Introduction to Lord Vishnu
Lord Vishnu is one of the most important deities of Hinduism. He is known as the sustainer god in the Trimurti. Lord Brahma is considered the creator of the universe, Lord Shiva is the destroyer, and Lord Vishnu is considered the protector and preserver of the entire universe. In the Vaishnava sect, Lord Vishnu is the supremely worshipped deity.
Lord Vishnu in the Ksheersagar
According to mythological beliefs, Lord Vishnu sits on the bed of Sheshnag in the Ksheersagar. A lotus emerges from his navel and Lord Brahma sits on that lotus. This divine form of Lord Vishnu is considered a symbol of the sustenance and peace of the universe.
Family of Lord Vishnu
Goddess Lakshmi is the consort of Lord Vishnu and is worshipped as the goddess of wealth, prosperity and happiness. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi resides in the heart of Lord Vishnu. Devotees who worship Lord Vishnu and Mother Lakshmi attain happiness, prosperity and splendor.
In South Indian traditions, Sridevi and Bhudevi are considered as the two consorts of Lord Vishnu. Hence, in some paintings, Lord Vishnu is depicted with both the goddesses.
Avatars of Lord Vishnu
Lord Vishnu has taken many avatars to establish religion and destroy the wicked. His ten main avatars are known as Dashavatars.
Dasavatar
Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Shriram, Balarama, Shrikrishna and Kalki are the famous Dasavatars of Lord Vishnu. Through these avatars, Lord Vishnu has protected religion in every era.
24 Avatars of Lord Vishnu
Apart from Dasavatars, 24 avatars of Lord Vishnu also have special significance. They include avatars like Sanatkumar, Narada, Kapila, Dattatreya, Vyasa, Buddha, Hayagriva, Hans and Kalki. The purpose of each avatar was to establish religion and protect the devotees.
Mantras of Lord Vishnu
Chanting the mantras of Lord Vishnu brings peace, happiness and spiritual strength to the mind.
॥ ओम नार्यानाया ॥
॥ ओम नाम भगवाते वसुदेवादे वसुदेवाया ॥
Festivals and Fasts of Lord Vishnu
Ekadashi and Anant Chaturdashi are the main fasts and festivals dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The fast of Ekadashi is considered very important among Vaishnava devotees and Lord Vishnu is specially worshipped on this day.
Famous Temples of Lord Vishnu
There are many famous temples of Lord Vishnu in India. Among them, Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Thiruvananthapuram), Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam), Jagannath Temple (Puri), Badrinath Temple and Dashavatar Temple (Devagarh) are particularly famous.
Importance of Lord Vishnu
Lord Vishnu is considered the sustainer god. He is the protector of devotees, the protector of religion and the guardian of creation. Worshipping Lord Vishnu brings happiness, peace, prosperity and spiritual power in life.