Vishnu - Worship

Vishnu (IAST viṣṇu, Devanagari विष्णु, with honorific Shri Vishnu; śrī viṣṇu, श्रीविष्णु ), is a form of God, to whom many Hindus pray. For Vaishn ...

Including:

• Vishnu - Etymology
• Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu
• Vishnu - Theological attributes and more
• Vishnu - Relations with other Deities
• Vishnu - Iconography
• Vishnu - Worship
• Vishnu - Names
• Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia - Vishnu

It is not clearly known when or how the worship of Vishnu began. In the Vedas, and the information on Aryan beliefs, Vishnu is associated with Indra. However, Shukavak N. Dasa, a Vaishnavite scholar, in reference at this link has commentated that Srivaishnavites would note that: The praise of Indra and other devas in the Vedas are not intended for the particular deity, but for the Supreme Being, Brahman, who is the inner soul of devas and all other beings. The various deities addressed in the hymns are simply different ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Worship

It is not clearly known when or how the worship of Vishnu began. In the Vedas, and the information on Aryan beliefs, Vishnu is associated with Indra. However, Shukavak N. Dasa, a Vaishnavite scholar, in reference at this link has commentated that Srivaishnavites would note that: The praise of Indra and other devas in the Vedas are not intended for the particular deity, but for the Supreme Being, Brahman, who is the inner soul of devas and all other beings. The various deities addressed in the hymns are simply different ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - Pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - In the Vedas, Vishnu - In the Brahmanas, Vishnu - In the Upanishads, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Worship

Vishnu - In the Vedas. In the Rigveda, Vishnu is mentioned 93 times. He is frequently invoked with other gods, especially with Indra, whom he assists in killing Vritra, and with whom he drinks Soma. His companionship with Indra is still reflected by his later epitheta Indrānuja and Upendra. His distinguishing characteristic in the Vedas is his association with Li ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - Pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - In the Vedas, Vishnu - In the Brahmanas, Vishnu - In the Upanishads, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Pre-Puranic Vishnu

In the Rigveda, Vishnu is mentioned 93 times. He is frequently invoked with other gods, especially with Indra, whom he assists in killing Vritra, and with whom he drinks Soma. His companionship with Indra is still reflected by his later epitheta Indrānuja and Upendra. His distinguishing characteristic in the Vedas is his association with Light, or even his identification with the Sun. He appears as striding across the heavens in three paces, by Rigvedic commentators explained as denoting the threefold manifestations of light in the form of fire, lightning, and the Sun, or as designating the three daily stations of ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu

Vishnu takes form as an all-inclusive deity, known as Purusha or Mahāpurusha, Paramātma [Supreme Soul], Antaryāmi [In-dwelle ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - Pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - In the Vedas, Vishnu - In the Brahmanas, Vishnu - In the Upanishads, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Theological attributes and more

Major branches of Vaishnavism include:- Srivaishnavism (espoused by Ramanuja who advocated Vishishtadvaita), Dvaita (espoused by Madhvacharya or Madhva) Gaudiya Vaishnavism (espoused by Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu); the Hare Krishna movement or ISKCON adheres to Gaudiya Vaishnavism. See also the articles on Vaishnavism, Vaishnava Theology, and Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - Pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - In the Vedas, Vishnu - In the Brahmanas, Vishnu - In the Upanishads, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Vishnu's consort is Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. Maya is the samvit (the primary intelligence) of Vishnu, while the other five attributes emerge from this samvit and hence Maya is his ahamata, activity, or Vishnu's Power. This power of God, Maya, is personified and is called Maya, Vishnumaya, or Mahamaya, and She is said to manifest Herself in, 1) kriyāshakti, (Creative Activity) and 2) bhütishakti (Creation) of Universe. Hence this world cannot part with His creativity i.e., ahamta, which is a feminine form and is called Maya. His vehicle is Garuda, the eagle; who is a part of His creation. He needs no ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - Pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - In the Vedas, Vishnu - In the Brahmanas, Vishnu - In the Upanishads, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Relations with other Deities

Vishnu has a number of names, collected in the Vishnu sahasranama ("Vishnu's thousand names"), which occurs in the Mahabharata. In Vishnu Sahasranama Vishnu is praised as the Supreme God. The names are generally derived from the anantakalyanagunas (infinite auspicious attributes) of the Lord. Some names are: Acyutah (infallible) Ananta (endless, eternal, infinite) Kesava (slayer of Keshi, having long or much or handsome hair, from Atharvaveda viii , 6 , 23) Narayana (said to mean "He who ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - Pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - In the Vedas, Vishnu - In the Brahmanas, Vishnu - In the Upanishads, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Names

According to various Purana, Vishnu is the ultimate omnipresent reality, is shapeless and omnipresent. However, a strict iconography governs His representation, whether in pictures, icons, or idols: He is to be depicted as a four-armed male-form: The four arms indicate his all-powerful and all-pervasive nature. The physical existence of Vishnu is represented by the two arms in the front while the two arms at the back represent his presence in the spiritual world. The Upanishad titled Gopal Uttartapani describes the four a ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - Pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - In the Vedas, Vishnu - In the Brahmanas, Vishnu - In the Upanishads, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Iconography

Major branches of Vaishnavism include:- Srivaishnavism (espoused by Ramanuja who advocated Vishishtadvaita), Dvaita (espoused by Madhvacharya or Madhva) Gaudiya Vaishnavism (espoused by Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu); the Hare Krishna movement or ISKCON adheres to Gaudiya Vaishnavism. See also the articles on Vaishnavism, Vaishnava Theology, and Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Vishnu takes form as an all-inclusive deity, known as Purusha or Mahāpurusha, Paramātma [Supreme Soul], Antaryāmi [In-dweller], and He is the Sheshin [Totality] in whom all souls are contained. He is Bhagavat or Bhagavan, which in Sanskrit means "possessing bhāga (Divine Glory)". Vishnu possesses six such divine glories, namely, Jñāna Omniscient; defined as the power to know about all beings simultaneously; Aishvarya Sovereignty, which persist in unchallenged rule over all; Shakti Energy, or ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Theological attributes and more

The traditional Hindu explanation of the name Viṣṇu involves the root viś, meaning "to settle, to enter", or also (in the Rigveda) "to pervade", and a suffix nu, translating to approximately "the All-Pervading One". For example Adi Sankara, in Swami Tapasyananda's translation of his commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama (Ramakrishna Math publications) states derivation from this root, with a meaning "presence everywhere" ("As He pervades everything, vevesti, He is called Visnu"). Adi Sankara states (regarding Vishnu Purana, 3.1.45): "The Power of the Supreme Being has entered within the universe. The r ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Etymology

Vishnu's consort is Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. Maya is the samvit (the primary intelligence) of Vishnu, while the other five attributes emerge from this samvit and hence Maya is his ahamata, activity, or Vishnu's Power. This power of God, Maya, is personified and is called Maya, Vishnumaya, or Mahamaya, and She is said to manifest Herself in, 1) kriyāshakti, (Creative Activity) and 2) bhütishakti (Creation) of Universe. Hence this world cannot part with His creativity i.e., ahamta, which is a feminine form and is called Maya. His vehicle is Garuda, the eagle; who is a part of His creation. He needs no ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Relations with other Deities

According to various Purana, Vishnu is the ultimate omnipresent reality, is shapeless and omnipresent. However, a strict iconography governs His representation, whether in pictures, icons, or idols: He is to be depicted as a four-armed male-form: The four arms indicate his all-powerful and all-pervasive nature. The physical existence of Vishnu is represented by the two arms in the front while the two arms at the back represent his presence in the spiritual world. The Upanishad titled Gopal Uttartapani describes the four a ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Iconography

Vishnu has a number of names, collected in the Vishnu sahasranama ("Vishnu's thousand names"), which occurs in the Mahabharata. In Vishnu Sahasranama Vishnu is praised as the Supreme God. The names are generally derived from the anantakalyanagunas (infinite auspicious attributes) of the Lord. Some names are: Acyutah (infallible) Ananta (endless, eternal, infinite) Kesava (slayer of Keshi, having long or much or handsome hair, from Atharvaveda viii , 6 , 23) Narayana (said to mean "He who ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Names

The traditional Hindu explanation of the name Viṣṇu involves the root viś, meaning "to settle, to enter", or also (in the Rigveda) "to pervade", and a suffix nu, translating to approximately "the All-Pervading One". The early commentator on the Vedas,Yaska, in his Nirukta, defines Vishnu as 'vishnu vishateh; one who enters everywhere', and 'yad vishito bhavati tad vishnurbhavati; that which is free f ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - Pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - In the Vedas, Vishnu - In the Brahmanas, Vishnu - In the Upanishads, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Etymology