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Vishnu (IAST viṣṇu, Devanagari विष्णु), (honorific: Bhagavan Vishnu), is the supreme God in Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. In other traditions of Hinduism, Vishnu is considered to be one of five equal bonafide scripture-sanctioned forms of God in the panchadeva system of the Smarta tradition of Hinduism. His supreme status is declared in the sacred texts of Hinduism like Yajurveda, the Rigveda and the Bhagavad Gita.

The Vishnu Sahasranama declares Vishnu as Paramatma that means supreme soul and Parameshwara that means supreme God. It describes Vishnu as the All-Pervading essence of all beings, the master of and beyond the past, present and future, the creator and destroyer of all existences, one who supports, sustains and governs the Universe and originates and develops all elements within.

In the Puranas, Vishnu is described as having the divine color of clouds (dark-blue), four-armed, holding a lotus, mace, conch and chakra (wheel). Vishnu is also described in the Bhagavad Gita as having a 'Universal Form' (Vishvarupa) which is beyond the ordinary limits of human sense perception .

The Puranas describe each of the Dasavatara of Vishnu. Among the Dasavatara of Vishnu described in the Puranas, nine of them have been described to have occurred in the past and one has been described to happen in the future, at the end of Kali Yuga. In the commentary of creator Brahma in Vishnu Sahasranamam, he refers Vishnu as "Sahasrakoti Yuga Dharine", which means that these incarnations take place in all Yugas in cosmic scales. The Bhagavad Gita mentions their purpose as being to rejuvenate Dharma and vanquish negative forces as also to display His divine pastimes in front of the conditioned/fallen souls. In virtually all the Sanatana Dharma traditions, Vishnu is either worshipped directly or each of the Dasavatara of Vishnu, such as Rama, Krishna and Narasimha are worshipped.

The Trimurti (English: ‘three forms’; Sanskrit: trimūrti) is a concept in Hinduism "in which the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are personified by the forms of Brahmā the creator, Viṣṇu the maintainer or preserver, and Śiva the destroyer or transformer." These three deities have been called "the Hindu triad" or the "Great Trinity". They are often looked at as the creator, preserver and destroyer respectively. Freda Matchett characterizes the Trimurti system as one of "several frameworks into which various divine figures can be fitted at different levels."

Etymology

The traditional Sanskrit explanation of the name Viṣṇu involves the root viś, meaning "to settle, to enter", or also (in the Rigveda) "to pervade", and a suffix nu, translating to approximately "the All-Pervading One". An early commentator on the Vedas, Yaska, in his Nirukta, defines Vishnu as 'vishnu vishateh; one who enters everywhere', and 'yad vishito bhavati tad vishnurbhavati; that which is free from fetters and bondages is Vishnu.'

Adi Sankara in his commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama states derivation from this root, with a meaning "presence everywhere" ("As he pervades everything, vevesti, he is called Visnu"). Adi Sankara states (regarding Vishnu Purana, 3.1.45): "The Power of the Supreme Being has entered within the universe. The root Viś means 'enter into.'" Swami Chinmayananda, in his translation of Vishnu sahasranama further elaborates on that verse: The root Vis means to enter. The entire world of things and beings is pervaded by Him and the Upanishad emphatically insists in its mantra "whatever that is there is the world of change." Hence, it means that He is not limited by space, time or substance. Chinmayananda states that which pervades everything is Vishnu.

Vishnu in Smriti and Shruti

In the Vedas

In the Rigveda, Vishnu is mentioned 93 times. He is frequently invoked alongside other deities, especially Indra, who he helps in killing Vritra, and with who He drinks Soma. His companionship with Indra is still reflected by his later titles Indrānuja and "Upendra", both referring to Vishnu as being the brother of Indra.But the relationship is only in appearance.Indra is in no way a personality of Godhead.Lord Vishnu is call Upendra because He appeared in the family of Aditi in one of His incarnations,Vamana. His distinguishing characteristic in the Vedas is his association with Light.This association is found because the lord is indifferent from the Divine Bhramjyoti,which is the cause of material as well as spiritual effulgence. The most celebrated act of Vishnu in the Rigveda is the 'three steps' by which he strode over this (universe) and in three places planted his step. The 'Vishnu Sukta' of the Rig Veda (1.154) says that the first and second of Vishnu's strides (those encompassing the earth and air) are visible to men and the third is in the heights of heaven (sky). This last place is described as Vishnu's supreme abode in RV 1.22.20:

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

Griffith's "princes" are the sūri, either "inciters" or lords of a sacrifice, or priests charged with pressing the Soma. The verse is quoted as expressing Vishnu's supremacy by Vaishnavites.

Though such solar aspects have been associated with Vishnu by tradition as well as modern-scholarship, he was not just the representation of the sun for in Rigveda he traverses in his strides both vertically and horizontally.

In hymns I.22.17, 1.154.3, 1.154.4 he strides across the earth with three steps, in VI.49.13 , VII.100.3 strides across the earth three times and in I.154.1,I.155.5,VII.29.7 he strides vertically, with the final step in the heavens. The same Veda also says he strode wide and created space in the cosmos for Indra to fight Vritra. By his stride he said to have made dwelling for men possible, the three being a symbolic representation of its all-encompassing nature. This all-enveloping nature and benevolence to men were to remain the enduring attributes of Vishnu. As the triple-strider he is known as Tri-vikrama and as Uru-krama for the strides were wide.

In the Vedas, Vishnu texts He appears to be heading them.

In some Rigvedic hymns, Indra seeks the help of Vishnu in destroying Vritra, indicating that he is not sufficient to accomplish it on his own.This is further supported in the Skanda purana by atreya Rsi that Lord Vishnu is the Sole Godhead and other demigods are just His different energies.Also,in all the Puranas,the sole supremacy of Lord Vishnu is glaring.

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:

• Rig Veda (7.99.1-7 and 7.100.1-7)

• Purusha Sukta of Taittiriya Aranyaka (3.13.2) also refers master of Hri and Lakshmi (Vishnu) as Purusha, the supreme,primeval Godhead.
• Visvakarma Sukta of Rig Veda (10.82) describes Vishnu as Padmanabha (lotus-naveled one, from whose navel sprang the lotus which contained Brahma, who created the universe)
• 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.
• The Rig Veda (1.22.20) states, oṃ tad viṣṇoḥ paramam padam sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ: "Those who are entirely devoted to lord Vishnu,after death,go to the supreme spiritual planet,where they lead eternal lives under the thralldom of His superior,internal energy."

The Bala Kanda of Ramayana declares that the river Ganges was born at the feet of Vishnu and thus was sacred. When the river Ganges came to earth, in order to ensure that humans do not become immortal by coming into contact with the sacred and divine water, Shiva took the river Ganges on his head with great devotion towards Vishnu, the Supreme God. Thus, the water of river Ganges lost its ability to make people immortal but continues to be considered sacred in its ability to wash away sins.

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."

In the Brahmanas

• Rigveda**Shakala shakha: Aitareya Brahmana Verse 1 : "Agnir vai devānām avamo Viṣṇuḥ paramas, tadantareṇa sarvā anyā devatā" declares that Agni is the lowest or youngest god and Vishnu is the greatest and the oldest God

In the Bhramanas,the supremacy of Lord Vishnu is clearly announced.Here He is repeatedly addressed as "Yajnapati" or rhe one whom all the sacrifices are meant to please.Even if the sacrifices are offered to the demigods,Lord Vishnu is the one who accepts the sacrifice and allots the respective fruits to the performer.There is mention of one such incident where a demoniac person performs a sacrifice by abducting the rsis forcefully.The sacrifice was meant to bring about the destruction of Indra.But the rsis,who used to worship indra as a demigod were intelligent enough to alter a single pronunciation of the ved-mantra.The purpose of the entire sacrifice was reversed.When the fruit of the sacrifice was given,as in when the demon was on the verge of dying,he clearly calls out to lord Vishnu,whom he addresses as Supreme Godhead and "the father of all living entities including himself". Aitareya Brahmana: 1:1:1 mentions Vishnu as the Supreme God.

In the Upanishads

The Upanishads that form the philosophical culmination of the Vedas are dated at approximately 5000 BCE. The upanishads,right from Gopal tapani upanishad to the Brhad ranya upanishad state His Godhood.The Katha-upanishad, describes Vishnu in supremacy -

He who has no understanding, who is unmindful and always impure, never reaches that place, but enters into the round of births. But he who has understanding, who is mindful and always pure, reaches indeed that place, from whence he is not born again. But he who has understanding for his charioteer (intellect), and who holds the reins of the mind, he reaches the end of his journey, and that is the highest place of Vishnu.

In the Bhagavad Gita

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna teaches Arjuna the nature of the Supreme being and the different processes of Yoga, ultimately culminating in devotional surrender, similar to that of the catursloki of the Bhagavata Purana.

• "I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the abode, the refuge, and the most dear friend. I am the creation and the annihilation, the basis of everything, the resting place and the eternal seed."
• "But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe."
• "If hundreds of thousands of suns were to rise at once into the sky, their radiance might resemble the effulgence of the Supreme Person in that universal form."
• "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not despair."

Theological attributes

Vishnu takes form as an all-inclusive deity, known as Purusha or Mahāpurusha, Paramātma , Antaryāmi , and he is the Sheshin in whom all souls are contained.

Vishnu is the only Bhagavan (which in Sanskrit means "possessing bhāga Divine Glory"), as declared in the Bhagavata 1.2.11 in the verse: "vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam yaj jnanam advayam brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate". The meaning of the verse is as follows: "Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan.

In the Vishnu Purana (6.5.79) the personality named Parashara Rishi defines six bhagas as follows:

aiśvaryasya samagrasya vīryasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ

jñāna-vairāgyayoś caiva ṣannāḥ bhaga itīṇganā

Jiva Gosvami explains the verse in his Gopala Champu (Pūrva 15.73) and Bhagavata Sandarbha 46.10:

jñāna-śakti-balaiśvarya-vīrya-tejām.sy aśeṣataḥ

bhagavac-chabda-vācyāni vinā heyair guṇādibhiḥ

"The substantives of the word bhagavat (bhagavat-śabda-vācyāni) are unlimited (aśes.atah.) knowledge (jñāna), energies (śakti), strength (bala), opulence (aiśvarya), heroism (vīrya), splendor (tejas), without (vinā) objectionable (heyair) qualities (guṇādibhiḥ)."

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

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.

Three forms

In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, a school of Vaishnavism, the Satvata-tantra describes three different forms, or aspects, of Vishnu as Maha Vishnu, Garbhodaksayi Vishnu and Kshirodakasayi Vishnu, with each form having a different role in the maintenance of the Universe and its inhabitants:

"For material creation, Lord Krishna's plenary expansion assumes three Vishnus. The first one, Maha-Vishnu, creates the total material energy, known as the mahat-tattva. The second, Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, enters into all the universes to create diversities in each of them. The third, Kshirodakasayi Vishnu, is diffused as the all-pervading Supersoul in all the universes and is known as Paramatma. He is present even within the atoms. Anyone who knows these three Vishnus can be liberated from material entanglement."

Five forms

In Sri Vaishnavism, another school, Vishnu assumes five forms:

1. In the Para Form, Para is the highest form of Vishnu found only in Sri Vaikunta also called Moksha, along with his consort Lakshmi, (and Bhuma Devi and Nila devi, avatars of Lakshmi) and surrounded by liberated souls like Ananta, Garuda, and a host of Muktas (liberated souls).
2. In the Vyuha form which itself divides into four, Vishnu assumes four forms, which exercise different cosmic functions and controls activities of living beings.
3. In the Vibhava form, Vishnu assume various manifestations, called Vibhavas, more popularly known as Avataras from time to time, in order to protect the virtuous, punish the evil-doers and re-establish righteousness.
4. In the Antaryami; "Dwelling within" or "Suksma Vasudeva" form, Vishnu exists within the souls of all living beings and in every atom of matter.
5. In the Arcavatara or Image manifestation, the Lord is easily approachable to the devotees since they cannot worship Para, Vyuha, Vibhava and Antaryami forms directly, which can only be imagined or meditated upon because they are beyond our reach. Such images can be
   1. revealed by the Lord himself, for example, Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam; or
   2. installed by devas or celestial beings such as Guruvayur Temple installed by Vayu; or
   3. installed by humans, and consecrated according to Vaishnava Agama shastras or scriptures such as Lord Jagannath of Jagannath Temple (Puri) at Puri.

See also Pañcaratra

Relations with other Deities

Vishnu's consort is Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Maya is the samvit (the primary intelligence) of Vishnu, while the other five attributes emerge from this samvit and hence Maya is his ahamata, activity, or Vishnu's Power. This power of god, Maya, is personified and is called Maya, Vishnumaya, or Mahamaya, and She is said to manifest Herself in, 1) kriyāshakti, (Creative Activity) and 2) bhütishakti (Creation) of Universe. Hence this world cannot part with his creativity i.e., ahamta, which is a feminine form and is called Maya.

Vishnu is also associated with Bhudevi or Prithvi, the earth goddess; Tulsi; Ganga, goddess of river Ganges and also Saraswati, goddess of learning. In the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, verses 2.6.13-95 it is described that Vishnu has three wives, who constantly quarrel with each other, so that eventually, he keeps only Lakshmi, giving Ganga to Shiva and Saraswati to Brahma.

Vishnu's vehicle is Garuda, the eagle, and he is commonly depicted as riding on his shoulders. Another name of him is "Veda-Atma" or The Soul of the Vedas and Vedic truth.

Iconography

According to various Purana, Vishnu is the ultimate omnipresent reality, is shapeless and omnipresent. However, a strict iconography governs his representation, whether in pictures, icons, or idols:

• 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. It is on the chest of Vishnu, where Lakshmi resides.
• Around his neck, he wears the auspicious "Kaustubha" jewel, and a garland of flowers (vanamaalaa). It is in this jewel, on Vishnu's chest that Lakshmi dwells.
• A crown should adorn his head: The crown symbolizes 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.
• He rests on Ananta: the immortal and infinite snake

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

1. A conch shell or Shankha, named "Panchajanya", held by the upper left hand, which represents Vishnu's power to create and maintain the universe. The Panchajanya represents the five elements or Panchabhoota - water, fire, air, earth and sky or space. It also represents the five airs or Pranas that are within the body and mind. The conch symbolizes that Vishnu is the primeval Divine sound of creation and universal maintenance. it also represented as Om. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna avatara states that of sound vibrations, 'He is Om'.
2. The chakra, a sharp-spinning discus-like weapon, named "Sudarshana", held by the upper right hand, which symbolizes the purified spiritualized mind. The name Sudarshana is derived from two words - Su, which means good, superior, and Darshan, which means vision or Sight; together, it is "Superior Vision". The chakra represents destruction of one's ego in the awakening and realization of the souls original nature and god, burning away of spiritual ignorance and illusion, and developing the higher spiritual vision and insight to realize god.
3. A mace or Gada, named "Kaumodaki", held by the lower left hand, symbolizes Vishnu's divine power is the source all spiritual, mental and physical strength. It also signifies Vishnu's power to destroy materialistic or demoniac tendencies called anarthas; within the person's consciousness that hinders them from reaching god. Vishnu's mace is the power of the Divine within us to spiritually purify and uplift us from our materialistic bonds.
4. A lotus flower or Padma, held by the lower right hand, represents spiritual liberation, Divine perfection, purity and the unfolding of Spiritual consciousness within the individual. The lotus opening its petals in the light of the Sun is indicative of the expansion and awakening of our long dormant, original spiritual consciousness in the light of god. The lotus in Vishnu's hand symbolizes that god is the power and source from which the universe and the individual soul emerges. It represents Divine Truth or Satya, the originator of the rules of conduct or Dharma, and Divine vedic knowledge or jnana. The lotus also symbolizes that Vishnu is the embodiment of spiritual perfection and purity. Also that He is the wellspring of these qualities and that the individual soul must seek to awaken these intrinsic Divine qualities from Vishnu by surrendering to and linking with Him.

To this may be added, conventionally, the vanamaala flower garland and Vishnu's bow, the Shaarnga, and his sword Nandaka. A verse of the Vishnu Sahasranama stotram states;"vanamālī gadhī shārngī shanki chakri cha nandaki / shrīmān nārāyaņo vişņo vāsudevo abhirakşatu//"; translation: Protect us Oh Lord Narayana who wears the forest garland,who has the mace, conch , sword and the wheel. And who is called Vishnu and the Vasudeva.

In general, Vishnu is depicted in one of the following three ways:

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.
3. Riding on the back of his eagle mount, known as Garuda. Another name for Garuda is "Veda atma"; Soul of the Vedas. The flapping of his wings symbolizes the power of the Divine Truth of Vedic wisdom. Also the eagle represents the soul. Garuda carrying Vishnu symbolizes the soul or jiva atma carrying the Super soul or Param atma within it.

Avatars

There are ten avatars of Vishnu (dashavatara) commonly considered as the most prominent:

1. Matsya, the fish.
2. Kurma, the turtle.
3. Varaha, the boar.
4. Narasimha, the Man-Lion (Nara = man, simha = lion).
5. Vamana, the Dwarf Brahmin (priest).
6. Parashurama, Rama with the axe, who appeared in the Treta Yuga.
7. Rama, Sri Ramachandra, the prince and king of Ayodhya.
8. Balarama, Sri Balaramar, The Elder Brother of Sri Krishna.
9. Krishna (meaning 'dark coloured' or 'all attractive') appeared in the Dwapara Yuga along with his brother Balarama. Balarama is included as the eighth Dasavatara which list Krishna as the source of all avatars, svayam bhagavan (this viewpoint is specific to Bhagavata, Gaudiya, Vallabhacarya and Nimbarka sampradayas).

1. Kalki ("Eternity", or "time", or "The Destroyer of foulness"), who is expected to appear at the end of Kali Yuga, the time period in which we currently exist.

Some versions of the above list include Hayagriva amongst the Dasavataras.

Apart from the above mentioned ten principal avatars, another 22 avatars are given in Chapter 3, Canto 1 of the Srimad Bhagavatam. Following this list the Bhagavatam states that as well as these avatars "the incarnations of the Lord are innumerable, like rivulets flowing from inexhaustible sources of water".

There has also been some comparison between the avatars of Vishnu and Darwin's Theory of Evolution, as the incarnations generally mirror increasing phylogenetic sophistication in keeping with the theory's proposal of terrestrial reptiles and mammals evolving from aquatic and amphibian life.

Thousand names of Lord Vishnu

Vishnu has a large number of names, that are collected in the Vishnu sahasranama ("Vishnu's thousand names") from within the larger work Mahabharata. The character Bhishma recites the names before Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, praising him (Vishnu) as the supreme god. These Sahasranama are regarded as essence of all Vedas by followers of Vaishnavism who believe sincere chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama results in spiritual well-being and a greater awareness of god.

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

• Achintya (Inomprehensible, beyond understanding)
• Acyutah (infallible)
• Ananta (endless, eternal, infinite)
• Damodara (having a rope (dama) around his belly (udara): a name of Krishna)
• Govinda (protector of the cows & brahmins; master of the senses: a name of Krishna)
• Hari (one who takes away)
• Hayagriva (giver of knowledge)
• Jagannatha (Owner/Ruler of the world/universe)
• Janardana (One who is worshiped by people for Wealth)
• Kesava (slayer of Keshi, having long or much or handsome hair, from Atharvaveda viii , 6 , 23)
• Krishna (born during the third epoch or yuga, his deeds range from cow protection (go rakshya) to absolving the earth of load of sins)
• Madhava (relating to the season of spring)
• Madhusudana (he who destroyed the demon called Madhu)
• Narayana (said to mean "he who is the abode of nār (= ether)", i.e., the whole world's shelter. Also means "The supreme Man who is the foundation of all men". Another meaning is "He who lays in the water".
• Padmanabha (lotus-naveled one, from whose navel sprang the lotus which contained Brahma, who created the universe)
• Perumal Name he is known in Tamil
• Purushottama - The Supereme Eternal Being
• Rama (born during the second epoch of yuga, his deeds primarily established the ideal living principles of a man)
• Hrishikesh (Lord of the senses or Lord within the heart; "hri" root meaning the heart)
• Satyanarayana (a combination of satya and Narayana meaning 'protector of truth')
• Souryarayan (the one who destroys the evil/sins and who comforts us) described in Vishnu kautuvam.
• Sridhara (consort of Sri = Laxmi or Ultimate wealth)
• Siddhartha (one who attains perfection, birth name of Buddha avatar in the last epoch of Kali Yuga)
• Sriman (the pride of Shri or Lakshmi); Often Sriman is combined with the name, Narayana , to form a compound word, Sriman Narayana.
• 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.
• Trivikrama (Conqueror of the three worlds, as in vamana avatara).
• Vishal (Immense, The Unstoppable One).
• Vamana (dwarfish, small or short in stature, a dwarf brahmana)
• Vāsudeva ( "All-Pervading god", with the long vowel A; it also means "the son of Vasudeva", i.e Krishna)
• Shreesh (Husband of Goddess Lakshmi).

Footnotes

1. http://www.himalayanacademy.com/resources/books/dws/dws_mandala-02.html
2. Albrecht Weber, Die Taittirîya-Saṃhitâ, Leipzig, Indische Studien 11-12, Brockhaus (1871, 1872) etext
3. A. Berridale Keith, The Yajur Veda - Taittiriya Sanhita 1914, full text, (online at sacred-texts.com). For specific verse, see "all the deities are Agni; the sacrifice is Visnu; verily he lays hold of the deities and the sacrifice; Agni is the lowest of the deities, Visnu the highest"
4. Devi Chand, The Yajurveda. Sanskrit text with English translation. Third thoroughly revised and enlarged edition (1980).
5. The Sanhitâ of the Black Yajur Veda with the Commentary of Mâdhava ‘Achârya, Calcutta (Bibl. Indica, 10 volumes, 1854-1899)
6. Due to differences in recensions the verses of the Gita may be numbered in the full text of the Mahabharata as chapters 6.25 – 42. (see: Sastras studies) or as chapters 6.23-40 (The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) electronic edition. Electronic text (C) Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune, India, 1999.) According to the recension of the Gita commented on by Shankaracharya, the number of verses is 700, but there is evidence to show that old manuscripts had 745 verses.(Gambhiranda (1997), p. xvii.)
7. Sri Vishnu Sahasaranama - Transliteration and Translation of Chanting
8. Prabhupada, AC Bhaktivedanta. "Bhagavad-gita As It Is Chapter 11 Verse 3". vedabase.net. Retrieved 2008-05-10. "..see the cosmic manifestation"
9. Bhagavad Gita 4.7 "...at that time I descend Myself"
10. Matchett, Freda (2000). Krsna, Lord or Avatara? the relationship between Krsna and Visnu: in the context of the Avatara myth as presented by the Harivamsa, the Visnupurana and the Bhagavatapurana. Surrey: Routledge. p. 254. ISBN 0-7007-1281-X. p. 4
11. For quotation defining the trimurti see Matchett, Freda. "The Purāṇas", in: Flood (2003), p. 139.
12. For the Trimurti system having Brahma as the creator, Vishnu as the maintainer or preserver, and Shiva as the transformer or destroyer see: Zimmer (1972) p. 124.
13. For definition of trimurti as "the unified form" of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva and use of the phrase "the Hindu triad" see: Apte, p. 485.
14. For the term "Great Trinity" in relation to the Trimurti see: Jansen, p. 83.
15. Matchett, Freda. "The Purāṇas", in Flood (2003), p. 139.
16. Swami Chinmayananda's translation of Vishnu sahasranama pgs. 16-17, Central Chinmaya Mission Trust.
17. Gupta, Ravi M. (2004). Caitanya Vaisnava Vedanta: Acintyabhedabheda in Jiva Gosvami's Catursutri tika. University Of Oxford. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
18. Gupta, Ravi M. (2007). Caitanya Vaisnava Vedanta of Jiva Gosvami's Catursutri tika. Routledge. ISBN 0415405483. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
19. http://www.vedabase.net/bg/9/18/en1 .. the basis of everything, ..the eternal seed
20. http://www.vedabase.net/bg/10/42/en1 ..I pervade the entire universe
21. http://www.vedabase.net/bg/11/12/en1 ..effulgence of the Supreme Person..
22. http://www.vedabase.net/bg/18/66/en1 ..surrender unto Me..
23. Bhagavata Purana 1.2.11
24. Quoted from the Satvata-tantra translation by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
25. SrimAn nArAyaNa
26. "SRIVAISHNAVISM - A CONSCISE STUDY - PART III".
27. Garuda Purana Texts 1.86.10-11
28. [http://www.salagram.net/Dasavatara-page.htm Dasavatara Page] (salagram.net)
29. Bhagvata Purana, 1.3.26
30. "Incarnations of Vishnu & Theory of Evolution".
31. Hindu gods

External links

• Vishnu, a description (gurjari.net)
• Who is Vishnu? Vaishnava FAQ (dvaita.org)
• Vishnu, the god of Preservation, by Dr. C.P.Ramaswami Aiyar
• BBC Religion & Ethics - Who is Vishnu (bbc.co.uk)
• List of Vaishnava links (vaishnava.com)

v t e Hindu deities and texts
Gods	Trimurti Brahma Vishnu Shiva Agni Ashvins Chandra Dattatreya Ganesha Hanuman Indra Kama Kartikeya Krishna Kubera Rama Shasta Surya Varuna Vayu Vishvakarma Yama more
Goddesses	Tridevi Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati Aditi Bhumi Chhaya Durga Ganga Shachi Kali Mahadevi Mahavidya Matangi Matrikas Radha Rati Rohini Rukmini Sanjna Sati Shakti Shashthi Sita more
Other deities	Apsaras Asuras Daitya Danava Devata Dikpāla Gandharvas Gana Kuladevatas Gramadevatas Rakshasas Vahanas Yakshas / Yakshini
Texts (list)	Vedas Rig Sama Yajur Atharva Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita Yoga Sutras of Patanjali more
Hinduism Hindu mythology

v t e Avatars of Vishnu
Dashavatara (for example)	Matsya Kurma Varaha Narasimha Vamana Parashurama Rama Balarama Krishna Buddha Kalki
Other avatars	Four Kumaras Narada Nara-Narayana Kapila Dattatreya Yajna Rishabha Prithu Dhanvantari Mohini Vyasa Prsnigarbha Hayagriva Hamsa
The list of the "ten avatars" varies regionally. Two substitutions involve Balarama, Krishna, and Buddha. Krishna is almost always included; in exceptions, he is considered the source of all avatars.

• Articles to be merged from March 2008
• Characters in Bhagavatam
• Forms of Vishnu
• Hindu gods
• Rigvedic deities
• Sanskrit words and phrases
• Solar gods
• Triune gods
• Vaishnavism