In the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, Vishnu is the protector of the cosmos who preserves lie, making sure that all creatures enjoy a meaningful existence.
Respected by gods, feared by demons and adored by humans, Vishnu sits in the highest heaven Vaikuntha, instituting and maintaining the sacred, moral and ethical order of dharma to ensure harmony in the three worlds.
Whenever these laws are broken, whenever chaos and evil threaten the universe, Vishnu takes the form of man or beast to fight the forces of disorder and to reestablish dharma. Through these incarnations, or avatars, he maintains the integrity of the cosmic fabric.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Devdutt Pattanaik
Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik (b. 1970), MBBS, graduated in medicine from Grant Medical College, Mumbai, and went on to specialize in the field of medical writing and health communication. With a passion for mythology, he topped the Mumbai University course in comparative mythology (PGDCM) and has published three books as part of the introduction series : Shiva : An Introduction; Vishnu : An Introduction; and Devi : An Introduction. His articles have been published in Parabola, journal of myth, tradition and the search for meaning; the Times of India ‘Speaking Tree’; and in guest columns of the New Indian Express. His unorthodox approach has been widely appreciated. As part of Sabrang, a cultural organization that demystifies the arts, Dr. Pattanaik has lectured extensively on the relevance of mythology to modern man. Dr. Pattanaik lives in India.
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