Vishnu - Vishnu in Smriti and Shruti, Names

A major Hindu deity, second in the triad (Trimurti) of gods manifesting the cosmic functions of the Supreme Being. The preserver of the universe and the embodiment of goodness and mercy, he is believed to have assumed visible form in nine descents (avataras), three in non-human form, one in hybrid form, and five in human form, of which his appearances as Rama and Krishna are the most important.

Vishnu Vishnu in the form of Satya Narayana God of Protection Devanagari: विष्णु Sanskrit Transliteration: viṣṇu Affiliation: Trimurti Abode: Ocean of Milk Weapon: Chakra and Mace Consort: Lakshmi Mount: Garuda Planet: Vaikuntha

Vishnu (IAST viṣṇu, Devanagari विष्णु), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being or Ultimate Reality for Vaishnavas and a principal manifestation of Brahman in the Advaita or Smarta traditions.

The Vishnu Sahasranama 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.

The Puranas describe Vishnu as being the color of clouds (Dark Blue), four-armed, holding a lotus, mace, conch and Sudarshana Chakra, and as part of the Trimurti, responsible for the sustenance of the universe.

In the Dvaita Vaishnava traditions, Vishnu is the Supreme Being. Within the Advaita traditions, Vishnu is viewed as one of many 'forms' of the ultimately formless Brahman, however Smarta adherents worship Vishnu as one of the five principal forms.

In the Trimurti, Vishnu is responsible for the maintainance or 'preservation' of the universe, with the other figures - namely Brahma, and Shiva being responsible for creation and destruction respectively. An early commentator on the Vedas, Yaska, in his Nirukta, defines Vishnu as 'vishnu vishateh; that which is free from fetters and bondages is Vishnu.'

Adi Sankara in his commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama (Swami Tapasyananda's translation, Ramakrishna Math publications) states derivation from this root, with a meaning "presence everywhere" ("As he pervades everything, vevesti, he is called Visnu").

Suggestions involving other roots 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.

Vishnu in Smriti and Shruti

In the Vedas

In the Rigveda, Vishnu is mentioned 93 times.

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:

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

They are (in order of avatar)

Matsya, the fish. रामोऽवतारः सूर्यस्य चन्द्रस्य यदुनायकः। नृसिंहो भूमिपुत्रस्य बुद्धः सोमसुतस्य च॥ ५॥ वामनो विबुधेज्यस्य भार्गवो भार्गवस्य च। कूर्मो भास्करपुत्रस्य सैंहिकेयस्य सूकरः॥ ६॥

Names

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. A brief explanation of Vishnu Sahasranama is available in Telugu language at the website: http://www.geocities.com/havishsam/vishnu.htm

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

Acyutah (infallible) Ananta (endless, eternal, infinite) Damodara (having a rope (dama) around his belly (udara): a name of Krishna) Govinda (leader of cowherds: a name of Krishna) Hayagriva (giver of knowledge) 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. Padmanabha (lotus-naveled one, from whose navel sprang the lotus which contained Brahma, who created the universe) Perumal Name he is known in Tamil speaking regions Rama (born during the second epoch of yuga, his deeds primarily established the ideal living principles of a man) Hrsikesha (lord of the senses) Sridhara Trivikrama (he who strides out three times) Vamana (dwarfish, small or short in stature, a dwarf brahmana) Siddhartha (one who attains perfection, birth name of Buddha avatar in the last epoch of Kali Yuga) Vishnu

Other names: (the complete listing is in the Vishnu Saharsnaaama, the 1000 names of Vishnu).