Vishnu: The Preserver: Short Stories from Hindu Puranas

In Hinduism, Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the preserver and Shiva is the transformer or the destroyer of all evil.

Vishnu is shown to be a dark blue, or black coloured God and he is shown to be with four arms. He rests on Sesha – the thousand-headed Snake in the eternal Ocean and the place is called as Vaikunta.

He has the chakra – the discus (Sudarshana) in one hand and conch (Panchajanya shankha) in another hand. He sometimes carries a mace in his hand (Kaumodaki) and a lotus in another hand (Padma) as a symbol of purity. He is a preserver – the protector of the world when there is chaos, evil or destructive forces.

The concept of avatar (incarnation) is most often associated with Vishnu. Vishnu’s avatars descend to earth and empower the good and fight the evil and restore Righteousness.

These are some of the small stories of Vishnu from the various Puranas.