Vishnu: The Preserver, The Protector, The Savior By Monisha Rallapalli

The Trinity Brahma: The Creator Vishnu: The Preserver Shiva: The Destroyer

Characteristics  Gentle and benevolent nature  Vehicle: Eagle, “Garuda”  Guardian, protector, preserver of world and law of Vedas

Anantha-Sesha Characteristics Resting State: Narayana Resides in heaven known as Vaikuntha

Lakshmi  Vishnu’s consort/Spouse  Goddess of fortune and prosperity  “balances his male intellect and spiritual sophistication with female physicality and passion” (Cummins et al. 79)  Incarnated herself as consort to each of his reincarnations

10 Reincarnations (Avatars) of Vishnu: “Dashavatar”

Matsya Avatar  Fish  Purpose:  Save Vedas  Rescue pious/devoted man and creatures from immense flood to ensure survival of life on earth  Resembles story of Noah’s Ark

Kurma Avatar  Turtle  Protects gods, preserves their divine power  “Wealth eludes the insecure” (Pattanaik 59)

Varaha Avatar  Boar  Strength, speed, bravery  Saves goddess of earth “Bhu Devi” from demon Hiranyaksh  protecting earth  No land for humans to build homes on otherwise

Narasimha  Half man – half lion  Purpose: Save pious devotees, protect world from demons  Hiranyaksh’s brother vows to avenge brother’s death by killing all Vishnu devotees and Vishnu; ends up being killed by Narasimha  Irony: Hiranyaksh’s brother’s son (Prahlad) is pious devotee of Vishnu

Vamana/Trivikrama Avatar  Dwarf man  King Bali exhibits arrogance  Vamana reclaims earth, sky, heavens  “Ignorance breeds insecurity and arrogance” (Pattanaik 91)

Parashurama Avatar  Brahmin warrior with axe  Believed to be immortal  Purpose: end dominance of Kshatriyas (warrior caste) who were becoming unrighteous; protect earth from unrighteousness

Rama Avatar  Kshatriya prince  Prominent figure in Hinduism  Ramayana by Valmiki  Rama’s life story  Famous Hindu epic  Getting rid of demon Ravana with excessive pride and saving wife Sita from Ravana  Purpose: Get rid of evil and pride, preserve righteousness  Well worshipped in temples

Krishna Avatar  One of the most prominent figures worshipped by Hindus  Mahabharatha, Bhagavad Gita  Dharma, Bhakti, Vishvarupa (Supreme form)  Purpose: getting rid of evil and excessive pride (kills uncle Kamsa), preserve righteousness and faith in supreme power, “know the thought before the action” (Pattanaik, 157)

Buddha Avatar  Non-Aryan prince, enlightened  Originally named Siddhartha Gautama  Became Buddha (‘Awakened’) after enlightenment (attaining Bodhi/wisdom)  After Krishna’s death, Kali Yuga (last phase of cycle of existence) entered  Everything will gradually disappear  World will end in total destruction  Buddha born in Kali Yuga  Purpose: Preserve Hindu religion from demons  Taught demons to devalue vedas and hindu teachings  “As Buddha, Vishnu hastens end of world” (Cummins et al. 231)  Not worshipped as much because of anti- vedic teachings

Kalki Avatar  Final avatar  Future, will come when Kali Yuga ends  Believed that he will be trained by Parashurama (6 th avatar)  Purpose:  Annihilate world at end of Kali Yuga  Restore righteousness, wipe out all evils  Lead world into Satya Yuga (Age of Truth; religious principles are preserved and protected)  Will return to Vaikuntha when completing final task

Religious History  Vishnu’s prominence didn’t begin till post-vedic Hinduism (along with Shiva)  First mentioned as minor deity in Rig Veda  Rose to prominence over course of more than 500 years through spread by general populace to aristocracy and priestly orthodoxy  Major deities before Vishnu’s prominence: Indra (god of lightning), Agni (God of fire), Vayu (god of wind)  now minor deities  Initial worshipping of Vishnu: took place around sacrifical fire without temple or image of him (typical Vedic manner)  Earliest known representations of Vishnu: first centuries CE  First Vishnu temples: 4 th century CE

Worship of Vishnu  Vishnupadas: sculptures/portrayals of Vishnu’s feet  Rest of body depicted surrounding feet with attributes of Vishnu (lotus flowers, discus, conch shell, mace)  Devotees, especially priests, apply U-shaped marks to forehead  Known as “tilak”  “believed to help focus mental energy, creating third eye that offers intuition or insight” (Cummins et al. 257)  Ritual objects, shrines, sculptures, and paintings of/representing Vishnu are worshipped  Worshipped in temples dedicated to Vishnu  Still worshipped around sacrificial fire in ancient Vedic manner till this day

Worship of Vishnu