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Vishnu
God of Protection, Preservation of Good, Dharma restoration, Moksha
Bhagavan Vishnu.jpg
Affiliation Supreme Being (Vaishnavism), Hari, Jagganath, Vithoba, Trimurti, Deva, Krishna
Mantra Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Om Namo Narayana
Vishnu icons across cultures
KINGS of BAKTRIA. Agathokles. Circa 185-170 BC. AR Drachm (3.22 gm, 12h). Bilingual series. BASILEWS AGAQOKLEOUS with Indian god Balarama-Samkarshana.jpg
180 BCE Indo-Greek coin of Agathocles.
VishnuGandhara.JPG
4th–6th century CE Gandhara seal.
Museum für Indische Kunst Dahlem Berlin Mai 2006 036 2.jpg
13th century Cambodian Vishnu.
Statue of Vishnu, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK (IM 127-1927) - 20090209.jpg
Beikthano (Vishnu) Nat.jpg
Vishnu Kediri.jpg
The iconography of Hindu god Vishnu has been widespread in history.

Vishnu is one of the three main gods in Hinduism. Vaishnavas believe that Vishnu is the highest God. Vishnu is the preserver god, which means he protects the earth from being destroyed and keeps it going, according to this religion, and he has come to earth in nine forms (called avatars) so far, with one yet to come. His most famous forms are Rama and Krishna. Vishnu's wife is Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of fortune.

Vishnu is usually shown with light blue skin and four arms. He holds a lotus, mace (gada), conch (shankha) and disc (chakra) in each of four hands.

Avatars

There are ten avatars of Vishnu (in the order they appeared):

  • Balarama (Physically advanced man)
  • Buddha (Intellectual and scientific man)
  • Kalki (future avatar, has not appeared yet)

Icons

Vishnu holds items in his four hands. He holds a conch in the lower right hand, a discus in the upper right hand, a lotus (flower) in the upper left hand and a mace in the lower left hand.

Avatars of Vishnu
Vishnu

Images for kids

  • Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of the Lord) Manuscript LACMA M.88.134.4 (2 of 2)

    The Bhagavata Purana is centered around Krishna, a Vishnu avatar.

  • Angkor Wat

    The Angkor Wat Temple was built as a dedication to Vishnu.

  • Relief sculpture of the Hindu god Narayana with his consort Lakshmi (Lakshminarayana) in the Hoysaleshwara temple at Halebidu

    Vishnu with Lakshmi(Laxminarayan) at Halebidu.

  • Avatars

    Ten avatars of Vishnu(Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Vamana, Krishna, Kalki, Buddha, Parshurama, Rama and Narasimha). Painting from Jaipur, now at the Victoria and Albert Museum

  • Kurma at Saptashrungi

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  • Deshaavathaaram4 narasimham

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  • Parashurama with axe

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  • Ananda Krishna and Nagaraja

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  • Kalki1790s

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  • Devinuwara Sri Vishnu Maha Devalaya in Sri Lanka

    Uthpalawarna Vishnu Devalaya in Devinuwara, Matara, Sri Lanka

  • Garudabkkholidayinn0609

    A statue in Bangkok depicting Vishnu on his vahana Garuda, the eagle. One of the oldest discovered Hindu-style statues of Vishnu in Thailand is from Wat Sala Tung in Surat Thani Province and has been dated to ~400 CE.

  • Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple

    The front-view of Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

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