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Vishnu preserves and protects the universe. Hindus believe that Vishnu has descended to Earth numerous times in the past in different avatars for the good of mankind. ‘Avatar’ literally means ‘one who descends’. These avatars are said to have possessed great wisdom and superhuman powers. Some of the avatars include:
- Matsya, the fish
- Kurma, the tortoise
- Varaha, the boar
- Narasimha, the man-lion
- Vamana, the dwarf
- Parashu Rama, the axe-user
- Lord Rama, the king
- Lord Krishna, the cowherd
- Buddha, the teacher (and the founder of the Buddhist religion).
Vishnu is usually represented in human form with blue skin. Lakshmi is the consort of Vishnu.
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