Vishnu is
the maintainer of the material creation. Another name for Vishnu is
Narayana. He is one of the Hindu trinity, along with Lord Siva and Lord
Brahma, and superintends the mode of goodness. He is full in all six
opulences—wealth, influence, beauty, fame, strength, and renunciation. He
is renounced because he is not attached to anything in the material world.
Lord Vishnu is considered to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead by
Vaishnavas.
As Garbhodakashayi Vishnu,
Brahma appears from his navel and creates the universe. His consort is
Lakshmi (also called Shridevi). Lakshmi usually holds a lotus flower with
the petals open. His other consort is "Bhudevi", who carries a
blue lotus flower (sometimes the petals are closed). If both consorts are
with Lord Vishnu, Lakshmi is on his right and Bhudevi on his
left. He usually has four hands,
which hold a conch shell (sankha), a disc (chakra), a club (gada), and a
lotus flower (padma). He has a blue complexion and wears yellow garments.
He wears a jewel on his chest called kaustubha.
The club and the wheel are the
Lord’s symbols of punishment for the demons and miscreants. The lotus
flower and conch shell are used to bless the devotees. When his incarnation
is present on this planet, Lord Vishnu kills the demons and protects his
devotees simultaneously. Vishnu’s carrier is
known as Garuda, who is half-bird (eagle) and half-man. Garuda is seen in
many Vishnu temples kneeling reverently in front of the
temple. Lord Vishnu is often seen
reclining on a bed made up of the coils of the serpent Ananta Shesha
(Shesha-naga) with Lakshmi and Bhudevi at his feet. There are unlimited
incarnations of Lord Vishnu, but there are ten major
incarnations (Dasa Avatara). A Deity of Lakshmi-Narayana
may be seen with Lord Narayana (Vishnu) sitting down, with Lakshmi sitting
on his lap. Narayana may have a disc and lotus in his
hands.
DEITIES
Krishna
