A god.

One of the central gods in the Hindu pantheon today. He had not yet risen to an important status during the Buddha’s lifetime and only developed his own significant following in the early years of the common era. Vaishnavism developed the theory of ten emanations, or avatars, the ninth being the Buddha. His emanation as a dwarf plays an important role in this sūtra. The Sanskrit etymology of the name is uncertain, but it was already in use in the Vedas, where he is a minor deity, and has been glossed as “One Who Enters (Everywhere).”

One of the primary gods of the Brahmanical tradition, he is associated with the preservation and continuance of the universe.

One of the central gods in the Hindu pantheon today. He had not yet risen to an important status during the Buddha’s lifetime and only developed his own significant following in the early years of the common era. Vaishnavism developed the theory of ten emanations, or avatars, the ninth being the Buddha. His emanation as a dwarf plays an important role in this sūtra. The Sanskrit etymology of the name is uncertain, but it was already in use in the Vedas, where he is a minor deity, and has been glossed as “one who enters (everywhere).”

The preserver of the universe. He is part of the Hindu triad of gods, with Brahmā the creator and Śiva the destroyer.

One of the eight great gods in the Indian pantheon.

One of the principal deities in the Hindu pantheon.

One of the primary gods of Hinduism, associated with the preservation and continuance of the universe, held by many as a supreme being.

A Hindu deity.

One of the principal three Hindu gods.

The god Viṣṇu; also the names of various kings.

One of the primary gods of the Brahmanical tradition, he is associated with the preservation and continuance of the universe.

One of the primary gods of the Brahmanical tradition, he is associated with the preservation and continuance of the universe.

(Toh 555: khyab ’jug)

One of the primary gods of the Brahmanical tradition, he is associated with the preservation and continuance of the universe.

(Toh 555: khyab ’jug)

One of the eight great gods in the Indian pantheon.

One of the eight great gods in the Indian pantheon.

One of the principal deities in the Brahmanical pantheon.

The god of creation.

One of the Hindu gods.

One of the primary gods of the Brahmanical tradition, he is associated with the preservation and continuance of the universe.

In the schema of the eight guardians of the directions, Viṣṇu guards the nadir.

One of the central deities of Hinduism. In the Mahābhārata, Kṛṣṇa, who is considered a form of Viṣṇu, takes the role of Arjuna’s charioteer and delivers the sermon known as the Bhagavad Gītā.