VISHNU. Vishnu is one of the principal deities in Hinduism. He is one of the triad, Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva. If Brahma is the Creator, Vishnu is the Pre server and Siva the Dissolver and Reproducer. Monier Williams points out that Vishnu is the most human, and the most humane in his character and sympathies, and consequently is the most popular. His divine nature has been imparted to certain chosen men, and in a measure to all good men. " Whether, in fact, Vishnu be connected with light, with heat, with air, or with water, it is evident that his function is that of a divine Pervader, infusing his essence for special purposes into created things, animate and inanimate; for example, into stones, such as the black Salagrama; into rivers, such as the Ganges; into trees and plants, such as the Tulasi: into animals, such as a fish, a tortoise, a boar; and lastly, into men " (Monier-Williams). Orthodox Brahmans are worshippers of Vishnu and Siva (q.v.) alike. Other Brahmans reveal a tendency to prefer the worship of one or the other. The Hindus of modern times are generally either Vaishnavas, worshippers of Vishnu, or Salves, worshippers of Siva. The Vaishnavas worship one personal god Vishnu as the Supreme Being, especially in the form of his two incarnations Rama (q.v.) and Krishna (q.v.). They believe that Vishnu has power to deliver his worshippers in this life from disease and sin, and from evils inflicted by cruel beasts, wicked men, and invisible demons. They believe that when this life
is over be has power to transport them to his blissful paradise, Vaikuntha (q.v.). In the Purlinas it is said that he has four arms and holds in his four hands a wheel, a conch-shell, a club and a lotus-flower. He is also represented as riding on the semi-human bird Garuda to the help of his worshippers. His worshippers have given him a thousand names and epithets. These include : the Holy Being, the Pure Spirit, the Way, the Truth, the Father, the Holy of the Holy. Vishnu has become incarnate in nine forms, and is to become incarn ate in yet another. The first was The Fish (Matsya); the second The Tortoise (Karma): the third The Boar (Varaha): the fourth The Man-lion (Nara-sinha); the fifth The Dwarf (Vamana); the sixth Rama with the Axe (ParaSti-rama); the seventh Rama-candra, " the moon like Rama "; the eighth Krishna (q.v.); and the ninth Buddha. The tenth is to be in the form Kalki or Kalkin. He will appear in the sky on a white horse and with a flashing sword in his hand, ready to destroy the wicked, redeem the good, renew creation, and restore the age of purity. Vishnu is represented as having a wife Lakshmi or Sri. She is the goddess of beauty and fortune. See Monier-Williams; E. W. Hopkins; J. A. Dubois and H. K. Beauchamp.