When the world is in danger, Vishnu comes down to set it right. That promise, spoken by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita (“yada yada hi dharmasya…”), sits at the heart of how Hindus think about Vishnu. He is the preserver, the calm, protecting presence who keeps the universe in balance.
Who is Lord Vishnu?
Vishnu is one of the three gods of the Trimurti, alongside Brahma the creator and Shiva the transformer. He is shown resting on the great serpent Shesha in the ocean of milk, with Goddess Lakshmi at his feet, or riding the eagle Garuda, as in the painting on this page, where he travels with Lakshmi and Bhudevi.
He is called Narayana, Hari (the one who takes away sorrow) and Jagdish (lord of the world), the name you’ll hear in the aarti Om Jai Jagdish Hare in almost every North Indian home.
The four things Vishnu holds
- Shankh (conch): the sacred sound Om, and the call to righteousness.
- Sudarshan Chakra (discus): the mind, and the power to destroy evil.
- Gada (mace): strength and the power of knowledge.
- Padma (lotus): purity; like the lotus, we can live in the world without being soiled by it.
The Dashavatara: ten avatars
Vishnu has taken many forms to restore dharma. The ten best known are Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha (or Balarama in some traditions) and Kalki, the avatar still to come. Rama and Krishna are worshipped in their own right by millions, and their stories, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, shape Indian life to this day.
How to worship Vishnu
- On a Thursday or Ekadashi, bathe early and wear yellow if you can. It’s his colour.
- Place his picture or a Shaligram on a yellow cloth.
- Offer water, chandan, yellow flowers and, most importantly, tulsi leaves.
- Offer fruit, panchamrit or a sweet like kheer, with a tulsi leaf on top.
- Chant ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय or read the Vishnu Sahasranama (his thousand names).
- End with the aarti Om Jai Jagdish Hare.
Special days
- Ekadashi: twice a month; Devshayani and Devuthani Ekadashi mark his four-month sleep and awakening.
- Thursdays, especially in the month of Kartik.
- Janmashtami and Ram Navami, the birthdays of his avatars Krishna and Rama.
Famous Vishnu temples
Sri Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala, Jagannath Temple, Puri, Badrinath in the Himalayas, Sri Ranganathaswamy, Srirangam and Guruvayur in Kerala are among the most revered.
Other names of Vishnu
The Vishnu Sahasranama, recited by Bhishma in the Mahabharata, gives a thousand names of Vishnu. The names below are the ones families use every day.
| Name | नाम | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Narayan | नारायण | The refuge of all beings, who rests on the cosmic waters |
| Hari | हरि | The one who takes away sorrow and sin |
| Jagdish | जगदीश | The lord of the world |
| Keshav | केशव | The one with beautiful hair |
| Madhusudan | मधुसूदन | The slayer of the demon Madhu |
| Achyut | अच्युत | The infallible, who never falls |
| Padmanabh | पद्मनाभ | The one from whose navel the lotus of creation grows |
| Janardan | जनार्दन | The one people pray to |
| Vasudev | वासुदेव | The one who dwells in all |
| Shrinivas | श्रीनिवास | The abode of Shri (Lakshmi) |
| Venkateswara | वेंकटेश्वर | The lord of the Venkata hill, at Tirumala |
| Jagannath | जगन्नाथ | The lord of the universe, as worshipped at Puri |
Lord Vishnu: common questions
What are the 10 avatars of Vishnu?
The Dashavatara are Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), Varaha (boar), Narasimha (man-lion), Vamana (dwarf), Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha (in many traditions; some lists name Balarama instead) and Kalki, who is yet to come at the end of Kali Yuga.
Which day is dedicated to Lord Vishnu?
Thursday (Guruvar) is Vishnu's day. Ekadashi, the eleventh day of every lunar fortnight, is especially sacred to him, and many devotees fast on it.
Why is tulsi important in Vishnu worship?
Tulsi is considered dear to Vishnu and a form of Goddess Lakshmi. No offering of food to Vishnu or Krishna is considered complete without a tulsi leaf placed on it.
Who is Lord Venkateswara?
Venkateswara, also called Balaji or Srinivasa, is a form of Vishnu worshipped at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh. It is believed he came to earth in this form to guide people through the difficulties of Kali Yuga.
