this question is not for the idiots!!!! i.e. Sword/Lord and p2of9. I never said I was Hindu if you all knew what you were talking about you'd know this was for a project so dont tell me I'll burn in hell because u will if you keep telling others they will.....THANK YOU!!!! NOW can anyone please tell me a little about Vishnu. Please :)
2006-09-13 12:33:30 · 4 answers · asked by kissesmemov 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Vishnu is regarded as a major god in Hinduism and Indian mythology. He is thought as the preserver of the universe while two other major Hindu gods Brahma and Shiva, are regarded respectively, as the creator and destroyer of the universe.
The original worship of Vishnu, by the Aryan conquerors of India or the original Dravidian inhabitants is not definitely known. In the ancient Vedas, the body of literature known as the Veda, and sacred literature of the Aryan conquerors, Vishnu is ranked among the lesser gods and is usually associated with the major Vedic god Indra who in the epics and Puranas fights against dragons and demonic forces. These latter writings emerge during the later development of Hinduism.
It is throughout this literature and especially through incarnations that Vishnu is raised to higher rankings within the Hindu pantheon. He becomes the prominent second god of the Trimurti, the Hindu Triad, while Brahma is first and Shiva is third.
In some Puranic literature Vishnu is said to be eternal, an all-pervading spirit, and associated with the primeval waters that are believed to have been omnipresent before the creation of the universe.
The concept of Vishnu being the preserver of the world came relatively late in Hinduism. Presumedly it sprang from two other beliefs: that men attain salvation by faithfully following predetermined paths of duty, and that powers of good and evil (gods and demons) are in contention for domination over the world. When these powers are upset Vishnu, it is further believed, descends to earth, or his avatar, to equalized the powers. Further it is thought that ten such incarnations or reincarnations of Vishnu will occur. Nine descents are said to have already occurred, the tenth is yet to come. Rama and Krishna were the seventh and eighth.
Another interesting speculation concerning Vishnu's role as preserver among many modern scholars is that it is characteristic of the practitioners of Hinduism to raise local legendary heroes to gods in the Hindu pantheon.
Vishnu is portrayed as blue or black shinned and has four arms. He has a thousand names and their repetition is an act of devotion.
Blessings )O(
2006-09-13 12:44:04 · answer #1 · answered by Epona Willow 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
vishnu is part of the hindu trinity whos job is to keep the goodness of the universe. theres is the creator brahma, the preserver vishnu and the destroyer OF EVIL is shiva.
vishnus wife is lakshmi who is the goddess of light, beauty, good fortune and wealth.
vishnu has 10 avatars, reincarnations of himself that taught humans lessons and how to reach their salvation. every time he reincarnated, lakshmi reincarnated as his consort.
two of his most important avatars are rama and krishna. krishna is the equivalent of jesus.
vishnu is an important hindu god, but he is simply a representation of the supreme being, like all the other hindu gods. many people, mostly westerners misunderstand hinduism and think that its polytheist. THAT IS NOT TRUE. hinduism uses symbolism for better understanding. through the different deities, hindus have a better understanding of different aspects of the supreme creator. all the animal dieties, pictures of the gods and goddesses with multiple heads, arms, etc. ALL MEAN SOMETHING. in hinduism, everything that you see has a much deeper meaning then what is seen on the surface. hopes that helps...im completely all thought out.
2006-09-13 12:36:23 · answer #2 · answered by moonshine 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Vishnu isnt realy a god ,he is known in Hinduism as the preserver.He traveled between earth and heaven taking on different forms sometimes animals sometimes people.One of the people was supposedly the Krishna of the Bhagavad-gita.Or the enlightened one.
2006-09-13 12:46:23 · answer #3 · answered by chewbaccars 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Go to HELL with your project. I wish you could choose the right one for you. I just got POINTS.
2006-09-13 12:44:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋