Deities

Vishnu

विष्णु · viṣṇu

Definition

'The pervader'; supreme being for Vaishnavas; the preserver of the trimurti. Resides in Vaikuntha on Ananta-Shesha; consort Lakshmi. Holds shankha-chakra-gada-padma. Descends as the avataras to restore dharma. Vishnu is part of the deities vocabulary of Sanatana Dharma. This is a deity term used in worship, stories, names, forms, and devotional practice. Vishnu is useful when reading Hindu texts, listening to pravachan, following puja or vrata instructions, and connecting related ideas such as narayana, vaikuntha, dashavatara, ananta-shesha. Related terms include narayana, vaikuntha, dashavatara, ananta-shesha, which give the word its surrounding vocabulary. References for this entry include Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Sahasranama, Vishnu Sahasranama tradition; exact usage can vary by sampradaya, text, and family practice.

हिन्दी अर्थ

विष्णु; नारायण।

Sources Cited

· Vishnu Purana
· Bhagavata Purana
· Vishnu Sahasranama
· Vishnu Sahasranama tradition

How Vishnu Fits into Sanātana Dharma

Hindu thought is built from a vocabulary of carefully-distinguished terms. Words like vishnu are not loose translations — each has a precise scriptural genealogy, a specific role in ritual or philosophy, and often a counterpart that completes its meaning. Many of the major Hindu darśanas (Sāṅkhya, Yoga, Vedānta, Mīmāṃsā, Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika) refined their vocabulary over centuries; the same Sanskrit term can carry different shades in different schools.

Vishnu sits within a cluster of related concepts — narayana, vaikuntha, dashavatara, ananta-shesha. Reading these together gives you the actual texture of the idea, rather than treating it as an isolated definition. Each Sanskrit term in this glossary is cross-linked to the others it presupposes.

Where useful we cite the primary scriptural source — the Upaniṣad, sūtra, or smṛti passage where the term is given its classical sense — alongside trusted modern dictionaries (Monier-Williams, V.S. Apte, Sanskrit Heritage). For practical questions about usage in pūjā or daily life, ask a paṇḍita in your tradition.

Concept Context

Vishnu is part of the deities vocabulary of Sanatana Dharma. This is a deity term used in worship, stories, names, forms, and devotional practice.

Vishnu is useful when reading Hindu texts, listening to pravachan, following puja or vrata instructions, and connecting related ideas such as narayana, vaikuntha, dashavatara, ananta-shesha.

FAQs

What does Vishnu mean?

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Vishnu is used in deities contexts and should be understood with related Sanskrit terms, scripture, and living tradition.

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