He preserves the world's divine order.He is the infinite ocean
     of the universe,from which the world originates. Water is his 
     symbol, and he is depicted lying or seated on water. He is 
     called Narayana,'he who lies on water'.Symbolising water,the 
     seven-headed snake,Ananta or Shesha,accompanies and
     protects him.

     He rides the eagle Garuda,which often has the shape of a man 
     with eagle's wings and beak.

     In his four hands Vishnu holds a conch, with which he
     proclaims his victory over demons; a discus, which he
     twirls-the invincible arm which he hurls at his enimies;
     a golden mace,which symbolises his royal power;and a lotus 
     ,symbol of purity.

     Vishnu's sign is a 'V',found on walls of temples dedicated
     to him and drawn with sandalwood paste on his devotees'
     forehead.

     He is also called Hari(the saviour).

     Vishnu's main task is to peserve the divine order. If this is 
     disturbed,he descends to earth(avatar) taking the form required 
     by the occasion.In the concept of avatar is manifested the 
     remarkable capacity of Hinduism for absorption and 
     adaptation:historical personages like the Buddha,Christ 
     and,according to some,Mahatma Gandhi are without difficulty 
     dentified with the divine presence.

     The ten avatars of Vishnu known until now are:
     Matsya,the fish:it saved humanity's forebears from 
        the flood.

     Kurma,the tortoise:it took the nectar of immortality
     from the ocean.The gods sat on it while churning the ocean of 
     milk.

     Varaha,the wildboar,it saved the earth from demons who 
     had plunged the planet into the ocean.

     Narasimha,the man-lion:it destroyed the demon 
     Hiranyakashyapu whom Brahma had rashly made invincible by any 
     god, man or animal.

     Vamana,the dwarf: he took back sovereignty over 
     the earth and heavens from the King Bali.The latter was 
     permitted to return to earth once a year.

     Parasuram: Rama carrying the axe. He came to help
     the Brahmin caste defend itself against the Kshatriyas.


     Ramachandra: Rama, hero of the Ramayana.

     Krishna: the most popular avatar. He is an entirely
     different kind of god,appearing as such in the Bhagvat Gita.
     He is the darling of Hindu mithology, and is regarded by some
     not as an avtar but as Vishnu himself.A cult figure in his own
     right, his worshiper's intensity equals or surpasses that of the
     Vishnu or Shiva cults.Stories of his amazing childhood delight
     Indians.Accounts of his adolescence portray him as a teasing 
     child,stealing girl's clothes as they bathe in the river.
     He is also the cowherd whom the gopis (young coeherdesses)
     adore.He neglects his beloved,Radha,to chase other women.The 
     loves of Radha and Krishna are narrated in a twelfth century 
     poem,the Gita Govinda.

     His body and face are blue, the colour of the endless ocean
     and infinite space.He is often depicted holding a flute in his 
     hands, as cowherds do.The most commonly described episode of
     his childhood shows him lifting Mount Govardhana up with one
     finger to protect villagers from a vengeful storm unleashed by
     Indra,the god of the skies.
 

    Buddha:the ninth avatar.

    Kalki:Vishnu's last incarnation,who will appear on
    a white horse at the end of the Kali Yuga,the dark age through 
    which we are passing. The corrupted world will be destroyed and 
    Vishnu will rebuild a new world.
 
    The development of the avatars from fish to man ,passing by the   
    wildboar and dwarf,symbolises the transformation of 
    mankind.

VISHNU - NARAYAN HI VISHNU HARI - naarayaNa ho ivaYNaau hro\ .

Baja mana naarayaNa naarayaNa naarayaNa .

OM JAI JAGADISH HAREE SAWAMI JAI JAGADISH HAREE

! jaya jagaidSa hro svaamaI jaya jagaidSa hro .

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