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The
preserver god of the Trinity has four hands. The first holds a conch
shell (sankha) indicating spread of the divine sound "Om"; one holds
a discus (chakra), a reminder of the wheel of time, and to lead a
good life; one holds a lotus (Padma) which is an example of glorious
existence and the fourth hands holds a mace (gada) indicating the
power and the punishing capacity of the Lord if discipline in life
is ignored. His vehicle is the swift-flying bird Garuda which can
spread the Vedic knowled ge with great courage. The dark color of
the Lord represents the passive and formless ether, a great quality
for a pervading god. He rests on the bed of the powerful, coiled
serpent, Seshanag who represents the sleeping universe. Lord Vishnu
is also known as Hari, the
remover. |
