Vishnu ವಿಷ್ಣು

Names

• Vishnu — the all-pervading¹
• Narayana, Hari, Madhava, Keshava, Achyuta, Janardana, Govinda — other names in common use¹
• Ranganatha — his reclining form, as at Srirangapatna¹²
• Chennakeshava — “handsome Keshava”, his form at Belur³
• Venkateswara — his form at Tirupati¹

Family

Consorts

Lakshmi, Bhumi

His mount is Garuda; he rests on the serpent Shesha in the ocean of milk, and his abode is Vaikuntha.¹

Origins

In the Rigveda Vishnu is a solar god of a few hymns, known for the three strides (Trivikrama). He grows in the Brahmanas, absorbs local deities in the centuries around the turn of the era, and is fully developed in the Puranic period (fourth to twelfth centuries CE).¹

The ten avatars

The Dashavatara lists Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki; some lists put Balarama in place of Buddha.¹

Presence in the world

Asia Society describes Vishnu traditions as historically bringing together diverse practices and divine personalities. Avatara provides an important way of understanding divine presence in the world. Lists of manifestations and their interpretation belong to particular traditions; they should not be silently standardised.⁴

Recognising the image

Royal dress, a conch, lotus, club and discus can identify Vishnu in devotional art. Lakshmi, also called Shri, often accompanies him. These visual features are useful starting points, but an individual artwork’s identification still requires its own evidence.⁴

A theological distinction

Asia Society notes that Krishna can be understood as complete and absolute in himself. Describing Krishna only as subordinate to Vishnu would therefore misrepresent some devotional perspectives.⁴

How traditions differ