Vishṇu

Vishṇu

Vishṇu is a name used for more than one devatā and place in the Purāṇas and Itihāsas. Each is listed below with where it is told; choose the one you are looking for.

Devatās

• Vishṇu: Bhagavān Vishṇu, also called Nārāyaṇa, who pervades the three worlds, existed alone before creation and takes form as the ten avatāras. Varāha Purāṇa; Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa; Agni Purāṇa; Liṅga Purāṇa; Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa; Vāmana Purāṇa; Bhāgavata Purāṇa; Bhavishya Purāṇa; Brahma Purāṇa; Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva
• Vishṇu (Āditya): one of the twelve Ādityas, the ninth of the twelve mūrtis of Sūrya, who destroys the enemies of the devas and shines in the month of Caitra; he is not Bhagavān Vishṇu. Brahma Purāṇa, Chapters 30–31 The twelve are told on Dvādaśa Ādityas.

Places

• Vishṇutīrtha (Kokā): the tīrtha at the mouth of the Kokā river on the Himālaya, where Bhagavān Vishṇu as Varāha lifted the sunken pitṛs. Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 219
• Vishṇutīrtha (Gautamī): the tīrtha on the bank of the Gautamī where the ṛshi Maudgalya worshipped Bhagavān Vishṇu; it is also called Maudgalya and Vaishṇava tīrtha. Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 66