HTML clipboardVishnu
In the Hindu Trinity, Vishnu is the Protector, the god who preserves
universal order and fights to restore harmony. He is represented as a four-armed
man, holding four attributes, or symbols: a conch shell, for sounding his
victory over chaos, a discus, the invincible weapon given to him by Indra, a
mace, symbol of his power, and, in Cambodia, a small ball, representing the
Earth. His consort is Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and good fortune. Because he
takes a particular interest in human affairs, he must often take on an earthly
form to intervene. These various forms of Vishnu are known as avatars, and
traditionally there are 10, known as Dashavatara, the Ten Incarnations, each
taken on during one of Vishnu's descents to earth:
1st: As Matsya, in the form of a lish, to save mankind from the
great flood at the beginning of creation.
2nd: As Kurma, a turtle, to support the Churning of the Sea of Milk
in one creation myth.
3rd: As Varaha, a boar, to save the earth goddess Bhumi dragged to
the bottom of the sea by the demon Hiranyaksha.
4th: As Narasimha, half-man, half-lion, he kills a tyrant king who
believes himself to be immortal and who dares to forbid the worship of Vishnu.
5th: As Vamana, a dwarf, he confounds the demon king Bali who has
acquired great power, who condescendingly offers the god as much land as he can
cover in three steps. Vamana transforms himself into a giant and takes
possession of heaven, earth and underworld.
6th: As Parashurama, a warrior who avenges the death of his father
and restores the importance of the brahmins.
7th: As Rama, he defeats the forces of evil under the demon Ravana.
8th: As Krishna, he rights wrongs and brings happiness to the
world.
9th: As Buddha, he helps direct mankind towards the right path of
living. This avatar was invented as a means of putting Buddhism in a subordinate
position.
10th: As Kalki, either riding a horse or as a horse, the future
avatar, who will appear at the end of the present era, the Kali Yuga.
According to local and regional traditions, Vishnu can also take other
forms. However, the two most famous of these avatars are Rama, eponymous hero ol
the epic the Ramayana, and Krishna. Both of them are ideal heroes, both
physically and morally, and their exploits have always been enormously popular
among Hindus. More than this, they are a rich source of incident for the many
narrative reliefs that appear at Angkor on lintels, pediments and gallery walls.
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