Vishnu

The Trimurti or Hindu triad of gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Brahma has four heads, carries the sacred Vedas, and holds beads and other objects used in worship. Vishnu holds a discus and a club to destroy evil, and a lotus to bless his followers. Shiva carries a trident, representing his three aspects as creator, preserver, and destroyer, and holds a snake, depicting his power over deadly animals.

In Hinduism, the second in the triad of gods (with Brahma and Shiva) representing three aspects of Brahman, the supreme spirit. Vishnu is the Preserver, and is believed to have assumed human appearance in nine avatars, or incarnations, in such forms as Rama and Krishna. His worshippers are the Vaishnavas.

Vishnu is sometimes depicted reclining on the thousand-headed serpent Ananta. In his four hands, he holds a conch, a discus, a club, and a lotus. The discus and club are to destroy evil, the conch and lotus are for blessing his followers. He is usually shown with blue skin. Vishnu's consort is Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune.

In the Hindu creation myth, Brahma is born from the unfolding lotus flower that grows out of Vishnu's navel; after Brahma creates the world, Vishnu wakes and governs it for the duration of the cosmic cycle, or kalpa, the ‘day of Brahma’, which lasts for 4,200 million earthly years. Vishnu has returned to earth in various living forms as an avatar (‘one who descends’ from the heavens), each time undertaking vital tasks to protect people and turn them towards god.