Vishnu

Like many other Hindu deities, Vishnu appears through various avatars , or earthly incarnations, when a certain purpose needs to be fulfilled.

Vishnu has ten total avatars - nine that exist now and one to come. Perhaps the most popular and famous of Vishnu's avatars is Krishna. Krishna is sometimes blue, sometimes not, in artistic representations, but what is most intriguing about him is his personality. Instead of being an adult avatar, he is sometimes depicted as a child or even a baby. Some temples have places where you can rock baby Krishna's cradle or push child Krishna on a swing, and Krishna is often depicted playing a pipe to indicate his fun nature.

As an adult, Krishna takes on the role of preserver and philosopher, which is clear in the epic written about him called the Mahabharata. Rama is another of Vishnu's major avatars.

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While Krishna is typically more gentle and intellectual, Rama is usually involved in warfare. Think of your stereotypical superhero who has physical strength, courage, and defeats villains - this is who Rama is. According to Hindu stories, Rama was responsible for defeating an evil demon king. Buddha is also an incarnation of Vishnu who is prized for his wisdom and intellect - so much so that groups split off to solely follow Buddha, leading to the religion of Buddhism.

In addition to the traditional avatars of Vishnu, he is also incarnated as various animals. This includes a fish, a boar, and even a turtle. The turtle avatar, Kurma, was supposedly responsible for giving the gods immortality. In addition to these avatars and the other three, Vaishnavas believe Vishnu will be reincarnated once more as the avatar Kalki.

Kalki is supposed to be a ''messianic'' figure of sorts, riding on a white horse and entering the world soon before the end of the world to bring about a peaceful kingdom. Vishnu is a popular and interesting god of Hinduism, leading to him having the most followers, called Vaishnavas , of any Hindu deity. Vishnu is part of the trimurti along with Brahma and Shiva and acts as the preserver of the group. The blue and four armed god is typically depicted with four items which symbolize something about him: Vishnu has nine avatars or incarnations, including the ever-popular and fun Krishna , the warrior Rama , and the intellectual Buddha.

He is also incarnated as animals, like a turtle, and is believed to have a tenth incarnation as Kalki before the end of the world. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study. Login here for access. Did you know… We have over college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1, colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree.

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Tommi Waters TK Waters has a bachelor's degree in literature and religious studies and a master's degree in religious studies and teaches Hebrew Bible at Western Kentucky University. Since we are only 5, years into Kali Yuga, which is said to last , years, it may be a long time before the Kalki avatar appears. Like other gods, Vishnu has a vahana, or vehicle, which transports him and is also an extension of his powers.

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Worshiping Garuda is believed to remove the effects of poison. This might be because Garuda is known for feeding only on snakes.

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The image of Garuda is often used to protect the wearer from a snake attack and its poison. The mantra Garudi Vidya is used to remove all kinds of evil. People might pray to Vishnu or identify with him for various reasons. His many representations make Vishnu a common source for inspiration because he is seen as someone who is easier to relate to than a more distant god.

You can also call upon his many avatars. The God of Preservation.

The Story of Vishnu According to Hindu belief, Vishnu has incarnated on Earth at least nine times to destroy evil and restore justice in the world. The Vahana of Vishnu Like other gods, Vishnu has a vahana, or vehicle, which transports him and is also an extension of his powers. Inspiration from Vishnu People might pray to Vishnu or identify with him for various reasons. If you are seeking a greater connection to the divine power within you, then Seduction of Spirit is the right event for you.

This is an experience to deepen your spiritual journey among a community of like-minded individuals. Click here to learn more. Temple images of Vishnu depict him either sitting, often in the company of his consorts Lakshmi also called Shri and Bhumidevi Earth , or reclining on the coils of the serpent Shesha—asleep on the cosmic ocean during the time between the periodic dissolution and re-manifestation of the world. He is also represented in a standing position and dressed in royal garments, holding in his four sometimes two hands the shankha conch , chakra discus , gada club , or padma lotus.

On his chest is the curl of hair known as the shrivatsa mark, and around his neck he wears the auspicious jewel Kaustubha. In paintings, Vishnu is usually shown as dark-complexioned, a distinguishing feature also of several of his incarnations. We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval.

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Dec 6, See Article History. Learn More in these related Britannica articles: The two major gods were Vishnu and Shiva, around whom there emerged a monotheistic trend perhaps best expressed in the Vaishnava Bhagavadgita , which most authorities would date to the 1st century bce.

The doctrine of karma and rebirth, emphasizing the influence of actions performed….