Lord Vishnu is one of the major gods in Hinduism and Indian mythology. He is considered to be the preserver of the universe while two other major Hindu gods Brahma and Shiva, are regarded respectively, as the creator and destroyer of the universe. Vishnu is said to be eternal, an all-pervading spirit, and associated with the primeval waters that are believed to have been omnipresent before the creation of the universe. He has four hands. The first holds a conch shell (sankha) indicating spread of the divine sound "Om", one holds a discus (chakra), a reminder of the wheel of time, and to lead a good life, one holds a lotus (Padma) which is an example of glorious existence and the fourth hands holds a mace (gada) indicating the power and the punishing capacity of the Lord if discipline in life is ignored.

His vehicle is the swift-flying bird Garuda that can spread the Vedic knowledge with great courage. The dark color of the Lord represents the passive and formless ether, a great quality for a pervading god. He rests on the bed of the powerful, coiled serpent, Seshanag who represents the sleeping universe. Lord Vishnu is also known as Hari, the remover. Lord Vishnu`s consort is Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth.

The Ten Incarnations of Vishnu were as follows:
Matsya: Before the creation of the Universe the Rig veda was drowned in the deep waters. It had to be taken out so that Brahma could start the work of creation. Thus Vishnu took the form of Matsya or a fish and dived into the deep waters to take out the Rigveda.

Kurma: Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise and took the newly created earth on his back in order to render stability as it was trembling very much. It is said that even to this day the earth is supported on the back of this tortoise.

Varaha: During the destruction of the world, once the earth sunk into the deep waters. Lord Vishnu, the great preserver, taking the form of a boar (Varaha), went into the waters and brought back the earth with the help of his tusks.

Narasingha: This special form was adopted by Lord Vishnu to kill a demoniac ruler Hiranyakashyap, who had pleased the Lord Brahma with his religious offerings. Lord Brahma had blessed him saying that no man or animal born in the earth would be able to kill Hiranyakashyap. So Vishnu took such a form that was of half man and half lion so that such a tyrant could be killed.

Vaman: Once King Bali was making a great religious offering. Lord Vishnu reached there in the form of a dwarf and asked the king to promise that he would give the amount of land that the small man would cover by three steps. This avatar of Vishnu is Vaman avatar. Bali laughingly agreed. With the first step Vaman covered the whole Heaven and with then second stride he covered the whole earth but due the king`s good nature and deeds he sent him to Patal lok that is beneath the earth.

Parasuram: He was a Brahmin who manifested himself at the close of the satya-yug. This appearance was for the purpose of defeating the tyranny of the powerful kshatriyas.

Lord Rama: He is one of the most commonly adored gods of Hindus and is known as an ideal man and hero of the epic Ramayana.

Balaram: He was the older brother of Shri Krishna. He was so powerful that he, single handedly, at a very tender age, killed the great demon, Asuradhenuka, who had the form of an ass. Another demon tried to carry off Balaram on his shoulders, but the young boy beat out the demon`s brain with his fist.

Lord Krishna: He is one of the most commonly worshipped deities in the Hindu faith. He is considered to be the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Shri Krishna delivered Bhagavad Gita on battlefield to Arjun (one of the Pandavas).