India: Vishnu as Vishvarupa, watercolour, Jaipur, c. 1850

Vishnu (Sanskrit विष्णु Viṣṇu) is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God.

Vishnu as the Cosmic Man (Vishvarupa) is portrayed here with four arms, each holding one of his attributes: a conch shell, a lotus flower, a mace and his circular wand, called Sudarshana chakra (meaning 'beautiful disc'). The small figures all over his body refer to his role as the Universal Man who encompasses all of creation: the Vishvarupa (literally 'all forms').

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

VAl McG (PD)

Credit:

Pictures From History