Lord Mahavishnu is one of the
deities in ‘Trimurthis’. The three functions of the world namely “Creation”
, “Maintenance” and “Destruction” are being done by ‘Trimurthis’. Vishnu
is known as the preserver in them. Mahavishnu is honored as the highest
God in Hindhuism. The term ‘Dasavathara’ is related to Mahavishnu’s
ten incarnations. Dasavatharas are Matsya, Koorma, Varaha, Narasimha,
Parasurama, Vamana, Rama, Balrama, Krishna and Kalki. All these incarnations
take place in all yugas in cosmic scales. In “Bhagavad Gita” and Vishnu
SSahasranama, Vishnu is described as the master of the past, present
and future, the creator and the destroyer of the world and all living
and nonliving beings.
The name ‘VISHNU’ means the one who can enter anywhere, as we usually
says ‘Sarvavyapi’. Appearance of Vishnu is a little different from
other Gods. His skin colour is in blue colour. It represents the infinite
space color as the sky and the ocean having same blue colour. Vishnu’s
appearance is picturised as a four armed male form, holding padhma
(Lotus), gadha, Sankha (conch shell) or and Sudharsanachakra. There
is a mark on his chest, named as ‘Srivalsam’. This mark indicates Lakshmi
devi. Its believed that Devi resides on the chest of Vishnu. His famous
jewel is named as ‘Kausthubham’. The main identity is his crown with
peacock feather, which we can see in his ‘Krishna Avathar’. Anantha,
the snake is always with him. He rests on Anantha and thus knows as
‘Ananthasaayee’.
Vishnu’s consort is Mahalakshmi devi, the goddess of wealth. Vishnu
is also honored as the deity of Santhi, the peaceful mood. Vishnu take
five forms such as Para form, Vyuha form, Vybhava form, Antharyami
form and Arcavathara form. In the Arcavathara form only the devotees
can worship the Lord directly.
