TempleTM Kerala

Vaishnava

Vishnu

विष्णु

Also known as Narayana, Hari, Madhava, Padmanabha, Govinda

Vishnu is the preserver of the cosmos, who sustains dharma through his ten avatars. He reclines on the serpent Ananta in the milky ocean.

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Vishnu — devotional artwork

Tradition: Vaishnava
Consort: Lakshmi
Vahana: Garuda
Abode: Vaikuntha
Weapon: Sudarshana Chakra
Festival: Ekadashi, Vaikunta Ekadasi, Onam (Vamana)

Origin story

Vishnu is the preserver of the cosmos, the deity who sustains dharma whenever it declines. He reclines on the serpent Ananta in the milky ocean and returns to the world in avatar after avatar, from the fish Matsya and the dwarf Vamana to Rama and Krishna.

Vaishnavism holds Vishnu to be the supreme being, known also as Narayana and Hari. His conch, discus, mace and lotus mark sound, mind, strength and purity, while the serpent Ananta stands for infinity. In Kerala the tradition is anchored at temples such as Padmanabhaswamy, Guruvayur and Thirunavaya, where the deity is worshipped in his many forms.

Source: Wikipedia: Vishnu — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu

Symbolism

The conch, discus, mace and lotus represent sound, mind, strength and purity; the serpent Ananta denotes infinity.

From the temples

Gallery of Vishnu 59

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57 photographs · 2 films from temples of Vishnu

Mantra 2

Om Namo Narayanaya

ॐ नमो नारायणाय

Oṃ Namo Nārāyaṇāya

Meaning — I bow to Narayana, the one who dwells in the hearts of all beings and in the cosmic waters.

Recited for: Daily japa, surrender and protection

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय

Oṃ Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya

Meaning — I bow to the blessed Vasudeva, the indwelling Lord present in all things.

Recited for: Japa, devotion, inner steadiness

Sloka 1

Shuklam Baradharam Dhyana Sloka

शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम्। प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये॥

Śuklāmbaradharaṃ Viṣṇuṃ Śaśivarṇaṃ Caturbhujam, Prasannavadanaṃ Dhyāyet Sarvavighnopaśāntaye

Meaning — Meditate on Vishnu clothed in white, moon-hued, four-armed and serene of face, for the removal of all obstacles.

Recited for: Dhyana before Vishnu worship

Pooja Sloka 1

Shanti Mantra

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः

Oṃ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ

Meaning — Peace in body, mind and spirit; peace in the three realms.

Recited for: Closing prayer of pooja and homa

Stotra 1

Vishnu Gayatri

ॐ नारायणाय विद्महे वासुदेवाय धीमहि। तन्नो विष्णुः प्रचोदयात्॥

Oṃ Nārāyaṇāya Vidmahe Vāsudevāya Dhīmahi, Tanno Viṣṇuḥ Pracodayāt

Meaning — May we know Narayana, may we meditate on Vasudeva. May Vishnu illumine our minds.

Recited for: Gayatri japa, protection

Temples of Vishnu 490

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Aamamangalam (Koormavatharam) Sri Maha Vishnu Temrle Kozhikode Aaneri Mahavishnu Temple Wayanad Aathrassery Sankara Narayana Temple Thiruvananthapuram Airani Mahavishnu Temple Thrissur Akkaravila Mahavishnu Temple Kollam Akkode Vishnu Temple Malappuram Alanthatta Sree Mahavishnu Temple Alanthatta, Kasaragod Alathur Maha Vishnu Temple Thrissur

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