Short Introduction to Vaisnavism

Vaishnavas worship Vishnu in his various forms and are one of the three major groups of Hinduism the others being Shaivas and Shaktas. In the trinity of Vishnu Shiva and Brahma Vishnu is the sattva quality of a centripetal tendency towards light and truth which holds the universe together by pervading all existence. Vishnu comes from a root meaning to pervade and he is know as the Pervader. Thus Vishnu dwells in everything and defeats the power of destruction. As the highest deity to the Vaishnavas Vishnu is expressed symbolically in his mythological form as Anantasayin reclining on the serpent of eternity called Anata or Sesha. He is floating on the cosmic waters from which reality is manifested. A lotus grows from his navel symbolising his creative potential and on the lotus sits Brahma ready to bring about creation at Vishnu's command. After his active phase Vishnu returns to his snake bed and is united with Yoganidra the goddess of sleep and the process of creation starts again. A concise manual for the preparation to entering the ever blissful path of Visnu the most universally worshipped Hindu deity. 158 pp.…