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'''Vishnu''' is the second god of the Hindu Triad. He represents Sattva quality of maya, and is considered as the Preserver of the world. It is said that the sage Bhrigu, in order to ascertain as to who was the greatest god of the Hindu Triad, visited all of them. Brahma neglected him, Shiva behaved offensively towards him. It was Vishnu, who, even being kicked by him, treated him with goodness and generosity. Therefore he concluded that he was the greatest of the Hindu Triad. Even the Supreme Being is sometimes named Vishnu, as in the first reference above, but as a god of the Triad, he is considered related to maya and thus prone to death. Brahma is said to have been born out of his navel-lotus (Gujri M. l, p. 489). In this case, he may be identified with Maha-Vishnu or Supreme Being. His consort is Lakshmi, who is also called Kavala. In this case, Vishnu is called Kavalapati (or Kamlapati). In times of grave emergency, in order to help the gods and punish the tyrants, Vishnu incarnates. Ten of his incarnations are considered most significant. (See Das Avatars). The god is said to repose on the coils of the serpent Shesha and his wife Lakshmi sits at his feet. He has four hands. In one hand he hold a Shank (conch shell), in the second a Chakra (disc), in the third a Gada (mace) and in the fourth a Padma (lotus) (Swayye Mahle Chauthe Ke, p. 1402). His vehicle is Garuda, a man-bird. His heaven is called Vaikuntha, which has a circumference of 80,000 miles. He has one thousand names, which are recorded in Vishnu Sahansar Nama.
Some of the names of Vishnu, which have been used for Supreme Being (God) in Guru Granth Sahib are Gopal, Gobind, Mukand, Murari, Narayana, Madhav, Vasudeva, Prabhu, Chatur Bhuj, Kavala Kant, Hari, etc.
==Sikhism on Vishnu==
Sikhism instructs to worship One God only and none else. Sikhs do not worship any demi gods like Shiva. Guru Granth Sahib tells following:
God is the creator of all. “He created air, water, fire, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva” (Guru Granth Sahib, 504).
“He created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, who act according to His Will” (Guru Granth Sahib, 948).
“The performance of countless millions of other devotions is not even equal to one devotion to the Name of God” (Guru Granth Sahib, 1163). “Those who serve Shiva and Brahma cannot find the limits of God” (Guru Granth Sahib, 516).
The ones who serve any other instead of God cannot attain salvation. Salvation is granted only by God. “Everyone must serve the One Lord, who created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. O Nanak, the One True Lord is permanent and stable. He does not die, and He is not born” (Guru Granth Sahib, 1130).
By the order of God, Brahma obtained a body. By the order of God, Shiva was born. By the order of God, Vishnu was born. Everything is created by God. God, who made Shiva a yogi. God, who gave Brahma the kingdom of Vedas. God, who has shaped the entire universe. Is the one we salute. They consider that Shiva is God. They are unaware of the Supreme Primal Lord. (Benti Chaupee Sahib).
Sikhism instructs not to perform idol worship and not to worship anyone else besides God. Guru Granth Sahib Ji is Sikhs' Holy Scripture. Sikhs bow their head in the Gurdwara to Guru Granth Sahib as a sign of respect but Sikhs do not worship the scriptures. Guru Ji is the spiritual teacher of Sikhs and shows the way to meet God. Guru Nanak instructs that idol worship will not lead one to salvation. Worshipping sculptures of stone will not help one to meet God.
Guru Nanak Dev said that for sikhs:
The Guru is Shiva, the Guru is Vishnu and Brahma; the Guru is Paarvati and Lakhshmi. Shiva, Brahma and the Goddess of Beauty, ever adorned, sing.
'''Remember Vishnu again and again; By remembering Vishnu you will never suffer defeat.(Gauri Bawan Akhri  Kabir,  p. 342)'''
'''Remember Vishnu again and again; By remembering Vishnu you will never suffer defeat.(Gauri Bawan Akhri  Kabir,  p. 342)'''


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'''Kishan (connoting Vishnu) is always busy in incarnating himself, then with whose help one may ferry across the world-ocean ?(Wadhans M. 3, p. 559)'''
'''Kishan (connoting Vishnu) is always busy in incarnating himself, then with whose help one may ferry across the world-ocean ?(Wadhans M. 3, p. 559)'''


Vishnu is the second god of the Hindu Triad. He represents Sattva quality of maya, and is considered as the Preserver of the world. It is said that the sage Bhrigu, in order to ascertain as to who was the greatest god of the Hindu Triad, visited all of them. Brahma neglected him, Shiva behaved offensively towards him. It was Vishnu, who, even being kicked by him, treated him with goodness and generosity. Therefore he concluded that he was the greatest of the Hindu Triad. Even the Supreme Being is sometimes named Vishnu, as in the first reference above, but as a god of the Triad, he is considered related to maya and thus prone to death. Brahma is said to have been born out of his navel-lotus (Gujri M. l, p. 489). In this case, he may be identified with Maha-Vishnu or Supreme Being. His consort is Lakshmi, who is also called Kavala. In this case, Vishnu is called Kavalapati (or Kamlapati). In times of grave emergency, in order to help the gods and punish the tyrants, Vishnu incarnates. Ten of his incarnations are considered most significant. (See Das Avatars). The god is said to repose on the coils of the serpent Shesha and his wife Lakshmi sits at his feet. He has four hands. In one hand he hold a Shank (conch shell), in the second a Chakra (disc), in the third a Gada (mace) and in the fourth a Padma (lotus) (Swayye Mahle Chauthe Ke, p. 1402). His vehicle is Garuda, a man-bird. His heaven is called Vaikuntha, which has a circumference of 80,000 miles. He has one thousand names, which are recorded in Vishnu Sahansar Nama.
last but not least


Some of the names of Vishnu, which have been used for Supreme Being (God) in Guru Granth Sahib are Gopal, Gobind, Mukand, Murari, Narayana, Madhav, Vasudeva, Prabhu, Chatur Bhuj, Kavala Kant, Hari, etc.
He created air, water and fire, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - the whole creation.  


[[category:mythological References]]
[[category:mythological References]]

Revision as of 13:39, 25 April 2009

Vishnu is the second god of the Hindu Triad. He represents Sattva quality of maya, and is considered as the Preserver of the world. It is said that the sage Bhrigu, in order to ascertain as to who was the greatest god of the Hindu Triad, visited all of them. Brahma neglected him, Shiva behaved offensively towards him. It was Vishnu, who, even being kicked by him, treated him with goodness and generosity. Therefore he concluded that he was the greatest of the Hindu Triad. Even the Supreme Being is sometimes named Vishnu, as in the first reference above, but as a god of the Triad, he is considered related to maya and thus prone to death. Brahma is said to have been born out of his navel-lotus (Gujri M. l, p. 489). In this case, he may be identified with Maha-Vishnu or Supreme Being. His consort is Lakshmi, who is also called Kavala. In this case, Vishnu is called Kavalapati (or Kamlapati). In times of grave emergency, in order to help the gods and punish the tyrants, Vishnu incarnates. Ten of his incarnations are considered most significant. (See Das Avatars). The god is said to repose on the coils of the serpent Shesha and his wife Lakshmi sits at his feet. He has four hands. In one hand he hold a Shank (conch shell), in the second a Chakra (disc), in the third a Gada (mace) and in the fourth a Padma (lotus) (Swayye Mahle Chauthe Ke, p. 1402). His vehicle is Garuda, a man-bird. His heaven is called Vaikuntha, which has a circumference of 80,000 miles. He has one thousand names, which are recorded in Vishnu Sahansar Nama.

Some of the names of Vishnu, which have been used for Supreme Being (God) in Guru Granth Sahib are Gopal, Gobind, Mukand, Murari, Narayana, Madhav, Vasudeva, Prabhu, Chatur Bhuj, Kavala Kant, Hari, etc.

Sikhism on Vishnu

Sikhism instructs to worship One God only and none else. Sikhs do not worship any demi gods like Shiva. Guru Granth Sahib tells following:

God is the creator of all. “He created air, water, fire, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva” (Guru Granth Sahib, 504).

“He created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, who act according to His Will” (Guru Granth Sahib, 948).

“The performance of countless millions of other devotions is not even equal to one devotion to the Name of God” (Guru Granth Sahib, 1163). “Those who serve Shiva and Brahma cannot find the limits of God” (Guru Granth Sahib, 516).

The ones who serve any other instead of God cannot attain salvation. Salvation is granted only by God. “Everyone must serve the One Lord, who created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. O Nanak, the One True Lord is permanent and stable. He does not die, and He is not born” (Guru Granth Sahib, 1130).

By the order of God, Brahma obtained a body. By the order of God, Shiva was born. By the order of God, Vishnu was born. Everything is created by God. God, who made Shiva a yogi. God, who gave Brahma the kingdom of Vedas. God, who has shaped the entire universe. Is the one we salute. They consider that Shiva is God. They are unaware of the Supreme Primal Lord. (Benti Chaupee Sahib).

Sikhism instructs not to perform idol worship and not to worship anyone else besides God. Guru Granth Sahib Ji is Sikhs' Holy Scripture. Sikhs bow their head in the Gurdwara to Guru Granth Sahib as a sign of respect but Sikhs do not worship the scriptures. Guru Ji is the spiritual teacher of Sikhs and shows the way to meet God. Guru Nanak instructs that idol worship will not lead one to salvation. Worshipping sculptures of stone will not help one to meet God.

Guru Nanak Dev said that for sikhs:

The Guru is Shiva, the Guru is Vishnu and Brahma; the Guru is Paarvati and Lakhshmi. Shiva, Brahma and the Goddess of Beauty, ever adorned, sing.

Remember Vishnu again and again; By remembering Vishnu you will never suffer defeat.(Gauri Bawan Akhri Kabir, p. 342)

At whose door should I take refuge, Vishnu, Shiva, an adept, a Muni or Indra. One may give you kingdom, the other may take you to heaven, rare one among a million may ask for salvation.(Kalyan M. 5, p. 1322)

O Lord! Vishnu and Lakshmi could not know you besides four Vedas, Smritis and Puranas.(Dhanasari Kabir, p. 691)

Kishan (connoting Vishnu) is always busy in incarnating himself, then with whose help one may ferry across the world-ocean ?(Wadhans M. 3, p. 559)

last but not least

He created air, water and fire, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - the whole creation.

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