Jagannatha of Puri in Orissa is a Vaisnava deity which draws huge crowds; especially during the annual car festival. The image appears rather grotesque and is shaped out of a log and has prominent eyes. Once in twelve years the log-image is renewed, the log being brought every time mysteriously. The insertion of some ancient relic into the new image sanctifies it. It represents SrI Krsna with similar images representing Balarama and Subhadra (Krsna’s sister).
Panduranga Vitthala commonly known as Vighala or Vithoba is the deity of the famous Visnu temple at Pandharpur in Maharashtra. In fact, the word ‘Vigha’ is a corrupted form of the word Visnu. Rakumabai (Rukmini) is his consort standing by his left side.
This is the form of the Lord Visnu revealed to a Brahmana, Pundali by name because of his intense devotion to his parents.
Ranganatha, along with Varadaraja of KancIpuram and Venkatesa of Tirupati, is the most popular aspect of Visnu worshipped in South India. The well-known temple at SrIrangam in Tamilnadu is the very heart of the Srivaisnava cult. This temple-at least the original icon is said to have been born out of the ocean and given by SrI Rama to Vibhisana. While carrying it from Ayodhya to Lanka, Vibhisana placed it on the ground at the present site, in order to rest a while. Unfortunately for him (and fortunately for others!) it got firmly fixed there!
The image is of the Yogasayana type (lying on the serpent-bed in Yoga) with only two hands, the right hand apparently supporting the head. While the left rests on the serpent-bed.
The lotus with Brahma, the Ayudhapurusas (the weapons in human form), the demons Madhu and Kaitabha who were killed by him, as also some sages like Bhrgu and Markandeya are often depicted along with the Lord.
Similar Yogasayana images are found in Srirangapatna of Kamataka and Tiruvanantapuram of Kerala where it is known as Padmanabha or Anantasayana.
Varadaraja, the king among the bestowers of boons, is another aspect of Lord Visnu which is very popular. Also known as Karivarada, it represents that aspect of the Lord responsible for saving Gajendra, the elephant king, from the death-clutches of the crocodile.
He is shown as riding on his vehicle Garuda and in the act of discharging the discus. The elephant Gajendra with its foot caught by the powerful teeth of the crocodile is also shown. Sometimes a human figure with its hands in obeisance is also shown near the crocodile, to represent the Gandharva (a demigod) who had been delivered from his curse which had resulted in his birth as a crocodile.
The temple of SrI Varadaraja at Kanclpuram in South India is one of the most important and famous Visnu temples.
Venkatesa, also known as Venkatesvara Snnivasa or Balaji of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh is perhaps the most popular of all the Hindu deities in our country and the temple on the Tirupati hills gets fabulous income. The word Vengadam of Tamil origin signifies a hill. So VenkateSa is the Lord of the hill. The story goes that Lord Visnu as Varaha (the boar) decided to continue his stay on the earth and that Garuda brought down the hill of Vaikuntha to earth for the Lord’s residence. Lord Srinivasa or Venkatesa, another aspect of Visnu, also manifested himself there at that time to reside on the earth for the good of mankind.
The image is said to be an Udbhavamurti (spontaneously manifested) and does not conform to known Agama traditions. As regards the exact nature and form of the image, doubts exist, some opining that it represents Harihara, and others considering it as Subrahmanya or even DevL
Visvaksena or ‘the all-conquering’ is an aspect of Visnu, which occupies the same place in Vaisnava tradition as Ganesa in the Saiva tradition. He is worshipped at the beginning of any undertaking, to avoid obstacles. He is shown with four hands, wearing Sankha, Cakra and Gada in three hands and the fourth exhibiting the Tarjanimudra (threatening finger pose). The right leg is usually hanging down from the pedestal.
Visvaksena is also depicted sometimes as the gatekeeper or chief attendant of Lord Visnu. He is shown standing on a white lotus and with long matted hair as also a beard. He represents the worldly sciences.
In addition to the Dashavatara, which represents ten specific incarnations of Vishnu, there are other aspects, forms, and attributes of Lord Vishnu that hold significance in Hindu mythology and worship. Here are some of these aspects:
- Lord Venkateswara: Lord Venkateswara, also known as Balaji or Srinivasa, is a widely worshiped form of Lord Vishnu, particularly in South India. He is often depicted with a dark complexion and is associated with prosperity and blessings. The Tirupati Balaji Temple in Andhra Pradesh is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites dedicated to Lord Venkateswara.
- Lord Jagannath: Lord Jagannath is a form of Lord Vishnu worshiped in the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha. He is part of the divine triad in the temple, along with his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. Lord Jagannath is depicted with large round eyes and is believed to be the Lord of the Universe.
- Ranganatha: Lord Ranganatha is a form of Vishnu found in the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu. He is depicted reclining on the serpent Adisesha, the king of all snakes. This form of Vishnu represents his cosmic role as the sustainer and preserver of the universe.
- Padmanabha: Lord Padmanabha, known for his thousand-headed serpent Ananta Shesha, is a form of Vishnu worshiped in the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. His image is iconic, with Lord Vishnu’s right hand extending from within the shrine door, symbolizing the divine presence.
- Hayagriva: Lord Hayagriva is a form of Vishnu with the head of a horse. He is associated with knowledge, wisdom, and learning. Devotees seek his blessings for academic excellence and intellectual pursuits.
- Ananta: Ananta Shesha is the cosmic serpent on which Lord Vishnu reclines in his form as Ranganatha or Padmanabha. Ananta Shesha symbolizes eternity and infinity and represents the cosmic balance and preservation of the universe.
- Dhanvantari: Lord Dhanvantari is an avatar of Vishnu associated with medicine and healing. He is often depicted holding a pot of Amrita, the nectar of immortality, and is revered as the patron of Ayurveda, the traditional system of Indian medicine.
- Narayana: Narayana is a form of Vishnu that represents the ultimate reality and the Supreme Being. He is often depicted in a meditative posture, reflecting his transcendental nature and the source of all existence.
- Lakshmi-Narayana: This represents the divine couple, Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, together. It symbolizes the harmonious union of the preserver and the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
These various aspects and forms of Vishnu reflect his multifaceted nature, and devotees may choose to worship Lord Vishnu in the aspect that resonates most with their personal beliefs and needs. Lord Vishnu is celebrated for his role in maintaining cosmic order and for his attributes of preservation, protection, and divine grace.