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ENहिं
Vishnu
DeityVaishnavism

Vishnu: Weapons & Symbols

विष्णु

The preserver and protector of the universe. Also called Narayana, Hari, Keshava, Madhava, Govinda, Achyuta, Janardana, Padmanabha.

Om Jai Jagdish Hare

Vishnu is the preserver of the universe and, with Brahma and Shiva, one of the Trimurti. He rests on the serpent Shesha with Lakshmi beside him, rides Garuda, and descends as avatars such as Rama and Krishna whenever dharma declines. Vaishnavas worship him as the Supreme Being.

Updated 23 Oct 20268 sources

RoleThe preserver and protector of the universe
ConsortLakshmi
MountGaruda
SerpentShesha
WeaponsSudarshana Chakra, Kaumodaki, Sharanga, Nandaka
ObjectsPanchajanya, Padma (Lotus), Kaustubha

Iconography and symbolism

Vishnu is shown dark blue, four-armed and crowned, in yellow silk, wearing the Kaustubha gem, the Srivatsa mark and the Vaijayanti garland. His four emblems are the discus Sudarshana, the conch Panchajanya, the mace Kaumodaki and the lotus Padma; the bow Sharanga and the sword Nandaka complete his five weapons. The Vishnu Purana (1.22) reads them as the powers of the cosmos: the discus is the mind, the mace the intellect, the conch and bow the two forms of the sense of self, the sword knowledge, and the gem the soul.

Sudarshana Chakraसुदर्शन चक्रWeaponThe Sudarshana Chakra is the spinning discus of Vishnu, held in his upper right hand. It cuts down those who threaten dharma and returns to his…KaumodakiकौमोदकीWeaponKaumodaki is the mace (gada) of Vishnu, held in one of his four hands with the discus, conch and lotus. The Mahabharata says the sea god…Sharangaशार्ङ्गWeaponSharanga is the celestial bow of Vishnu. The Ramayana says the divine craftsman Vishwakarma made two great bows, Pinaka for Shiva and Sharanga for Vishnu, and…Nandakaनन्दकWeaponNandaka is the sword of Vishnu. The Vishnu Purana explains it as vidya, true knowledge, sheathed in the scabbard of ignorance. Vishnu is called Nandaki in…Panchajanyaपाञ्चजन्यObjectPanchajanya is the sacred conch (shankha) of Vishnu, carried in his upper left hand. In the Bhagavata Purana Krishna wins it from the demon Panchajana, and…Padma (Lotus)पद्म (कमल)ObjectPadma, the lotus, is one of the four emblems of Vishnu, usually held in a lower hand. It stands for purity, beauty and the unfolding of…Kaustubhaकौस्तुभ मणिObjectThe Kaustubha is the brilliant gem that Vishnu wears on his chest. It rose from the ocean of milk during the Samudra Manthan, together with Lakshmi,…SheshaशेषSerpentShesha, also called Adishesha and Ananta, is the thousand-hooded king of serpents on whose coils Vishnu rests in the ocean of milk. He holds the earth…Garudaगरुड़MountGaruda is the king of birds and the mount of Vishnu, with the beak and wings of an eagle. Son of the sage Kashyapa and Vinata,…
श्रीवत्सSrivatsaMarkThe curl-shaped mark on Vishnu's chest, the seat of Lakshmi; the Vishnu Purana reads it as primal matter.
वैजयन्तीVaijayantiGarlandThe long garland of five kinds of forest flowers, read as the five elements.
शालिग्रामShaligramSacred stoneThe black ammonite stone from the Gandaki river, worshipped as Vishnu himself.

Meanings are given as tradition holds them, not as scripture.

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ConsortLakshmiलक्ष्मीMountGarudaगरुड़SerpentSheshaशेषAvatars & formsKrishnaकृष्णStories & mythsSamudra Manthanसमुद्र मंथनAartis & mantrasOm Jai Jagdish Hareॐ जय जगदीश हरेFestivalsDiwaliदीपावलीWeaponsSudarshana Chakraसुदर्शन चक्रAppears inBhagavata Puranaभागवत पुराणPlaces & templesTirupatiतिरुपतिObjectsPanchajanyaपाञ्चजन्यAbodeVaikunthaवैकुंठ