For other uses of the name Vishnu, see Vishnu (disambiguation). The name Vishnu can mean: Vishnu, a form of God in Hinduism. ...

Lord Krishna revealing his Universal form to Arjuna Artwork © courtesy of The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

Vishnu (IAST viṣṇu, Devanagari विष्णु, with honorific Shri Vishnu; śrī viṣṇu, श्रीविष्णु ), is a form of God, to whom many Hindus pray. For Vaishnavas, He is the only Ultimate Reality or God, as is Shiva for Shaivites. In Trimurti belief, He is the second aspect of God in the Trimurti (also called the Hindu Trinity), along with Brahma and Shiva. Image File history File links UniversalForm. ... Image File history File links UniversalForm. ... In Hindu mythology, Arjuna is one of the heroes of the epic Mahabharata. ... IAST, or International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration is the academic standard for writing the Sanskrit language with the Latin alphabet and very similar to National Library at Calcutta romanization standard being used with many Indic scripts. ... Rigveda manuscript in Devanagari (early 19th century) DevanāgarÄ« (देवनागरी — in English pronounced ) (ISCII – IS13194:1991) [1] is an abugida alphabet used to write several Indian languages, including Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, Kashmiri, Sindhi, Bihari, Bhili, Konkani, Bhojpuri and Nepali from Nepal. ... God is the term used to denote the Supreme Being believed by monotheistic religions to exist and to be the creator and ruler of the Universe. ... A Hindu is an adherent of philosophies and scriptures of Hindu religion. ... Vaishnavism is one of the principal divisions of Hinduism. ... Shaivism, also Saivism, is a branch of Hinduism that worships Siva as the Supreme God. ... In Hinduism, the Trimurti (also called the Hindu trinity) are three aspects of God in His forms as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. ... In Hinduism, the Trimurti (also called the Hindu trinity) are three aspects of God in His forms as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. ... Brahma (written Brahmā in IAST transliteration) (Devanagari ब्रह्मा, pronounced as brÉ™hmα:) is the Hindu creator god, and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. ... Lord Åšiva. ...

Known as the Preserver, He is most famously identified with His avatars, or incarnations of God, most especially Krishna and Rama. Additionally, another important name for Vishnu is Narayana. Image File history File links Created by me. ... The Brahmic family is a family of abugidas used in South Asia, Tibet and Southeast Asia. ... The 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu In Hinduism, an avatar or avatara (Sanskrit अवतार), is the incarnation (bodily manifestation) of an Immortal Being, or of the Ultimate Supreme Being. ... Krishna (IAST , the Sanskrit for dark or black), is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu. ... Lord Rama (center) with wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman. ... Narayana (नारायण) or Narayan originates as an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu and is in many contemporary vernaculars, a common Indian name. ...

• Followers of Vaishnavism, unlike Smartas, do not believe that Vishnu is one of many personal forms of God or Saguna Brahman but believe Him to be the Ultimate Reality (i.e., Brahman) exclusively. A Smarta, on the other hand, would consider Vishnu and Shiva to be different aspects of the same Supreme Being. See Ishta-Deva for greater discussion.

• Unlike Shaivism, Vaishnavism believes that Vishnu incarnates periodically for the establishment and protection of righteousness, good dharma and destruction of evil adharma; see avatar for more information.

• Smartas who follow Advaita philosophy, believe that deities such as Vishnu or Shiva are various forms of one ultimate higher power ("Brahman"), which higher reality has no specific form, name, face or features. This idea is encapsulated in the term "Nirguna Brahman" ("featureless reality"). The Vaishnava sect (worshippers of Vishnu) however believe that God can transcend all personal characteristics yet can also have personal characteristics for the grace of the human devotee. Personal characteristics are considered an aid for the devotee to focus on God. The Vaishnava sect also believe that it is not necessarily wrong to view a form of God as long as it is recognized that God is not limited to a particular form. Nonetheless, there are many sects of Vaishnavas, most notably Vadakalai Iyengars, who believe that Vishnu's authentic form is not beyond human comprehension, and that His form is exactly as shown in pictures and idols.

Vaishnavite Hindus also worship Vishnu in an abstract form (i.e., God with vague form) as a saligrama stone. Use of the saligrama is similar to the use of lingam, a form of Shiva. Vaishnavism is one of the principal divisions of Hinduism. ... Smartism is a denomination of the religion of Hinduism and is closely affiliated with the Advaita tradition. ... Saguna Brahma, in Hindu philosophy, is God or Supreme Consciousness with gunas (qualities or attributes). ... Here the underlined vowels carry the Vedic Sanskrit udātta pitch accent. ... Ishta-Deva, or Ishta Devata is a term from Hinduism that means chosen Deity or revered aspect of God by a devotee and is a widely held concept in Smartism. ... Åšaivism, also transliterated Shaivism and Saivism, is a branch of Hinduism that worships Siva as the Supreme God. ... Vaishnavism is one of the principal divisions of Hinduism. ... Dharma (Sanskrit, roughly law or way) is the way of the higher Truths. ... Adharma (Sanskrit: a + dharma): non-righteousness. ... The 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu In Hinduism, an avatar or avatara (Sanskrit अवतार), is the incarnation (bodily manifestation) of an Immortal Being, or of the Ultimate Supreme Being. ... Smartism is a denomination of the religion of Hinduism and is closely affiliated with the Advaita tradition. ... Advaita Vedanta is probably the best known of all Vedanta schools of Hinduism, the others being Dvaita and Vishishtadvaita. ... Lord Åšiva. ... The saligrama or shaligrama is the most sacred stone worshipped by vaishnavas and is used to worship Vishnu in a symbolic form (i. ... Linga worship (Estate of Cynthia and Harlen Welsh) Lingam or Linga (Sanskrit: Gender as in purusha-linga : Phallus) by some etymologists, is used as a symbol for the worship of the Hindu God Shiva. ... Lord Åšiva. ...

Etymology

The traditional Hindu 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". For example Adi Sankara, in Swami Tapasyananda's translation of his commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama (Ramakrishna Math publications) 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.'" The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ... Sri Adi Sankara Adi Shankaracharya or Adi Shankara (the first Shankara in his lineage), reverentially called Bhagavatpada Acharya (the teacher at the feet of Lord), Shankara (approximately 509- 477 BC (though some claim 788-820 CE)) was the most famous Advaita philosopher who had a profound influence on the growth... Swami Tapasyananda was a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Mission. ... Vishnu The Vishnu sahasranāma (literally: thousand names of Vishnu) is a list of 1,000 names for Vishnu, one of the main forms of God in Hinduism and the only Ultimate Reality for Vaishnavites (followers of Vishnu). ... Monastic Order for Men Ramakrishna Math consists of monks (Sannyasins and Brahmacharins) belonging to a monastic order for men. ... Sri Adi Sankara Adi Shankaracharya or Adi Shankara (the first Shankara in his lineage), reverentially called Bhagavatpada Acharya (the teacher at the feet of Lord), Shankara (approximately 509- 477 BC (though some claim 788-820 CE)) was the most famous Advaita philosopher who had a profound influence on the growth...

Regarding the suffix, Manfred Mayrhofer (Indo-Aryan etymological dictionary, 1996, II.566f.) proposes that the nasal is analogous to jiṣṇu "victorious". Mayrhofer further suggests that the name goes back to an already Indo-Iranian *višnu, and was replaced by rašnu in Zoroastrian Iran. Manfred Mayrhofer (born 26 September 1926 in Linz, Austria) is an Indo-Europeanist specialized on Indo-Iranian languages. ... Zoroastrianism was adapted from an earlier, polytheistic faith by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) in Persia very roughly around 1000 BC (although, in the absence of written records, some scholars estimates are as late as 600 BC). ...

The root viś is also associated with viśva "all" (possibly by popular etymology, the word is generally believed to derive from Indo-Iranian *vi-k'o-, influenced by sarva "all", but a minority opinion does, indeed, derive viśva as from vik'-so, (J. Knobloch (1980)). A fake etymology is an invented explanation (etymology) for the origin of a word. ...

Suggestions involving other roots include include vi-ṣṇu "crossing the back", vi-ṣ-ṇu "facing towards all sides" and viṣ-ṇu "active", as well as attempts to explain Vishnu as an amalgate of two unrelated words, or as being derived from a non-Aryan root (see Mayrhofer, A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary (1976) III.231f., J. Gonda, Aspects of Early Visnuism (ISBN 8120810872, reprint 1993) for a collection of references). The name is continued in Prakrit veṇhu, viṇhu.

pre-Puranic Vishnu

In the Rigveda, Vishnu is mentioned 93 times. He is frequently invoked with other gods, especially with Indra, whom he assists in killing Vritra, and with whom he drinks Soma. His companionship with Indra is still reflected by his later epitheta Indrānuja and Upendra. His distinguishing characteristic in the Vedas is his association with Light, or even his identification with the Sun. He appears as striding across the heavens in three paces, by Rigvedic commentators explained as denoting the threefold manifestations of light in the form of fire, lightning, and the Sun, or as designating the three daily stations of the Sun in rising, culminating, and setting. The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ... This article contains information that has not been verified. ... In Hinduism, Vritra (Sanskrit वृत्र Vṛtra, the enveloper) was a serpent or dragon, the personification of drought and enemy of Indra. ... Soma (Sanskrit), or Haoma (Avestan) (from Proto-Indo-Iranian *Sauma) was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, and the later Vedic and Iranian cultures. ... The Sun (or Sol) is the star at the center of our Solar system. ...

Vishnu as a solar deity appears e.g. in RV 1.22.20:

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

Griffith's "princes" are the sūri, either "inciters" or lords of a sacrifice, or priests charged with pressing the Soma. The verse is later quoted as expressing Vishnu's supremacy by Vaishnavites, while in the Rigveda the Sun is not a high-ranking deity, c.f. e.g. RV 2.12.7, Ralph Thomas Hotchkin Griffith (1826-1906), scholar of indology, translated the vedic scriptures into English. ...

He who gave being to the Sun and Morning, who leads the waters, He, O men, is Indra. (trans. Griffith)

where Indra appears as senior to the Sun.

In the Vedas, Vishnu appears not yet included in the class of the Adityas (unless it is implied that he is identical with Surya, and included as the eighth Aditya), but in later texts he appears as heading them. Who dare interfer in my wrk# In Hinduism, the Adityas are a group of solar deities, sons of Aditi and Kasyapa. ... In Hinduism, Surya is the chief solar deity, son of Dyaush or Indra. ...

According to one point of view, His rise to supremacy is apparent in the epics (Mahabharata, Ramayana, and from this period he may be considered a manifestation of the Singular God. Thus, according to this interpretation, the division of Hinduism in Vaishnavism and Shaivaism appeared only with the Puranas, where Vishnu's descents in ten principal Avatars become his distinguishing characteristic. The Mahabharata (Devanagari: महाभारत, phonetically Mahābhārata - see note), sometimes just called Bharata, is one of the two major ancient Sanskrit epics of India, the other being the Ramayana. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Puranas are part of Hindu Smriti; these religious scriptures discuss devotion and mythology. ... The 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu In Hinduism, an avatar or avatara (Sanskrit अवतार), is the incarnation (bodily manifestation) of an Immortal Being, or of the Ultimate Supreme Being. ...

It is inexplicable how Vishnu (and Shiva) rose to the prominence enjoyed currently by referring only to the Vedic hymns. It must be remembered that these hymns are liturgical in nature and meant primarily for the Soma sacrifice, especially dear to Indra. They may not represent the popular religion of those times as Jan Gonda cautions.(He also gives an elaborate explantion of how the notion of Vishnu spread over various hymns contains the germs of future attributes.) In some Rgvedic hymns, Indra seeks the help of Vishnu in destroying Vritra, indicating that he is not sufficient to accomplish it on his own.(This story can be found in later epics and Puranas with ever increasing emphasis on Vishnu's role, till in the Bhagavata Purana, Vritra is a warrior, philosopher and devotee in whose compariosn Indra is a pale figure.) In Hinduism, Vritra (Sanskrit वृत्र Vṛtra, the enveloper) was a serpent or dragon, the personification of drought and enemy of Indra. ...

By the age of the Brahmanas, various stories can be found associating Vishnu with the Sacrifice. The sacrifice being the core of interest for these texts, this association goes a long way in explaining the importance of Vishnu. How this association came about is not clear, but the various stories in the Brhamanas seem to explain a fiat accompli. Visnu is said to have become the most important of all gods by truly 'understanding' the meaning of the sacrifice before all else. In the Shatapatha Brahmana he is described as winning the sacrifice back from Asuras as a dwarf, where the kernel of the Vamana incarnation can be seen. The Brahmana (Sanskrit ब्राह्मण) are part of the Hindu Shruti; They are composed in Vedic Sanskrit, and the period of their composition is sometimes referred to as the Brahmanic period or age (approximately between 900 BC and 500 BC). ... Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning to make sacred, from Old French, from Latin sacrificium : sacer, sacred; sacred + facere, to make) is commonly known as the practice of offering food, or the lives of animals or people to the gods, as an act of propitiation or worship. ... In Hinduism In Hindu mythology, the Asura are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes misleadingly referred to as demons. ... In Hinduism, Vamana is the fifth avatar of Vishnu, a dwarf. ...

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:

1. Purusha Sukta of Taittiriya Aranyaka (3.13.2) also refers master of Hri and Lakshmi (Vishnu) as Purusha, the Supreme God.

2. Visvakarma Sukta of Rig Veda (10.82) refers to Visnu indirectly as the Supreme God.

• 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.

3. Aitareya Brahmana: 1:1:1 mentions Vishnu as the Supreme God.

• Agni is the lowest among devatas and Vishnu is the highest. All other devatas except Lord Visnu and Agni Deva occupy positions between them. A similar view of Agni as the youngest deity and Vishnu as the oldest deity, in one interpretation, is even expressed in the Chamakam, the last lines in the famous Saivite Vedic hymn, Shri Rudram.

The word Agni can have these meanings:- A fire-god in three religions: described below. ... The Shri Rudram Chamakam (TS 4. ...

Theological attributes and more

Lord Rama (center) with wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman. Rama and Lakshman are always shown to be ready for battle (with bow and arrow) as it is their Kshatriya dharma to fight. Rama is shown having blue skin which is a characteristic of Vishnu

Vishnu takes form as an all-inclusive deity, known as Purusha or Mahāpurusha, Paramātma [Supreme Soul], Antaryāmi [In-dweller], and He is the Sheshin [Totality] in whom all souls are contained. He is Bhagavat or Bhagavan, which in Sanskrit means "possessing bhāga (Divine Glory)". Download high resolution version (640x850, 107 KB)Lord Ram This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (640x850, 107 KB)Lord Ram This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... SITA (originally an acronym for Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques) is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT services to the aviation industry. ... Lakshaman (far left) with Rama (centre), Sita (far right) and Hanuman (kneeling) - Bhaktivedanta Manor, Watford, England Lakshmana was the son of Dasaratha, King of Ayodhya and Sumitra. ... Lord Hanuman In Hinduism, Hanuman (Sanskrit: हनुमान, hanumāna) is a vanara who aided Rama (an avatar of Vishnu) in rescuing his wife, Sita, from the Rakshasa king Ravana. ... According to the code of Manu, a Kshatriya is a member of the military or reigning order, one of four varna within the Vedic caste system. ... Dharma (Sanskrit, roughly law or way) is the way of the higher Truths. ...

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 are countless, with the above-mentioned six qualities being the most important. Other important qualities attributed to God are Gambhirya (inestimatable grandeur), Audarya (generosity), and Karunya (compassion.) Omniscience is the capacity to know everything, or at least everything that can be known. ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme authority over a geographic region, group of people or oneself. ... Strength may refer to Physical strength of organisms means (especially the muscles of most metazoa) of locomotion and movement Strength of materials in physics, engineering and materials science Strength is a rap compilation presented by Asiatic Warriors Strength (VIII) is a Major Arcana card in Tarot. ...

Vishnu has no particular material form but can be manifest in any form, whether animate or inanimate. According to Vaishnava belief, He is the center of all forces, power, will, auspiciousness, goodness, beauty, grace, responsiveness, etc. In short, whatever we can think of, and whatever we cannot think of -- all are Vishnu. This description of the Lord was again emphasized by a Ramakrishna Mission scholar, Swami Tapasyananda, in his book, Bhakti Schools of Vedanta. The Ramakrishna Mission is an association founded by Sri Ramakrishnas chief disciple and religious leader, Swami Vivekananda on May 1, 1897. ...

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. The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ... In Hinduism, Vamana is the fifth avatar of Vishnu, a dwarf. ... The root is the primary lexical unit of a word, which carries the most significant aspects of semantic content and cannot be reduced into smaller constituents. ... Reduplication, in linguistics, is a morphological process in which the root or stem of a word, or only part of it, is repeated. ... The perfect tenses are verb tenses showing actions completed at or before a specific time. ... The Sanskrit word guna (guṇa) has the basic meaning of string or a single thread or strand of a cord or twine. In more abstract uses, it may mean a subdivision, species, kind, and generally quality. // In Classical literature In Classical literature (e. ... The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ... An epithet (Greek and Latin epitheton; literally meaning imposed) is a descriptive word or phrase. ... Sikhs with chakrams, inscribed Nihang Abchal Nagar (Nihangs from Hazur Sahib), 1844 The chakram is a throwing weapon that was used by the ancient Indians; it is basically a flat metal ring with a sharp outer edge from 5 to 12 inches in diameter. ...

See Vaishnava Theology for further information. This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

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. Popular image of Lakshmi In India, Lakshmi or Laxmi (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी) is the goddess of wealth, light and fortune, as well as (secondarily) luck, beauty and fertility. ... Maya, in Hinduism, is many things. ...

His vehicle is Garuda, the eagle; who is a part of His creation. He needs no support for anything He does in and outside this world. Garuda according to Ida Made Tlaga, an 19th century Balinese artist. ...

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: The Puranas are part of Hindu Smriti; these religious scriptures discuss devotion and mythology. ... Omnipresence is defined, in a general sense, as the ability to be present in every place at any time; unbounded or universal presence. ...

• 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.
• Around his neck, He wears the auspicious "Kaustubha" jewel, and a garland of flowers.
• A crown should adorn his head: The crown symbolozes 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.

Vishnu is always to be depicted holding the four attributes associated with him, being: The Upanishad (उपनिषद्, Upaniṣad) are part of the Hindu Shruti scriptures which primarily discuss meditation and philosophy and are seen as religious instructions by most schools of Hinduism. ... Bhrigu, a sage in indian mythology, was said to have stepped on Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu to test who of the three gods was the greatest. ... Popular image of Lakshmi In India, Lakshmi or Laxmi (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी) is the goddess of wealth, light and fortune, as well as (secondarily) luck, beauty and fertility. ... Crown (headgear) - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Crown (headgear) - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Sarmatian silver earrings from the Hermitage Museum. ...

1. A conch shell or Shankhya, named "Panchajanya", held by the lower right hand, which represents creativity. The Panchajanya is the originator of the five elements or Panchabhoota - water, fire, air, earth and sky or space. The sound that evolves from blowing this conch is the primeval sound of creation.
2. The chakra, a sharp-spinning discus-like weapon, named "Sudarshana", held by the upper right hand, which symbolizes the mind. The name Sudarshana is derived from two words - Su, which means good, and Darshan, which means vision. The chakra as a weapon thus indicates the necessity of destroying one's ego and illusory self-existence and developing the vision to identify the eternal truth. The discus has six spokes and symbolizes a lotus with six petals, thus representing the power that controls all six seasons.
3. A mace or Gada, named "Kaumodaki", held by the lower left hand, which represents individual existence. The mace symbolizes the primeval force from which all mental and physical strength is derived.
4. A lotus flower or Padma, held by the upper left hand, which represents liberation or dispersion. The lotus symbolizes the power from which the universe emerges. It represents the concentration of truth or Satya, the originator of the rules of conduct or Dharma, and knowledge or Gyana in a single symbol.

In general, Vishnu is depicted in one of the following two forms: Species See text The genus Strombus is made up of the true conches (pronounced Konk) in the family Strombidae. ... Sikhs with chakrams, inscribed Nihang Abchal Nagar (Nihangs from Hazur Sahib), 1844 The chakram is a throwing weapon that was used by the ancient Indians; it is basically a flat metal ring with a sharp outer edge from 5 to 12 inches in diameter. ... Sikhs with chakrams, inscribed Nihang Abchal Nagar (Nihangs from Hazur Sahib), 1844 The chakram is a throwing weapon that was used by the ancient Indians; it is basically a flat metal ring with a sharp outer edge from 5 to 12 inches in diameter. ... Binomial name Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ... A petal is one member or part of the corolla of a flower. ... A season is one of the major divisions of the year, generally based on yearly periodic changes in weather. ... Assorted maces This article is about the personal weapon and its ceremonial derivative, for other meanings of mace please see mace (disambiguation) An advance on the club, a mace is a wooden, metal-reinforced, or metal shaft, with a head made of stone, copper, bronze, iron or steel. ... Assorted maces This article is about the personal weapon and its ceremonial derivative, for other meanings of mace please see mace (disambiguation) An advance on the club, a mace is a wooden, metal-reinforced, or metal shaft, with a head made of stone, copper, bronze, iron or steel. ... Binomial name Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ...

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.

A slightly less seen depiction of Vishnu is the Vishwaroop representation. The Vishwaroop originates from the words Vishwa which means the cosmos and Roop which means form or manifestation. This grand depiction is the representation of his essence being magnified to contain the entire cosmos. The root for this depiction is probably derived from the ancient Hindu philosophy which indicates that through the diversities of creation there always is a connecting essence that threads everything into a unified whole. The Vishwaroop depiction shows Vishnu as having seven heads on each of his left and right. Each of these has its own cosmic function or represents an aspect of the cosmos. The gods depicted include Shiva, Brahma, Ganesha, Hanuman, Indra, Agni (Fire God), Surya (Sun God), Chandra (Moon God), Maruta (Wind God), Kubera (God of wealth), Varuna (God of water) and Yama (Time) and Brahma's three sons. Vishnu retains the central position. While Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu together form the Hindu Trinity, Ganesha and Hanuman represent faith and divinity. Agni or Fire represents life, energy and vitality. Maruta, the wind-god represents space, while Indra represents rains and cosmic balance. Yama depicts the infinite nature of time while Varuna the ocean God represents water. Kubera represents prosperity and riches. The Sun and Moon represent the cycle of birth, death, decay and finally dissolution. Brahma's three sons represent the entire mankind. Taken together as one entity they constitute the entire cosmos. Binomial name Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ... Popular image of Lakshmi In India, Lakshmi or Laxmi (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी) is the goddess of wealth, light and fortune, as well as (secondarily) luck, beauty and fertility. ... In Indian and Hindu mythology, Sesha is a naga (serpent). ... Popular image of Lakshmi In India, Lakshmi or Laxmi (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी) is the goddess of wealth, light and fortune, as well as (secondarily) luck, beauty and fertility. ... Brahma (written Brahmā in IAST transliteration) (Devanagari ब्रह्मा, pronounced as brəhmα:) is the Hindu creator god, and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. ... Binomial name Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ... Hindu philosophy (one of the main divisions of Indian philosophy) is traditionally seen through the prism of six different systems (called darshanas in Sanskrit) that are listed here and make up the main belief systems of Hinduism. ... Lord Śiva. ... Brahma (written Brahmā in IAST transliteration) (Devanagari ब्रह्मा, pronounced as brəhmα:) is the Hindu creator god, and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. ... Lord Ganesha In Hinduism, Ganesha (Sanskrit: गणेष or श्रीगणेष (when used to distinguish lordly status) (or lord of the hosts, also spelled as Ganesa and Ganesh, sometimes also referred to as Ganapati) is a son of Shiva and Parvati, and the husband of Bharati, Riddhi and Siddhi. ... Lord Hanuman In Hinduism, Hanuman (Sanskrit: हनुमान, hanumāna) is a vanara who aided Rama (an avatar of Vishnu) in rescuing his wife, Sita, from the Rakshasa king Ravana. ... This article contains information that has not been verified. ... The word Agni can have these meanings:- A fire-god in three religions: described below. ... In Hinduism, Surya is the chief solar deity, son of Dyaush or Indra. ... In Hinduism, I love Amit Chandra is a lunar deity. ... In Hinduism, Vayu is a primary god, father of Bhima and Hanuman. ... In Hinduism, Kubera (also Kuvera or Kuber) is the god of wealth and the lord of Uttaradisha. ... This article is about the god. ... Tibetan Dharmapala at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois Yama (Sanskrit: यम) is the lord of death, whose first recorded appearance is in the Vedas. ... Brahma (written Brahmā in IAST transliteration) (Devanagari ब्रह्मा, pronounced as brəhmα:) is the Hindu creator god, and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. ... Lord Śiva. ... Brahma (written Brahmā in IAST transliteration) (Devanagari ब्रह्मा, pronounced as brəhmα:) is the Hindu creator god, and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. ... In Hinduism, the Trimurti (also called the Hindu trinity) are three aspects of God in His forms as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. ... Lord Ganesha In Hinduism, Ganesha (Sanskrit: गणेष or श्रीगणेष (when used to distinguish lordly status) (or lord of the hosts, also spelled as Ganesa and Ganesh, sometimes also referred to as Ganapati) is a son of Shiva and Parvati, and the husband of Bharati, Riddhi and Siddhi. ... Lord Hanuman In Hinduism, Hanuman (Sanskrit: हनुमान, hanumāna) is a vanara who aided Rama (an avatar of Vishnu) in rescuing his wife, Sita, from the Rakshasa king Ravana. ... The word Agni can have these meanings:- A fire-god in three religions: described below. ... In Hinduism, Vayu is a primary god, father of Bhima and Hanuman. ... This article contains information that has not been verified. ... Tibetan Dharmapala at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois Yama (Sanskrit: यम) is the lord of death, whose first recorded appearance is in the Vedas. ... This article is about the god. ... In Hinduism, Kubera (also Kuvera or Kuber) is the god of wealth and the lord of Uttaradisha. ... In Hinduism, Surya is the chief solar deity, son of Dyaush or Indra. ... In Hinduism, I love Amit Chandra is a lunar deity. ... Brahma (written Brahmā in IAST transliteration) (Devanagari ब्रह्मा, pronounced as brəhmα:) is the Hindu creator god, and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. ... Mankind may refer to: Human beings and their society An alias of professional wrestler Mick Foley The MMORTS Mankind The morality play Mankind. ... This article belongs in one or more categories. ...

Sri Viswaroopa Panchamukha Hanuman is also shown as having five heads, each head potraying an incarnation of Vishnu. The east facing is Hanuman. The north facing in Lord Narasimha. The west facing is Lord Garuda. The south facing is Lord Varaha. The sky facing is Lord Hayagriva. Lord Hanuman In Hinduism, Hanuman (Sanskrit: हनुमान, hanumāna) is a vanara who aided Rama (an avatar of Vishnu) in rescuing his wife, Sita, from the Rakshasa king Ravana. ... A monolithic statue of Narasimha at Hampi. ... Garuda according to Ida Made Tlaga, an 19th century Balinese artist. ... Varaha retrieves the Earth In Hinduism, Varaha is the third avatar of Vishnu, a boar sent to defeat Hiranyaksha, a horrible demon who had taken the Earth (prthivi) and carried it to the bottom of the ocean. ... In Hinduism, Hayagriva is a minor avatar of Vishnu. ...

Note that Vishnu per se is never portrayed in anthropomorphic forms. Attributing anthrompormorphic characteristics to Vishnu is a common misconception held by non-Hindus. Anthropomorphism, also referred to as personification or prosopopeia, is the attribution of human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, forces of nature, and others. ...

Worship

• Vishnu is accepted as the Supreme God in Vaishnavism, or Vishnu monotheism. Followers of Vishnu believe that He is the Supreme Being and distinguish Him from Devas, or demigods, who are celestial beings similar to angels as discussed in Judeo-Christian traditions.

• It is considered that He manifested Himself as a living being in ten avatars. He is also worshiped in the form of these avatars.

It is not clearly known when or how the worship of Vishnu began. In the Vedas, and the information on Aryan beliefs, Vishnu is associated with Indra. However, Shukavak N. Dasa, a Vaishnavite scholar, in reference at this link has commentated that Srivaishnavites would note that: Vaishnavism is one of the principal divisions of Hinduism. ... A Deva, in Hinduism, is a deity, controlling forces of nature such as fire, air, etc. ... The 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu In Hinduism, an avatar or avatara (Sanskrit अवतार), is the incarnation (bodily manifestation) of an Immortal Being, or of the Ultimate Supreme Being. ... The Vedas are part of the Hindu Shruti; these religious scriptures form part of the core of the Brahminical and Vedic traditions within Hinduism and are the inspirational, metaphysical and mythological foundation for later Vedanta, Yoga, Tantra and even Bhakti forms of Hinduism. ... Aryan is an English word derived from the Indo-Aryan Vedic Sanskrit and Iranian Avestan terms ari-, arya-, ārya-, and/or the extended form aryāna-. The Old Persian (Iranian) ariya- is a cognate as well. ... This article contains information that has not been verified. ...

• The praise of Indra and other devas in the Vedas are not intended for the particular deity, but for the Supreme Being, Brahman, who is the inner soul of devas and all other beings.
• The various deities addressed in the hymns are simply different forms of this one Supreme Being.
• Vaishnavas cite Rigveda 1.22.20, for the supremacy of Vishnu, "As the blazing sun pervades the entire sky like an eye fixed in the heavens, so the divine seers eternally perceive that supreme abode of Vishnu."
• 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."

Nevertheless, it was only later in Hindu history that Vishnu became a member of the Trimurti and hence is one of the most important forms of God in contemporary Hinduism. This article contains information that has not been verified. ... A Deva, in Hinduism, is a deity, controlling forces of nature such as fire, air, etc. ... Vaishnavism is the branch of Hinduism in which Vishnu or one of his avatars (i. ... The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ... Vishnu The Vishnu sahasranāma (literally: thousand names of Vishnu) is a list of 1,000 names for Vishnu, one of the main forms of God in Hinduism and the only Ultimate Reality for Vaishnavites (followers of Vishnu). ... In Hinduism, the Trimurti (also called the Hindu trinity) are three aspects of God in His forms as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. ...

• Om Namo Narayana, a mantra
• Purusha Sukta, a Vedic hymn said to describe Vishnu.
• Vishnu sahasranama, a hymn describing the 1000 names of Vishnu.

Narayana (नारायण) or Narayan originates as an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu and is in many contemporary vernaculars, a common Indian name. ... Vishnu The Vishnu sahasranāma (literally: thousand names of Vishnu) is a list of 1,000 names for Vishnu, one of the main forms of God in Hinduism and the only Ultimate Reality for Vaishnavites (followers of Vishnu). ...

Names

An ancient statue of Vishnu as Narasimha, his fourth avatara

Vishnu has a number of names, collected in the Vishnu sahasranama ("Vishnu's thousand names"), which occurs in the Mahabharata. In Vishnu Sahasranama Vishnu is praised as the Supreme God. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Vishnu The Vishnu sahasranāma (literally: thousand names of Vishnu) is a list of 1,000 names for Vishnu, one of the main forms of God in Hinduism and the only Ultimate Reality for Vaishnavites (followers of Vishnu). ... The Mahabharata (Devanagari: महाभारत, phonetically Mahābhārata - see note), sometimes just called Bharata, is one of the two major ancient Sanskrit epics of India, the other being the Ramayana. ...

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

• Ananta (endless, eternal, infinite)
• Kesava (slayer of Keshi, having long or much or handsome hair, from Atharvaveda viii , 6 , 23)
• Narayana (said to mean "He who is the abode of nār (= ether)", i.e., the whole world's shelter. There are two more meanings of Narayana found in a stuti of child-Krishna by Brahma).
• Madhava (relating to the season of spring)
• Govinda (leader of cowherds: a name of Krishna)
• Vishnu
• Madhusudana (He who destroyed the demon called Madhu)
• Trivikrama (He who strides out three times)
• Vamana (dwarfish, small or short in stature, a dwarf: a name of one of his avatars)
• Sridhara
• Hrsikesha (lord of the senses)
• Padmanabha (lotus-naveled one, from whose navel sprang the lotus which contained Brahma, who created the universe)
• Damodara (having a rope (dama) around his belly (udara): a name of Krishna)
• Krishna (born during the third epoch or yuga, His deeds range from cow protection (go rakshya) to absolving the earth of load of sins)
• Rama (born during the second epoch of yuga, His deeds primarily established the ideal living principles of a man)

Other names: Keshava is another name for Krishna and appears as the 23rd and 648th names in the Vishnu sahasranama. ... The Atharva Veda is a sacred text of Hinduism, part of the four books of the Vedas. ... Narayana (नारायण) or Narayan originates as an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu and is in many contemporary vernaculars, a common Indian name. ... Narayana (नारायण) or Narayan originates as an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu and is in many contemporary vernaculars, a common Indian name. ... Krishna (IAST , the Sanskrit for dark or black), is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu. ... Brahma (written Brahmā in IAST transliteration) (Devanagari ब्रह्मा, pronounced as brəhmα:) is the Hindu creator god, and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. ... Madhava is another name for Vishnu and appears as the 72nd, 167th and 735th names in the Vishnu sahasranama. ... Krsnas name is Govinda. ... Madhusudanah is another name of Vishnu or God and is the 73rd name in the Vishnu sahasranama. ... Madhu means nectar in Sanskrit and liqour in Tamil. ... In Hinduism, Vamana is the fifth avatar of Vishnu, a dwarf. ... For other uses of the name Vishnu, see Vishnu (disambiguation). ... Rishikesh (also spelt Hrishikesh, another name for Lord Vishnu), in the state of Uttaranchal, is a holy city for Hindus located in the foothills of the Himalaya in northern India. ... Padmanabha is another name of Vishnu or God and apppears as the 48th, 196th and 346th names in the Vishnu sahasranama. ... For the plant of this name, see Umbilicus rupestris. ... Binomial name Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ... Brahma (written Brahmā in IAST transliteration) (Devanagari ब्रह्मा, pronounced as brəhmα:) is the Hindu creator god, and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. ... Krishna (IAST , the Sanskrit for dark or black), is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu. ... In Hindu philosophy (and in the teachings of Surat Shabd Yoga) the cycle of creation is divided into four yugas (ages or eras): Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga Treta Yuga Dwapara Yuga Kali Yuga // The spiritual states of civilization in each yuga In Hindu tradition, the world goes through a... Lord Rama (center) with wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman. ... In Hindu philosophy (and in the teachings of Surat Shabd Yoga) the cycle of creation is divided into four yugas (ages or eras): Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga Treta Yuga Dwapara Yuga Kali Yuga // The spiritual states of civilization in each yuga In Hindu tradition, the world goes through a...

• Gopala (cow protector: ref. Krishna)
• Janardana (one who excites or agitates men)
• Vāsudeva (son of Vasudeva: a name of Krishna)
• Anantasayana (sleeping or reclining on Shesha Naga. Shesha Naga is often referred to as Ananta)
• Sriman (the pride of Shri or Lakshmi); Often Sriman is combined with the name, Narayana , to form a compound word,Sriman Narayana, as the name Ramakrishna.
• 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.
• Satyanarayana (apparently a combination of satya and narayana)

Janardanah is another name of Vishnu or God and appears as the 126th name in the Vishnu sahasranama. ... In Hinduism, Vasudeva is the father of Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra. ... In Hinduism, Vasudeva is the father of Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra. ... Krishna (IAST , the Sanskrit for dark or black), is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu. ... Sriman is another name of Vishnu or God and appears as 22nd, 178th and the 220th names in the Vishnu sahasranama. ... Sri or Shri (Śrī), —pronounced halfway between sree and shree—is a Sanskrit title of veneration, a Hindu honorific stemming from the Vedic conception of prosperity (see Lakshmi below). ... Popular image of Lakshmi In India, Lakshmi or Laxmi (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी) is the goddess of wealth, light and fortune, as well as (secondarily) luck, beauty and fertility. ... Sriman Narayana is a combination of two names of Vishnu, a form of God, in Hinduism Sriman amd Narayana. ... Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (Bangla: রামকৃষ্ণ পরমহংস), born Gadadhar Chattopadhyay (Bangla: গদাধর চট্টোপাধ্যায়) , (February 18, 1836 - August 16, 1886) was one of the most important Hindu religious leaders of India. ... Vishnu (Hindi: (विष्‍णु) is a form of God, whom Hindus pray to. ... Sri or Shri (Śrī), —pronounced halfway between sree and shree—is a Sanskrit title of veneration, a Hindu honorific stemming from the Vedic conception of prosperity (see Lakshmi below). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... In Hinduism, Venkateshwara (also spelled Venkateswara, Venkateshwer or Venkatachalapathi) is a much-worshipped form of Vishnu. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Narayana (नारायण) or Narayan originates as an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu and is in many contemporary vernaculars, a common Indian name. ...

Theological beliefs and philosophy

Major branches of Vaishnavism include:- Vaishnavism is one of the principal divisions of Hinduism. ...

• Srivaishnavism (espoused by Ramanuja who advocated Vishishtadvaita),
• Dvaita (espoused by Madhvacharya or Madhva)
• Gaudiya Vaishnavism (espoused by Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu); the Hare Krishna movement or ISKCON adheres to Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

See also the articles on Vaishnavism, Vaishnava Theology, and Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology Sri Vaishnavism is a hindu sect,the members of which worship lord Maha Vishnu. ... Sri Ramanuja Acharya (1017 - 1137 AD) was an Indian philosopher and is recognized as the most important saint of Sri Vaishnavism. ... Vishisthadvaita is a qualified monism in which God alone exists but admits plurality. ... Dvaita, a school of Vedanta (the most widespread Hindu theology), made popular by Shri Madhvacharya, stresses strict distinction between God (expressed as Vishnu) and souls. ... Madhva can refer to: Shri Madhvacharya, Vaishnavite saint and founder of Dvaita school of thought, at Pajaka, Udupi a person belonging to the Dvaita school of thought This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Gaudiya Vaishnavism, (Bengal) Vaishnavism, is a sect of Hinduism founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. ... Deities of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (right) and Sri Nityananda (left) at Radha-Krishna temple in Radhadesh, Belgium Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (also transliterated Chaitanya) (1486 - 1534), was an ascetic Hindu monk and social reformer in 16th century Bengal, India (present-day West Bengal and Bangladesh). ... The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is a new religious movement based on Bengali, or more specifically Gaudiya, Vaishnavism founded by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, referred to by followers as His Divine Grace, in New York in 1966. ... Vaishnavism is one of the principal divisions of Hinduism. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology, is a type of Vaishnava Theology that began with Caitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534), a Bengali Vaishnava sadhu. ...

See also

• Hindu deities

• List of Hindu deities

Within Smarta Hinduism, a variety of forms of God are seen as aspects of the one impersonal divine ground, Brahman (not Brahma). ... This is a List of Hindu deities. ...

External links

General:

• www.akumar.com/thesis - Animation Project based on Vishnu's Ten Incarnations
• http://www.vaishnava.com/aboutvaishnavism.htm
• http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/hindu_trinity.php
• Vishnu - A Symbolic Appreciation
• Who is Vishnu? and the Nature of Him and other facts.
• Vishnu - the Cosmic Protector by Madhuri Guin (the contents of this link cannot be viewed in India)
• - A vishnu/hanuman Shrine
• omnamovenkatesaya.com This site contains Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams News and stories in Teligu & English

Basic beliefs What can be said to be common to all Hindus is the belief in Dharma (duties and obligations), Samsara (Reincarnation/rebirth), Karma (actions, leading to a cause and effect relationship), and Moksha (salvation) of every soul through a variety of paths, such as Bhakti (devotion), Karma (action) and... Shruti (Sanskrit श्रुति, what is heard) is a canon of Hindu scriptures. ... The Vedas (Sanskrit:- वेद), collectively refers to a corpus of ancient Indo Aryan religious literature that are considered by adherents of Hinduism to be revealed knowledge. ... The Upanishad (उपनिषद्, Upaniá¹£ad) are part of the Hindu Shruti scriptures which primarily discuss meditation and philosophy and are seen as religious instructions by most schools of Hinduism. ... Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... Itihasa (Sanskrit: इतिहास - itihāsa in IAST notation, literally meaning that which happened) is the word for History. ... The Ramayana (Sanskrit: march or journey (ayana) of Rama) is part of the Hindu smriti, written by Valmiki. ... The Mahabharata (Devanagari: महाभारत, phonetically Mahābhārata - see note), sometimes just called Bharata, is one of the two major ancient Sanskrit epics of India, the other being the Ramayana. ... The Agamas are sectarian and monotheistic texts dedicated to worship of Vishnu, Shiva or Devi. ... Smriti (Sanskrit स्मॄति, what is fit/deserves to be remembered) refers to a specific canon of Hindu religious scripture. ... The Tantra (Looms or Weavings), refer to numerous and varied scriptures pertaining to any of several esoteric traditions rooted in Hindu and Buddhist philosophy. ... Sutra (सूत्र) in Sanskrit is derived from the verb siv-, meaning to sew (these words, including English to sew and Latinate suture, all derive from PIE *syÅ«-). It literally means a rope or thread, and more metaphorically refers to an aphorism (or line, rule, formula), or a collection of such aphorisms... The Puranas (Sanskrit पुराण, purāṇá ancient, since they focus on ancient history of the universe) are part of Hindu Smriti; these religious scriptures discuss varied topics like devotion to God in his various aspects, traditional sciences like Ayurveda, Jyotish, cosmology, concepts like dharma, karma, reincarnation and many others. ... The Brahma sutra is the nyaya prasthana, the logical text that sets forth the philosophy systematically (nyaya - logic/order). ... The most fundamental text of Hatha Yoga is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, a Sanskrit classic written by Swami Swatamarama, a disciple of Swami Goraknath. ... Smriti (what is fit/deserves to be remembered) refers to a canon of Hindu religious scripture. ... Tiruvalluvar statue at Kanyakumari Tirukural (திருக்குறள் in Tamil) is an important work of Tamil literature by Tiruvalluvar written in the form of couplets expounding various aspects of life. ... This article is in need of attention. ... The 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu In Hinduism, an avatar or avatara (Sanskrit अवतार), is the incarnation (bodily manifestation) of an Immortal Being, or of the Ultimate Supreme Being. ... Here the underlined vowels carry the Vedic Sanskrit udātta pitch accent. ... Kosas are five sheaths which covers the Atman. ... Dharma (Sanskrit, roughly law or way) is the way of the higher Truths. ... Karma is a concept within Hinduism based on the Vedas and Upanishads, and was later adopted by other religions like Buddhism and Jainism. ... Moksha (Sanskrit: मोक्ष, liberation) or Mukti (Sanskrit: विमुक्ति, release) refers, in general, to liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth. ... Maya, in Hinduism, is many things. ... Ishta-Deva, or Ishta Devata is a term from Hinduism that means chosen Deity or revered aspect of God by a devotee and is a widely held concept in Smartism. ... The Nataraja is one of the most famous images of Lord Siva Murtis are deities or images used by Hindus and also by some Mahayana Buddhists during worship as points of devotional and meditational focus. ... Past Lives redirects here. ... In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and other related religions, samsara or saṃsāra refers to the concept of reincarnation or rebirth in Indian philosophical traditions. ... In Hinduism, the Trimurti (also called the Hindu trinity) are three aspects of God in His forms as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. ... In early Hindu philosophy, turiya (also called caturtha) is a state of pure consciousness, or the experience of ultimate reality and truth. ... The guru-shishya tradition (also guru-shishya parampara or lineage) is a spiritual relationship found within traditional Hinduism which is centered around the transmission of teachings from a guru (teacher, ) to a Å›iá¹£ya (disciple, ) . The term shishya roughly equates to the western term disciple, and in some parts of... Hindu philosophy (one of the main divisions of Indian philosophy) is traditionally seen through the prism of six different systems (called darshanas in Sanskrit) that are listed here and make up the main belief systems of Hinduism. ... Hinduism (Vedic dharma or Sanatana dharma) encompasses many movements and traditions (sampradaya). ... Early Hinduism is a term used to designate the religious development of India before the historical period. ... Samkhya, also Sankhya, (Sanskrit: सांख्य) is a school of Indian philosophy, and is one of the six astika or Hindu philosophical schools of India. ... Nyaya is the name given to one of the six orthodox or astika schools of Hindu philosophy - specifically the school of logic. ... Vaisheshika, also Vaisesika, (Sanskrit: वैशॆषिक)is one of the six Hindu schools of philosophy (orthodox Vedic systems) of India. ... Yoga (from Sanskrit yuj, meaning yoke) is a family of ancient spiritual practices that originated in India and have been absorbed into Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism. ... The main objective of the Purva (earlier) Mimamsa school was to establish the authority of the Vedas. ... Vedanta (Vedānta, वेदान्त, pronounced as ) is a principle branch of Hindu philosophy and is a form of Jnana Yoga (one of the four basic yoga practices in Hinduism; the others are: Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga), a form of yoga which involves an individual seeking the path of intellectual... Tantra (Sanskrit: loom), tantric yoga or tantrism is any of several esoteric traditions rooted in the religions of India. ... Bhakti yoga is the Hindu term for the spiritual practice of fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti. ... ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Ayurveda (आयुर्वेद Sanskrit: ayu—life; veda—knowledge of) or ayurvedic medicine is a comprehensive system of medicine, more than 5,000 years old and based on a holistic approach rooted in Vedic culture. ... A ritual is a formalised, predetermined set of symbolic actions generally performed in a particular environment at a regular, recurring interval. ... Aarti, ãrti, arathi, or ãrati is a Hindu ritual in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities. ... A bhajan or kirtan is a Hindu devotional song, often but not necessarily of ancient origin. ... Darshan is a Sanskrit and Hindu (also used to some extent in Urdu) term meaning sight (in the sense of an instance of seeing something or somebody), vision, apparition, or a glimpse. ... In Hinduism, diksha is the ritual of initiation into the worship of some deity by a guru (diksha guru) who bestows mantra(s) and takes the karma of the initiate - at least in case of Vaishnava diksha, as per Hari Bhakti Vilasa 1. ... In Tibet, many Buddhists carve mantras into rocks as a form of devotion. ... PÅ«jā (alternative transliteration pooja, Sanskrit: reverence or worship, loosely) is a religious ritual which most Hindus perform every morning after bathing and dressing but prior to taking any food or drink. ... The company of the highest knowledge and Truth; the company of a Guru; contact with a person or an assembly of persons who listen to, talk about, and assimilate the Truth. ... Stotras are Hindu prayers that praise aspects of God, such as Devi, Siva, or Vishnu. ... Hindu wedding ceremonies are traditionally conducted in Sanskrit, the language in which most holy Hindu ceremonies are conducted. ... In Hinduism, Yajna or Yagya यज्ञं (Sanskrit yajñá worship, prayer, praise; offering, oblation, sacrifice) is a Vedic ritual of sacrifice performed to please the Devas, or sometimes to the Supreme Spirit Brahman. ... References This section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... General definition of saint In general, the term Saint refers to someone who is exceptionally virtuous and holy. ... Adi Shankara (Åšaá¹…kara, Shri Shankaracharya, Adhi Shankaracharya, Ä€di Åšaá¹…karācārya; the first Shankara in his lineage), reverentially called Bhagavatpada Acharya (the teacher at the feet of Lord) (very approximately 788–820 C.E., but see below) was the most famous advaita philosopher, who had a profound influence... Sri Ramanuja Acharya (1017 - 1137 AD) was an Indian philosopher and is recognized as the most important saint of Sri Vaishnavism. ... Shri Madhvacharya,(1238-1317), was the chief propounder of the Dvaita or dualistic school of Hindu philosophy, one of the three influential Vedanta philosophies. ... ... Sri Thakur Gadadhar Chattopadhyaya Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (Bangla: শ্রীরামকৄষ্ঞ পরমহংস) (February 18, 1836 - August 16, 1886) was a Bengali saint. ... Swami Vivekananda (Bangla: স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ, Hindi: स्वामी विवेकानन्द) (whose pre-monastic name was Narendranath Dutta Bangla: নরেন্দ্রনাথ দত্ত, Hindi: नरेन्द्रनाथ दत्त) (January 12, 1863 - July 4, 1902) is considered one of the most famous and influential spiritual leaders of the Hindu religion. ... Narayana Guru Narayana Guru (नारायण गुरु) (1856 - 1928) was a great sage and social reformer of India. ... Sri Aurobindo Sri Aurobindo (Bangla: শ্রী অরবিন্দ) (August 15, 1872–December 5, 1950) was an Indian nationalist, scholar, poet, Hindu mystic, evolutionary philosopher, yogi and guru. ... Ramana Mahrishi as portrayed in a loving oil painting by Jayalakshmi Satyendra Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi (December 30, 1879 – April 14, 1950) was a great Hindu mystic of the Advaita Vedanta stream and is regarded by some as one of the greatest saints of Hinduism in the 20th century. ... Swami Sivananda Saraswati (1887-1963), as he is known under his monastic name, was born Kuppuswamy in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, India. ... Swami Chinmayananda (स्‍वामी चिन्‍मयानन्‍द) (1916 - August 3, 1993) was born Balakrishna Menon (Balan) in Ernakulam, Kerala in a very devout Hindu family. ... Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927 - 2001), affectionately known as Gurudeva, was born in Oakland, California on January 5th, 1927. ... Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan Swaminarayan (April 2, 1781 - 1830) was born Ghanshyam Maharaj to a brahmin family in the village of Chhapaiya, Uttar Pradesh, India. ... A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (September 1, 1896–November 14, 1977) was born Abhay Charan De, in Kolkata, West Bengal. ... Hinduism encompasses many movements and schools fairly organized within Hindu denominations. ... Vaishnavism is one of the principal divisions of Hinduism. ... Åšaivism, also transliterated Shaivism and Saivism, is a branch of Hinduism that worships Siva as the Supreme God. ... Shaktism is a denomination of Hinduism that worships Shakti, or Devi -- the Hindu name for the Great Mother -- in all of her forms whilst not rejecting the importance of masculine and neuter divinity. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Smartha Sect. ... Agama Hindu Dharma is the formal name of Hinduism in Indonesia. ... Hinduism is going through a phase of regeneration and reform through the vehicle of several contemporary movements. ... Scope The article presents a comparative overview of the leading Hindu organisations of India. ... Within Smarta Hinduism, a variety of forms of God are seen as aspects of the one impersonal divine ground, Brahman (not Brahma). ... This is a List of Hindu deities. ... The term Hindu mythology refers collectively to a large body of Indian literature (essentially, the mythology of Hinduism) that detail the lives and times of legendary personalities, deities and divine incarnations on earth interspersed with often large sections of philosophical and ethical discourse. ... In Hindu philosophy (and in the teachings of Surat Shabd Yoga) the cycle of creation is divided into four yugas (ages or eras): Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga Treta Yuga Dwapara Yuga Kali Yuga // The spiritual states of civilization in each yuga In Hindu tradition, the world goes through a... The Satya Yuga, also called Sat Yuga, Krta Yuga and Krita Yuga in Hinduism, is the Yuga (Age or Era) of Truth, when humankind is governed by gods, and every manifestation or work is close to the purest ideal and mankind will allow intrinsic goodness to rule supreme. ... The Treta Yuga is the second Yuga in the four yugas. ... Dwapar Yuga is the third out of four yugas, or ages, in the religion of Hinduism. ... Kali Yuga is also the title of a book by Roland Charles Wagner. ... This article is in need of attention. ... A Brahmin (pronunciation is Brahmann) is a member of the Hindu priestly caste. ... According to the code of Manu, a Kshatriya is a member of the military or reigning order, one of four varna within the Vedic caste system. ... In the Hindu caste system, a Vaishya (Sanskrit वैश्य vaiÅ›ya, female वैश्या vaiÅ›yā) is a member of the third of the four major castes of the varna system of traditional Indian society, comprising farmers, herders, merchants,artisans. ... Shudra or Sudra is the fourth caste or varna in the traditional four-caste division in Indian society. ...

Hinduism | Hindu mythology | Itihasa
Male Deities: Brahma | Vishnu | Shiva | Rama | Krishna | Ganesha | Indra | Lakshman | Hanuman
Female Deities: Gayatri | Lakshmi | Saraswati | Durga | Devi | Sita | Radha | Kali | Parvati | Shakti
Texts: Vedas | Upanishads | Puranas | Ramayana | Mahabharata