Vishnu

 **__Vishnu__** -click here for more information on Vishnu- Vishnu is one of five primary gods in Hindu mythology. He is the maintainer or preserver god and is part of the Hindu Trinity along with Brahma and Shiva. His role is to pervade and maintain things while Brahma creates them and Shiva destroys them. To pervade means to be sent into everything. Vishnu’s name means the one who pervades, or one who has entered into everything also.



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Vishnu is reincarnated many times. He comes back to Earth in the form of his avatars. His avatars come to help people. They come in the form of an animal or human. His main 10 avatars are:

1.) Matsya~ fish 2.) Kurma~ turtle 3.) Varaha~ boar (wild pig) 4.) Narasima~ half man, half lion 5.) Vamana~ a dwarf who takes the form of a giant 6.) Parasuma~ a human warrior 7.) Rama~ human 8.) Krishna~ human hippy 9.) Buddha~ human who gave up everything he owned 10.) Kalki~ horse, who has no yet come to Earth

__ **Vishnu’s Appearance** __ Vishnu is seen as a four armed male. In his four arms he holds a lotus flower, a conch shell, a golden mace, and a rotating disc. You may also see him with his 10 avatars. Vishnu is usually seen standing on a lotus flower with his consort Lakshmi.



Vishnu‘s wife is Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, light, generosity, and beauty. They are usually seen together floating in the ocean on a lotus flower. Vishnu and Lakshmi do not have any children.



Vishnu’s symbols are the four items he holds: the lotus flower, conch shell, golden mace, and the rotating disc.

__ **Myth of Vishnu** __ When the whole Earth was covered with water and Vishnu was asleep, a lotus flower grew from his navel. A flower grew from the lotus and reached the top of the flood waters: Brahma sprang out of the flower. Brahma looked around and saw no other creature within the watery universe. He imagined himself to be the first born and therefore to have rank above all other future beings. He descended down the stalk of the flower to the lotus and there he found Vishnu asleep. Brahma asked loudly who he was, Vishnu responded. “I am the first born”. Brahma denied this and then started a battle against Vishnu. Suddenly before them appeared a lingam. The lingam went up as far as they could see and down as far as they could see. Together they decoded to try and explore it. Vishnu became a boar and traveled down for a thousand years, but never found a base. Brahma became a goose and traveled us for a thousand years, but never found a top. They both returned to where they had both started and the lingam became Shiva, telling that Shiva was the most powerful. Shiva then named Vishnu as the first born and punished Brahma for his pride by cutting off his fifth head.