Hinduism is one of the most ancient religions in the world, today practiced by nearly a billion people in the world.

 

Hinduism is one of the most ancient religions in the world, today practiced by nearly a billion people in the world. Originally called “Sanatana Dharma”, Hinduism is characterized by beliefs in “samsara” (reincarnation), “karma” (all actions have consequences), “moksha” (freedom from the cycle of reincarnation), aspects including the “yogas” and “vedas” from literary works such as the Upanishads and the Vedas. Hindus worship the Trinity: Lord Brahma (the creator), Shri Vishnu (the preserver), and Lord Shiva (the destroyer).

Lord Vishnu symbolizes the preserver, the protector, and the sustainer of the world. Compared to other deities, he is believed to have a very collected and benevolent nature with his “central character as guardian, protector and preserver of the world”. Shri Vishnu is portrayed with having blue skin and four arms, and as dressed with extensive jewelry, flower garlands and a large crown.

In the four hands, Shri Vishnu carries a conch shell, a “chakra” (a discus), a lotus flower, and a club-like mace. Shri Vishnu lives in heaven known as “Vaikuntha and floats somewhere in the sky above the seven heavens”. He sleeps in a cosmic ocean of milk, the bed he sleeps on being his serpent Anantha-Sesha. This sleeping form of lord Vishnu is known as Narayana.

Shri Vishnu’s vehicle is a loyal eagle named Garuda on which He travels. These unique characteristics of shri Vishnu are essential to his duty as the preserver and protector of the created world, helping him with “full control of time and space and subjective realities”. Not only do these defining aspects of Shri Vishnu allow him to carry out his duties as the preserver, but his consecutive avatars allowed him to do so as well.

Throughout Shri Vishnu’s continuing existence, He has reincarnated himself in order to carry out his duty of preserving and protecting the world as well as the law of the Vedas. In what is known as the “Dashavatar,” or the ten reincarnations of Shri Vishnu, he has reincarnated himself already nine times and his tenth reincarnation is yet to come.

Om Namo Narayana ~ Jai Shri Vishnu!