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    Vishnu Presentation

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    167 AMMAR SURATWALA
    Vishnu is one of the principal deities in Hinduism known as the preserver and protector of the world. He takes various avatars throughout history to defeat demons and preserve righteousness. Some key points: - Vishnu has 10 main avatars including Matsya the fish, Kurma the turtle, Varaha the boar, Narasimha the half-man half-lion, Vamana the dwarf, Parashurama the warrior, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, and the future Kalki avatar. - Each avatar serves to defeat demons, end unrighteous dominance, or preserve dharma and faith before the end of the current cycle of existence.

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    Vishnu Presentation

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    167 AMMAR SURATWALA
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    Vishnu is one of the principal deities in Hinduism known as the preserver and protector of the world. He takes various avatars throughout history to defeat demons and preserve righteousness. Some key points: - Vishnu has 10 main avatars including Matsya the fish, Kurma the turtle, Varaha the boar, Narasimha the half-man half-lion, Vamana the dwarf, Parashurama the warrior, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, and the future Kalki avatar. - Each avatar serves to defeat demons, end unrighteous dominance, or preserve dharma and faith before the end of the current cycle of existence.

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    Vishnu is one of the principal deities in Hinduism known as the preserver and protector of the world. He takes various avatars throughout history to defeat demons and preserve righteousness. Some key points: - Vishnu has 10 main avatars including Matsya the fish, Kurma the turtle, Varaha the boar, Narasimha the half-man half-lion, Vamana the dwarf, Parashurama the warrior, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, and the future Kalki avatar. - Each avatar serves to defeat demons, end unrighteous dominance, or preserve dharma and faith before the end of the current cycle of existence.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    90 views19 pages

    Vishnu Presentation

    Uploaded by

    167 AMMAR SURATWALA
    Vishnu is one of the principal deities in Hinduism known as the preserver and protector of the world. He takes various avatars throughout history to defeat demons and preserve righteousness. Some key points: - Vishnu has 10 main avatars including Matsya the fish, Kurma the turtle, Varaha the boar, Narasimha the half-man half-lion, Vamana the dwarf, Parashurama the warrior, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, and the future Kalki avatar. - Each avatar serves to defeat demons, end unrighteous dominance, or preserve dharma and faith before the end of the current cycle of existence.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 19

    Vishnu: The Preserver, The

    Protector, The Savior

    By Monisha Rallapalli
    The Trinity
    Brahma: The Creator Vishnu: The Preserver

    Shiva: The Destroyer


    Characteristics
     Gentle and benevolent nature

     Vehicle: Eagle, “Garuda”

     Guardian, protector, preserver of


    world and law of Vedas
    Characteristics
    • Resting State: Narayana
    • Resides in heaven known as Vaikuntha

    Anantha-Sesha
    Lakshmi
     Vishnu’s consort/Spouse

     Goddess of fortune and prosperity

     “balances his male intellect and spiritual


    sophistication with female physicality and
    passion” (Cummins et al. 79)

     Incarnated herself as consort to each of his


    reincarnations
    10 Reincarnations
    (Avatars) of Vishnu:
    “Dashavatar”
    Matsya Avatar
     Fish

     Purpose:
     Save Vedas
     Rescue pious/devoted man and creatures from
    immense flood to ensure survival of life on earth

     Resembles story of Noah’s Ark


    Kurma Avatar
     Turtle

     Protects gods, preserves their


    divine power
     “Wealth eludes the insecure”
    (Pattanaik 59)
    Varaha Avatar
     Boar
     Strength, speed, bravery

     Saves goddess of earth “Bhu


    Devi” from demon
    Hiranyaksh protecting
    earth
     No land for humans to
    build homes on otherwise
    Narasimha
     Half man – half lion

     Purpose: Save pious devotees,


    protect world from demons

     Hiranyaksh’s brother vows to


    avenge brother’s death by killing
    all Vishnu devotees and Vishnu;
    ends up being killed by Narasimha

     Irony: Hiranyaksh’s brother’s son


    (Prahlad) is pious devotee of
    Vishnu
    Vamana/Trivikrama Avatar
     Dwarf man

     King Bali exhibits arrogance

     Vamana reclaims earth, sky,


    heavens
     “Ignorance breeds insecurity
    and arrogance” (Pattanaik 91)
    Parashurama Avatar
     Brahmin warrior with axe

     Believed to be immortal

     Purpose: end dominance


    of Kshatriyas (warrior
    caste) who were becoming
    unrighteous; protect earth
    from unrighteousness
    Rama Avatar
     Kshatriya prince

     Prominent figure in Hinduism

     Ramayana by Valmiki Rama’s


    life story
     Famous Hindu epic

     Getting rid of demon Ravana


    with excessive pride and saving
    wife Sita from Ravana

     Purpose: Get rid of evil and


    pride, preserve righteousness

     Well worshipped in temples


    Krishna Avatar
     One of the most prominent
    figures worshipped by Hindus
     Mahabharatha, Bhagavad Gita
     Dharma, Bhakti, Vishvarupa
    (Supreme form)

     Purpose: getting rid of evil and


    excessive pride (kills uncle
    Kamsa), preserve righteousness
    and faith in supreme power,
    “know the thought before the
    action” (Pattanaik, 157)
    Buddha Avatar
     Non-Aryan prince, enlightened
     Originally named Siddhartha Gautama
     Became Buddha (‘Awakened’) after
    enlightenment (attaining Bodhi/wisdom)

     After Krishna’s death, Kali Yuga (last phase of


    cycle of existence) entered
     Everything will gradually disappear
     World will end in total destruction
     Buddha born in Kali Yuga

     Purpose: Preserve Hindu religion from demons


     Taught demons to devalue vedas and hindu
    teachings

     “As Buddha, Vishnu hastens end of world”


    (Cummins et al. 231)

     Not worshipped as much because of anti-vedic


    teachings
    Kalki Avatar
     Final avatar

     Future, will come when Kali Yuga


    ends
     Believed that he will be trained by
    Parashurama (6th avatar)
     Purpose:
     Annihilate world at end of Kali Yuga
     Restore righteousness, wipe out all
    evils
     Lead world into Satya Yuga (Age of
    Truth; religious principles are
    preserved and protected)
     Will return to Vaikuntha when
    completing final task
    Religious History
     Vishnu’s prominence didn’t begin till post-
    vedic Hinduism (along with Shiva)
     First mentioned as minor deity in Rig Veda
     Rose to prominence over course of more
    than 500 years through spread by general
    populace to aristocracy and priestly
    orthodoxy

     Major deities before Vishnu’s prominence:


    Indra (god of lightning), Agni (God of fire),
    Vayu (god of wind) now minor deities
     Initial worshipping of Vishnu: took place
    around sacrifical fire without temple or
    image of him (typical Vedic manner)
     Earliest known representations of Vishnu:
    first centuries CE
     First Vishnu temples: 4th century CE
    Worship of Vishnu
     Vishnupadas: sculptures/portrayals of Vishnu’s feet
     Rest of body depicted surrounding feet with attributes of Vishnu (lotus
    flowers, discus, conch shell, mace)

     Devotees, especially priests, apply U-shaped marks to forehead


     Known as “tilak”
     “believed to help focus mental energy, creating third eye that offers
    intuition or insight” (Cummins et al. 257)

     Ritual objects, shrines, sculptures, and paintings of/representing


    Vishnu are worshipped
     Worshipped in temples dedicated to Vishnu

     Still worshipped around sacrificial fire in ancient Vedic manner till


    this day
    Worship of Vishnu

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