Kerala Temples

Lord Mahavishnu is one of the deities in ‘Trimurthis’. The three functions of the world namely “Creation” , “Maintenance” and “Destruction” are being done by ‘Trimurthis’. Vishnu is known as the preserver in them. Mahavishnu is honored as the highest God in Hindhuism. The term ‘Dasavathara’ is related to Mahavishnu’s ten incarnations. Dasavatharas are Matsya, Koorma, Varaha, Narasimha, Parasurama, Vamana, Rama, Balrama, Krishna and Kalki. All these incarnations take place in all yugas in cosmic scales. In “Bhagavad Gita” and Vishnu SSahasranama, Vishnu is described as the master of the past, present and future, the creator and the destroyer of the world and all living and nonliving beings.

The name ‘VISHNU’ means the one who can enter anywhere, as we usually says ‘Sarvavyapi’. Appearance of Vishnu is a little different from other Gods. His skin colour is in blue colour. It represents the infinite space color as the sky and the ocean having same blue colour. Vishnu’s appearance is picturised as a four armed male form, holding padhma (Lotus), gadha, Sankha (conch shell) or and Sudharsanachakra. There is a mark on his chest, named as ‘Srivalsam’. This mark indicates Lakshmi devi. Its believed that Devi resides on the chest of Vishnu. His famous jewel is named as ‘Kausthubham’. The main identity is his crown with peacock feather, which we can see in his ‘Krishna Avathar’. Anantha, the snake is always with him. He rests on Anantha and thus knows as ‘Ananthasaayee’. Vishnu’s consort is Mahalakshmi devi, the goddess of wealth. Vishnu is also honored as the deity of Santhi, the peaceful mood. Vishnu take five forms such as Para form, Vyuha form, Vybhava form, Antharyami form and Arcavathara form. In the Arcavathara form only the devotees can worship the Lord directly.