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10/6/2024, 9:08 PM Mike C update #116
4/23/2024, 9:35 PM Mike C update #115
12/8/2017, 12:41 PM Mike C update #97
7/2/2017, 10:39 PM Mike C update #95
1/10/2017, 9:56 AM Mike C update #94
2/12/2007, 1:03 AM Mike C earliest recorded revision

Gender Masculine
Scripts विष्णु(Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi) വിഷ്ണു(Malayalam) ವಿಷ್ಣು(Kannada) విష్ణు(Telugu) விஷ்ணு(Tamil)
Pronounced Pron. /ˈvɪʂ.ɳu/(Sanskrit) /ˈvɪʃ.nu/(English)

Meaning & History

Probably means "all-pervasive" in Sanskrit, from विष् (viṣ) meaning "to prevade, to spread through". The Hindu god Vishnu is the protector and preserver of the universe, usually depicted as four-armed and blue-skinned. His wife is Lakshmi. Though he appears in the Rigveda, he features more prominently in post-Vedic texts. The great heroes Krishna, Rama, Narasimha and others are regarded as avatars of Vishnu.

Vaishnavism, the largest denomination within Hinduism, views Vishnu and his avatars as the supreme god.