VISHNU [Sanskr. the "active one"], in the Indian Rig-Veda a minor deity, who takes three strides, vi-kram, the last and highest beyond mortal ken ; these probably denote the three divisions of the universe. Closely allied with Indra in his fight with Vritra, the drought-dragon, and against the Dasas, the dark aborigines, Vishnu in the Epic mythology developed into the Preserver god, one of the Hindu triad with Brahma, the creator; and Siva, the destroyer; and as such he has saved man kind in ten incarnations. His special devotees, the Vaishnavas,
have evolved numerous sects.