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Vishnu ji

Shri Hari · Narayan · Jagdish · Achyut

  • Day: Thursday; also both Ekadashis of every…
  • 8 Mantras
  • 8 Tirth
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Vishnu ji

About

Lord Vishnu is the protector of the world. With Brahma ji and Shiv ji he forms the Trimurti, and his task is to keep creation going. He rests on the great serpent Shesha in the ocean of milk, with Maa Lakshmi always by his side. Whenever dharma is in danger on earth, he is born in a new form, called an avatar; Shri Ram and Shri Krishna are the best loved of these. Families worship him on Thursdays and keep the Ekadashi fast for him. Badrinath, Tirupati, Jagannath Puri and Srirangam are among his most famous temples.

The story

The eighth book of the Shrimad Bhagavatam tells the story of Gajendra. In the forests of Mount Trikut, in the middle of the ocean of milk, lived Gajendra, the king of the elephants, with his herd. One hot day he went down to a lovely lake full of lotuses to drink. He drank the cool water and played with his family, spraying water with his trunk.

Suddenly a strong crocodile caught his leg. Gajendra pulled with all his might, and his herd rushed to help, but the crocodile would not let go. The story says the struggle went on for a thousand years. Slowly Gajendra lost his strength, and with it his pride. Then he remembered the Lord. Fixing his mind on him, he called out to the shelter of all beings and began to pray.

Hearing the call, Lord Vishnu came at once, riding on Garuda, with the Sudarshan chakra in his hand. Seeing him, Gajendra lifted a lotus with his trunk with great effort and said, 'O Narayan, I bow to you.' The Lord came down from Garuda, pulled both the elephant and the crocodile out of the water, and freed Gajendra with his chakra. The crocodile, too, was released from an old curse. Gajendra's prayer is still recited as the Gajendra Stuti. Devotees take this story as a reminder that even when all our own strength is gone, a prayer from the heart reaches the Lord.

How they are shown

Vishnu ji has dark blue skin and a calm face. He has four arms. The Panchajanya shankh stands for the endless cycle of life, the Sudarshan chakra for his power to protect dharma, the Kaumodaki gada for the strength of knowledge, and the lotus for purity. He wears a crown, a yellow pitambar, the Kaustubh jewel on his chest and the Vaijayanti garland of forest flowers. Garuda is his vahan, and the serpent Shesha is his bed.

How to worship

Day

Thursday; also both Ekadashis of every month

Offerings

Yellow sweets, bananas, panchamrit and kheer; a tulsi leaf is always placed on the offering

How

On Thursday, bathe, put on clean (if you like, yellow) clothes and light a ghee diya before Vishnu ji's picture. Offer yellow flowers, sandal paste and a tulsi leaf. Chant 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya' 108 times on a mala, or read the Vishnu Sahasranam if you have time. Many families also worship the banana tree on Thursday. End with the aarti 'Om Jai Jagdish Hare' and share the prasad. On Ekadashi, many devotees fast and spend the day in bhajan; follow your family's custom.

Their festivals

Aarti, chalisa and katha

Temples and tirth

Stories for children

Sources