is generally believed to derive from Indo-Iranian *vi-k'o-, influenced by sarva "all", but a minority opinion does, indeed, derive viśva as from vik'-so, (J. Knobloch (1980)).

Suggestions involving other roots include include vi-ṣṇu "crossing the back", vi-ṣ-ṇu "facing towards all sides" and viṣ-ṇu "active", as well as attempts to explain Vishnu as an amalgate of two unrelated words, or as being derived from a non-Aryan root (see Mayrhofer, A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary (1976) III.231f., J. Gonda, Aspects of Early Visnuism (ISBN 8120810872, reprint 1993) for a collection of references). The name is continued in Prakrit veṇhu, viṇhu.

pre-Puranic Vishnu

Vishnu as a solar deity appears e.g. in RV 1.22.20:

The princes evermore behold / that loftiest place where Visnu is / Laid as it were an eye in heaven. (trans. Grittith)

He who gave being to the Sun and Morning, who leads the waters, He, O men, is Indra. (trans. Griffith)

In the Vedas, Vishnu appears not yet included in the class of the Adityas (unless it is implied that he is identical with Surya, and included as the eighth Aditya), but in later texts he appears as heading them. In the Brahmanas, he is associated with Sacrifice, and on one occasion described as a Dwarf. Perhaps the characterization of the Lord as a dwarf is an allusion to the Vamana Avatar.

According to one point of view, His rise to supremacy is apparent in the epics (Mahabharata, Ramayana, and from this period he may be considered a manifestation of the Singular God. Thus, according to this interpretation, the division of Hinduism in Vaishnavism and Shaivaism appeared only with the Puranas, where Vishnu's descents in ten principal Avatars become his distinguishing characteristic.

In another interpretation, the characteristic of Vishnu as the Supreme God appeared much earlier in the Vedic texts. For example, the following Vedic hymns express that point of view: 1. Purusha Sukta of Taittiriya Aranyaka (3.13.2) also refers master of Hri and Lakshmi (Vishnu) as Purusha, the Supreme God.

2. Visvakarma Sukta of Rig Veda (10.82) refers to Visnu indirectly as the Supreme God.

• 10.082.06: The waters verily first retained the embryo in which all the gods were aggregated, single deposited on the navel of the unborn (creator), in which all beings abide. The reference to the navel of the unborn is an indication of reference to Vishnu.

3. Aitareya Brahmana: 1:1:1 mentions Vishnu as the Supreme God.

• Agni is the lowest among devatas and Vishnu is the highest. All other devatas except Lord Visnu and Agni Deva occupy positions between them. A similar view of Agni as the youngest deity and Vishnu as the oldest deity, in one interpretation, is even expressed in the Chamakam, the last lines in the famous Saivite Vedic hymn, Shri Rudram.

Thus, the view of Western scholars, according to this point of view, holding that Visnu was an inferior Deity in Vedas is unfounded.

Theological attributes and more

Vishnu possesses six such divine glories, namely,

• Jñāna Omniscient; defined as the power to know about all beings simultaneously;
• Aishvarya Sovereignty, which persist in unchallenged rule over all;
• Shakti Energy, or power, which is the capacity to make the impossible possible;
• Bala Strength, which is the capacity to support everything by His will and without any fatigue;
• Virya Vigour, or valour which indicates the power to retain immateriality as the Supreme Spirit or Being in spite of being the material cause of mutable creations;
• Tèjas Resplendent, or Splendour, which expresses His self-sufficiency and the capacity to overpower everything by His spiritual effulgence.; cited from Bhakti Schools of Vedanta, by Swami Tapasyananda.

However, the actual number of auspicious qualities of Vishnu are countless, with the above-mentioned six qualities being the most important. Other important qualities attributed to God are Gambhirya (inestimatable grandeur), Audarya (generosity), and Karunya (compassion.)

Vishnu has no particular material form but can be manifest in any form, whether animate or inanimate. According to Vaishnava belief, He is the center of all forces, power, will, auspiciousness, goodness, beauty, grace, responsiveness, etc. In short, whatever we can think of, and whatever we cannot think of -- all are Vishnu. This description of the Lord was again emphasized by a Ramakrishna Mission scholar, Swami Tapasyananda, in his book, Bhakti Schools of Vedanta.

The Rigveda says: Vishnu can travel in three strides. The first stride is the Earth. The second stride is the visible sky. The third stride cannot be seen by men and is the heaven where the gods and the righteous dead live. (This feature of three strides also appears in the story of his avatar Vamana called Trivikrama.) The Sanskrit for "to stride" is the root kram; its reduplicated perfect tense is chakram (guņa grade) or chakra (zero-grade), and in the Rigveda He is called by epithets such as vi-chakra-māņas = "he who has made 3 strides". The Sanskrit word chakra also means "wheel". That may have suggested the idea of Vishnu carrying a chakra.

See Vaishnava Theology for further information.

Relations with other Deities

His vehicle is Garuda, the eagle; who is a part of His creation. He needs no support for anything He does in and outside this world.

Iconography

• He is to be depicted as a four-armed male-form: The four arms indicate his all-powerful and all-pervasive nature. The physical existence of Vishnu is represented by the two arms in the front while the two arms at the back represent his presence in the spiritual world. The Upanishad titled Gopal Uttartapani describes the four arms of Vishnu.
• The color of his skin has to be new-cloud-like-blue: The blue color indicates his all-pervasive nature, blue being the color of the infinite sky as well as the infinite ocean on which he resides.
• He has the mark of sage Bhrigu's feet on his chest.
• Also on his chest is the srivatsa mark, symbolising his consort Lakshmi.
• Around his neck, He wears the auspicious "Kaustubha" jewel, and a garland of flowers.
• A crown should adorn his head: The crown symbolozes his supreme authority.
• He is to shown wearing two earrings: The earrings represent inherent opposites in creation - knowledge and ignorance; happiness and unhappiness; pleasure and pain.

Vishnu is always to be depicted holding the four attributes associated with him, being:

1. A Conch shell or Shankhya, named "Panchajanya", held by the lower right hand, which represents creativity. The Panchajanya is the originator of the five elements or Panchabhoota - water, fire, air, earth and sky or space. The sound that evolves from blowing this conch is the primeval sound of creation.
2. The chakra, a sharp-spinning discus-like weapon, named "Sudarshana", held by the upper right hand, which symbolizes the mind. The name Sudarshana is derived from two words - Su, which means good, and Darshan, which means vision. The chakra as a weapon thus indicates the necessity of destroying one's ego and illusory self-existence and developing the vision to identify the eternal truth. The discus has six spokes and symbolizes a lotus with six petals, thus representing the power that controls all six seasons.
3. A Mace or Gada, named "Kaumodaki", held by the lower left hand, which represents individual existence. The Mace symbolizes the primeval force from which all mental and physical strength is derived.
4. A lotus flower or Padma, held by the upper left hand, which represents liberation or dispersion. The lotus symbolizes the power from which the universe emerges. It represents the concentration of truth or Satya, the originator of the rules of conduct or Dharma, and knowledge or Gyana in a single symbol.

In general, Vishnu is depicted in one of the following two forms:

1. Standing upright on a lotus flower, often with Lakshmi, His consort, beside him on a similar pedestal;
2. Reclining on the coiled-up thousand-hooded Shesha Naga, with his consort Lakshmi, seated at his feet; the assemblage rests on the "Kshira Sagar" (ocean of Milk). In this representation, Brahma is depicted as sitting on a lotus that grows out of Vishnu's navel.

A slightly less seen depiction of Vishnu is the Vishwaroop representation. The Vishwaroop originates from the words Vishwa which means the cosmos and Roop which means form or manifestation. This grand depiction is the representation of his essence being magnified to contain the entire cosmos. The root for this depiction is probably derived from the ancient Hindu philosophy which indicates that through the diversities of creation there always is a connecting essence that threads everything into a unified whole. The Vishwaroop depiction shows Vishnu as having seven heads on each of his left and right. Each of these has its own cosmic function or represents an aspect of the cosmos. The gods depicted include Shiva, Brahma, Ganesha, Hanuman, Indra, Agni (Fire God), Surya (Sun God), Chandra (Moon God), Maruta (Wind God), Kubera (God of wealth), Varuna (God of water) and Yama (Time) and Brahma's three sons. Vishnu retains the central position. While Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu together form the Hindu Trinity, Ganesha and Hanuman represent faith and divinity. Agni or Fire represents life, energy and vitality. Maruta, the wind-god represents space, while Indra represents rains and cosmic balance. Yama depicts the infinite nature of time while Varuna the ocean God represents water. Kubera represents prosperity and riches. The Sun and Moon represent the cycle of birth, death, decay and finally dissolution. Brahma's three sons represent the entire Mankind. Taken together as one entity they constitute the entire Cosmos.

Sri Viswaroopa Panchamukha Hanuman is also shown as having five heads, each head potraying an incarnation of Vishnu. The east facing is Hanuman. The north facing in Lord Narasimha. The west facing is Lord Garuda. The south facing is Lord Varaha. The sky facing is Lord Hayagriva.

Note that Vishnu per se is never portrayed in anthropomorphic forms. Attributing anthrompormorphic characteristics to Vishnu is a common misconception held by non-Hindus.

Worship

• Vishnu is accepted as the Supreme God in Vaishnavism, or Vishnu monotheism. Followers of Vishnu believe that He is the Supreme Being and distinguish Him from Devas, or demigods, who are celestial beings similar to angels as discussed in Judeo-Christian traditions.

• It is considered that He manifested Himself as a living being in ten avatars. He is also worshiped in the form of these avatars.

• The praise of Indra and other devas in the Vedas are not intended for the particular deity, but for the Supreme Being, Brahman, who is the inner soul of devas and all other beings.
• The various deities addressed in the hymns are simply different forms of this one Supreme Being.
• Vaishnavas cite Rigveda 1.22.20, for the supremacy of Vishnu, "As the blazing sun pervades the entire sky like an eye fixed in the heavens, so the divine seers eternally perceive that supreme abode of Vishnu."
• The foreword of P. Sankaranarayan's translation of Vishnu sahasranama, Bhavan's Book University, cites Rig Veda V.I.15b.3, for the importance of chanting Vishnu's name, "O ye who wish to gain realization of the supreme truth, utter the name of Vishnu at least once in the steadfast faith that it will lead you to such realization."

• Om Namo Narayana, a mantra
• Purusha Sukta, a Vedic hymn said to describe Vishnu.
• Vishnu sahasranama, a hymn describing the 1000 names of Vishnu.

Names

The names are generally derived from the anantakalyanagunas (infinite auspicious attributes) of the Lord. Some names are:

• Acyutah (infallible)
• Ananta (endless, eternal, infinite)
• Kesava (slayer of Keshi, having long or much or handsome hair, from Atharvaveda viii , 6 , 23)
• Narayana (said to mean "He who is the abode of nār (= ether)", i.e., the whole world's shelter. There are two more meanings of Narayana found in a stuti of child-Krishna by Brahma).
• Madhava (relating to the season of spring)
• Govinda (leader of cowherds: a name of Krishna)
• Vishnu
• Madhusudana (He who destroyed the demon called Madhu)
• Trivikrama (He who strides out three times)
• Vamana (dwarfish, small or short in stature, a dwarf: a name of one of his avatars)
• Sridhara
• Hrsikesha (lord of the senses)
• Padmanabha (lotus-naveled one, from whose navel sprang the lotus which contained Brahma, who created the universe)
• Damodara (having a rope (dama) around his belly (udara): a name of Krishna)
• Krishna (born during the third epoch or Yuga, His deeds range from cow protection (go rakshya) to absolving the earth of load of sins)
• Rama (born during the second epoch of Yuga, His deeds primarily established the ideal living principles of a man)

Other names:

• Gopala (cow protector: ref. Krishna)
• Janardana (one who excites or agitates men)
• Vāsudeva (son of Vasudeva: a name of Krishna)
• Anantasayana (sleeping or reclining on Shesha Naga. Shesha Naga is often referred to as Ananta)
• Sriman (the pride of Shri or Lakshmi); Often Sriman is combined with the name, Narayana , to form a compound word,Sriman Narayana, as the name Ramakrishna.
• Srinivasa (the abode of Shri) (also specifically referring to His form in the temple at Tirupati). Also the form of Vishnu at Tirupati is well-known as Venkateswara.

Theological beliefs and philosophy

• Srivaishnavism (espoused by Ramanuja who advocated Vishishtadvaita),
• Dvaita (espoused by Madhvacharya or Madhva)
• Gaudiya Vaishnavism (espoused by Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu); the Hare Krishna movement or ISKCON adheres to Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

See also the articles on Vaishnavism, Vaishnava Theology, and Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology

See also

• Hindu deities

• List of Hindu deities