Questions tagged [vishnu]
For questions on the god of preservation, among the Trimurti. Also called Narayana. The Supreme God or Brahman in Vaishnavism. In case of questions exclusively on his avataras, the respective tag is preferable like Rama, Krishna.
1,086
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How were the Trimurthi born?
In Hinduism, there are three supreme gods, Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh (Shiva). Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the protector, and Shiva is the destroyer.
But how were these gods born? Did the ...
44
votes
17answers
200k views
Why doesn't Shiva worship anybody where as Vishnu worships him in all his incarnations?
There is a difference between Bhagwata Purana and Shiva Purana:
Bhagwata Purana states that Vishnu is more supreme than Shiva, and from Vishnu, Brahma and by Brahma, Shiva was born. But if that is so,...
43
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5answers
45k views
Is Jesus an avatar of Lord Vishnu?
Here and there, I heard that Jesus is an avatar of Lord Vishnu (or even a reincarnation of Krishna).
Is this true?
39
votes
9answers
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Who are the children of Vishnu and Lakshmi?
Most of us are aware of the children of Shiva and Parvati ⇒ Kartikeya, Ganesh and many others.
I have never come across the children of Vishnu and Lakshmi.
Lastly, I am aware of the avatars of ...
35
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4answers
14k views
Are there any temples for Matsya, Kurma, and Varaha avatars?
Are there any temples for the following three avatars of Vishnu?
Matsya
Kurma
Varaha
If yes, please share some information about some popular temples for them.
34
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8answers
15k views
Is Gautama Buddha an avatar of Lord Vishnu?
Some Hindus believe that the Gautama Buddha is one of the Dashavatara; others replace him with Balarama (and sometimes other figures, but mostly Balarama). Which groups of Hindus believe that the ...
29
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5answers
26k views
Who is Govindaraja and how is he related to Venkateshwara?
Tirupati is most commonly associated with the world-renowned Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple. But there is another Vishnu temple in Tirupati, the Govindaraja Swami Temple. (This isn't the only ...
29
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1answer
9k views
What is the story of Nara and Narayana's brothers Hari and Krishna?
As I discuss in this question, one of the most prominent incarnations of Vishnu in ancient times was the sage Narayana, twin brother of the sage Nara and son of Yama god of death. Nara and Narayana ...
28
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2answers
8k views
Was Ravana actually a villain? Or was he a devotee of Lord Vishnu?
Ravana was one of the greatest devotees of Lord Siva. He also worshiped Lord Brahma and the two of them had given him enormous powers. Among the Trimurthis, only Lord Vishnu punished him as Lord Rama.
...
26
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2answers
13k views
Where is the mention of 'Shiva is Supreme Lord of Vishnu and Vishnu is Supreme Lord of Shiva'?
There is a popular verse:
शिवाय विष्णुरूपाय शिवरूपाय विष्णवे ।
शिवस्य हृदयं विष्णुर्विष्णोश्च हृदयं शिवः ॥
“Shivaya VishnuRoopaya , Shivarupaya Vishnave , Shivasya hirdayam VishnurVishnoscha ...
25
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3answers
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What is the story of the "Sudarśana Chakra"?
How did Lord Mahavishnu get the Sudarśana Chakra? Why is it called the ultimate weapon among other weapons?
25
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1answer
4k views
Why isn't Parashurama worshipped like the other Vishnu Avatars?
Vishnu Avatars like Rama and Krishna get worshipped in all main regions of India. But why doesn't Parashurama get worshipped that much? Is there some reason for it? Parashurama is the longest-serving ...
24
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3answers
154k views
When will the Kalki avatar be born?
Kalki avataar is the avatar of lord Vishnu. It is said that Kalki Avatar will born in Kaliyug.
Is there any specific date or time which describes Kalki's birth?
24
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4answers
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Why Jesus Isu Christ, Guru Nanak, Buddha and Muhammad should not be considered as Lord Vishnu's avatars? [closed]
As usual in general weekends I was reading Shrimad Bhagawat Gita yesterday night, in which verses were,
Chapter 9 Verse 29
Smoham Sarvabhuteshu
Means I am equally disposed to all living entities
...
24
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2answers
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Partial and full incarnations: When divine beings incarnate on earth, do they continue to exist in their original abode?
I am having confusion that, whenever divine beings incarnate on earth, do they also continue to exist in their original abode?
Let us take the example of Narayana, the supreme god. It is said that ...
24
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5answers
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When was Ravana hit by the Sudarshana Chakra?
[Note: To be clear, I am not asking why Ravana wouldn't be harmed or killed by the Sudarshana Chakra; that's obvious. I'm asking why and under what circumstances Vishnu launched the Sudarshana Chakra ...
23
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1answer
1k views
Do animals know God exists?
I remember a scene from the Telugu movie Sri Ramadasu in which animals such as elephants, deer and peacocks are filled with ecstasy when Lord Vishnu descends to earth as Lord Rama, and welcomed Him. ...
23
votes
2answers
5k views
How did Varaha's son Narakasura become evil?
One of Krishna's most famous deeds is his killing of the demon Narakasura, which is the inspiration of the holiday Deepavali. Narakasura was tormenting the gods and had even stolen the earrings of ...
23
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1answer
1k views
Why does each incarnation of Vishnu need an "officiating priest"?
This chapter of the Matsya Purana enumerates various incarnations that Vishnu has taken during the course of the Vaivasvata Manvantara (i.e. the present Manvantara). But along with each incarnation, ...
22
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4answers
2k views
Why do Gods take avatar?
In the Ramayana, Shri Ram was an avatar of Vishnu; in the Gita or Mahabharata, Shri Krishna was an avatar of Vishnu. Everything they did in human form, they were perfectly able to do it in their ...
22
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2answers
130k views
Why did Lord Shiva fight with Lord Vishnu?
What were the reason(s) behind the fight between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu? I think the Harivamsa Parva of the Mahabharata narrates this incident.
The story goes like this:
Mahadev makes Goddess ...
22
votes
1answer
6k views
Is there any scripture that tells story about Lord Vishnu and MahaVishnu?
As per the Shiva Purana, there is a main God Shiva who is Nirakara and thereafter his physical manifestation who is known as Shankara. I know that different Hindu texts about different Gods treat ...
21
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3answers
3k views
How has Lord Vishnu's understanding developed and what was his role initially?
I've recently come by an excellent research on how the understanding of Shiva has been evolving through the ages and I wonder whether such a research has been made with respect to Vishnu. The book I ...
21
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4answers
14k views
During his lifetime, did Rama know that he was a God?
Was Rama aware that he is an avatar of Vishnu (during his lifetime) and acted as normal or he just tried to be good human being?
21
votes
1answer
1k views
What are the Avatarams of Vishnu described in the Yuddha Kanda of the Ramayana?
In the Yuddha Kanda of the Ramayana, after Rama kills Ravana and rescues his wife Sita, he tells Sita to walk through fire to (to others) prove that she is still faithful to him. She walks through ...
21
votes
2answers
821 views
How come the Vedas describe mostly the Vamana avatara of Vishnu?
The Vedas are the eternal truths of God, Apaurusheya and constant throughout Time. Therefore they must contain all knowledge of all time. But (at least if you go through the other questions) you find ...
21
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0answers
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Do any Deities, other than the Pancha Mahadevatas, have Swayambhu representations?
The Pancha Mahadevatas are Ganapaty,Shiva,Vishnu,Devi(Ambika) & Surya.
There is a Smarta tradition of worshiping them together in the Panchayatana Puja..In this Puja instead of idols or images of ...
20
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4answers
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Supreme Brahman in Hinduism
Here is What i understood after reading various stories from Puranas and Mahabharatha and theories of Creationism.
Vishnu Purana states Vishnu is Supreme God or Supreme Brahman. Also
I read ...
20
votes
5answers
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Why is Lord Surya also called Suryanarayana?
Narayana (Nara+Aayna) is the one who rests on water. But why is this Narayana, epithet of Lord Vishnu, used as suffix for Lord Surya, the Sun God? Is there any story behind this name?
20
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3answers
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Why do Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva always meditate on each other?
I watched a TV serial named "Devo ke Dev Mahadev" on channel "Life Ok". In that, they mentioned several stories of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu always meditating upon each other and connected to each ...
20
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2answers
6k views
How did Krishna get Vishnu's Sharanga Bow?
As I discuss in this answer, the divine architect Tvashta (AKA Vishwakarma) created two powerful bows, the Pinaka bow for Shiva and the Sharanga bow for Vishnu. Brahma once got Vishnu and Shiva to ...
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3answers
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Do the same avatars repeat in each chaturyuga?
The Manache Shlok in Marathi mentions that Ramayana happens once in a Kalpa.
मना कल्पना कल्पिता कल्प कोटी| नव्हे रे नव्हे सर्वथा रामभेटी|| मना कामना राम नाही जयाला| अति आदरे प्रीती नाही तयाला||
...
18
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4answers
10k views
Do any Vedic verses depict Lord Vishnu to be supreme?
Are there any verses from Vedas and the Upanishads that show Lord Vishnu as supreme?
18
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3answers
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What is chronological timeline (in Manvantara and Mahayuga) of Lord Vishnu incarnations?
Please tell me chronological timeline (in Manvantara and Mahayuga) of Lord Vishnu's various incarnations.
18
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9answers
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What is the story of Sharaba?
I found most of our religious books speak about Lord Vishnu's avatars and there are much fewer books that I know of about Lord Shiva. If Lord Vishnu has 10 avatars then how many avatars do Lord Shiva ...
18
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5answers
3k views
Do some people have more Grace of God and some have less?
There are millions of people in world, some are more successful and reach their goals while some try hard to reach their goals or there favorable profession, but fail to; or some people are more ...
18
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2answers
14k views
Why didn't Lord Vishnu drink the poison that came out from the churning of ocean?
As I was looking at this question, I got another question in my mind that why didn't Lord Vishnu drink the poison that came out from the churning of ocean?
Lord Vishnu is also powerful to consume the ...
18
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3answers
842 views
What does it mean to say that Vishnu worships those who worship him?
In this chapter of the Anushasana Parva of the Mahabharata, Shiva extols the great qualities of Vishnu. In particular, he says this:
The illustrious Hari, the puissant Narayana, is verily, the ...
18
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0answers
7k views
Who is the Samaveda-singing Brahmin incarnation of Vishnu prophesied in the Skanda Purana?
As I discuss in this question, one of the early movements that was important in the development of Vaishnavism was the ancient Pancharatra movement, whose sacred texts consisted of detailed procedures ...
17
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3answers
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What scriptures discuss Ghandaberunda, the bird beast created by Narasimha?
The coat of arms of the Indian state of Karnataka depicts a strange two-headed bird:
This creature comes from certain versions of the story of Narasimha, the man-lion avataram (incarnation) of Vishnu. ...
17
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1answer
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What is the power of Narayana Kavacha mantram?
What is the power of the Narayana Kavacha mantram that appears in the Bhagavatham?
What is the meaning of this mantram and how do you get the benefits of the mantra?
17
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1answer
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What form did Vishnu take in the Battle of Ten Kings?
According to the Rig Veda Anukramani, the seer of Mandala 7 of the Rig Veda is the sage Vashishta, and in the following verse from Mandala 7, Vasishta addresses Vishnu:
What was there to be blamed ...
16
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3answers
3k views
Is there any temple where deities are Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara?
Is there any temple where deities are Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara all the three supreme gods are worshipped at once?
16
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3answers
10k views
Was Adi Shankaracharya a Shaiva or a Vaishnava? What were his views on Shiva and Vishnu?
Adi Shankaracharya taught Advaita philosophy. What was his belief on how one should see Shiva and Vishnu? Was he a Shaiva or a Vaishnava? Are Shiva and Vishnu same as per Him?
16
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3answers
510 views
Does any work say 'Vishnuraham' - I am Vishnu like there is 'Shivoham' - I am Shiva?
"Shivoham" (I am Shiva) is well known conventional term which represent the Self is Shiva. But I have not yet found similar for Vishnu as well like "Vishnuraham" (I am Vishnu). It might be because ...
16
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2answers
358 views
Is the notion of Narada going everywhere while chanting "narayana naryana" from scripture?
Narada goes everywhere and meets with Gods and Devas of his choosing with his cymbals while chanting "narayana naryana". Is this in scripture?
Im asking because in fact in the TV depiction ...
16
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1answer
1k views
What scriptures describe the story of Rama visiting Vishnu in Vaikuntha?
Most people only know of occasions in which two different incarnations of Vishnu met, for instance the encounter between Rama and Parashurama in the Ramayana. What is not as well known, however, is ...
16
votes
1answer
404 views
Which scriptures state Vishnu teaching principles of Vaishnavism to his four disciples?
In many questions asked on this site, I frequently see a line about Vishnu teaching principles of Vaishnavism to his four disciples:
Vishnu is said to have taught the principles of Vaishnavism to ...
16
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4answers
2k views
Why did Sri Krishna say he was VAJRA among weapons?
While giving discourse to Arjuna, Sri Krishna says that he was VAJRA among weapons.
आयुधानामहं वज्रं धेनूनामस्मि कामधुक्।
प्रजनश्चास्मि कन्दर्पः सर्पाणामस्मि वासुकिः।।10.28।।
Of the ...
16
votes
0answers
511 views
What is the story of Brahma forgetting his knowledge after teaching Indra?
The Rahasyatraya Sara is a work by the Sri Vaishnava Acharya Vedanta Desikan, concerning the meaning of the Rahasya Traya or three secrets of the Sri Vaishnava sect (of which I'm a member). (One of ...