Vishnu

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Vish·nu

(vĭsh′no͞o)

n. Hinduism

One of the principal Hindu deities, worshiped as the protector and preserver of worlds. Vishnu is often conceived as a member of the trimurti along with Brahma and Shiva.

[Sanskrit Viṣṇuḥ.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Vishnu

(ˈvɪʃnuː)

(Hinduism) Hinduism the Pervader or Sustainer: originally a solar deity occupying a secondary place in the Hindu pantheon; later one of the three chief gods, the second member of the Trimurti; and, later still, the saviour appearing in many incarnations

[C17: from Sanskrit Viṣṇu, literally: the one who works everywhere]

ˈVishnuˌism n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Vish•nu

(ˈvɪʃ nu)

n.

“the Preserver,” the second member of the Hindu Trimurti, along with Brahma the Creator and Shiva the Destroyer, believed to have descended from heaven to earth in several incarnations.

[< Skt viṣṇu]

Vish′nu•ism, n.

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Noun

Vishnu - the sustainer; a Hindu divinity worshipped as the preserver of worlds

Trimurti - the triad of divinities of later Hinduism

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References in classic literature ?

Here, on the night when the shrine was completed, Vishnu the Preserver appeared to the three Brahmins in a dream.

(carrying its curse with it) from one lawless Mohammedan hand to another; and still, through all chances and changes, the successors of the three guardian priests kept their watch, waiting the day when the will of Vishnu the Preserver should restore to them their sacred gem.

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The Hindoo whale referred to, occurs in a separate department of the wall, depicting the incarnation of Vishnu in the form of leviathan, learnedly known as the Matse Avatar.

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These were fervent Brahmins, the bitterest foes of Buddhism, their deities being Vishnu, the solar god, Shiva, the divine impersonation of natural forces, and Brahma, the supreme ruler of priests and legislators.

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He who created the Hindoos, who are preserved by Vishnu and destroyed by Siva -- a rather neater division of labor than is found among the deities of some other nations.

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The Vishnu Purana says, "The house-holder is to remain at eventide in his courtyard as long as it takes to milk a cow, or longer if he pleases, to await the arrival of a guest." I often performed this duty of hospitality, waited long enough to milk a whole herd of cows, but did not see the man approaching from the town.

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"That is active duty," says the Vishnu Purana, "which is not for our bondage; that is knowledge which is for our liberation: all other duty is good only unto weariness; all other knowledge is only the cleverness of an artist."

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Lord Vishnu refused to go against Mahabali as he was an avid devotee.

Food and fervour this Onam

Abhilash N.K's nephew Vishnu Image Credit: Supplied

Indian expat loses seven relatives in Kerala landslide

Award winning Vishnu Prasad is regarded as one of the leading, young well-being consultants from India and founder of 'Swasthi Yoga Studio Doha'.

Self-management through yoga

Summary: Krishna (Andhra Pradesh) [India], July 22 (ANI): Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, ESL Narasimhan reached Vijaywada on Monday evening where he was welcomed by minister V Srinivas Rao, MLA Malladi Vishnu, DGP Gautam Sawang and District Collector Imtiaz.