Brass Lord Vishnu Standing Statue On Lotus

Vishnu is one of the principal Hindu deities, worshiped as the protector and preserver of the world and restorer of dharma (moral order). He is known chiefly through his avatars (incarnations), particularly Rama, Krishna, and Buddha. In theory, Vishnu manifests a portion of himself anytime he is needed to fight evil, and his appearances are innumerable; but in practice, ten incarnations are most commonly recognized. Vishnu appears to be a prime example of how older gods and cults have been absorbed into Hinduism. Thought to be linked with an earlier sun god, Vishnu's ten incarnations may also be examples of older gods that have been amalgamated. Vaishnavism, one of the largest Hindu groups, are the devotees of Vishnu as Ishwar, the Supreme Being, worshiped in the forms of his manifestations or incarnations. Because of his pervasive presence, images as the focus of worship are of great importance, as are temple architecture and carving. Lord Vishnu, as Guruvayurappan, is standing completely straight with a conch and discus in his hands. The conch represents "Om," the first sound of creation and the beginning of matter since sound and matter are considered synonymous. The discus is thought to represent the sun. The discus is at a perpendicular angle to the God Vishnu statue, which makes for a unique view of it. He holds a large club with his left hand and a lotus flower in his right.