Vishṇu

Also known as: Krishṇa / Náráyaṇ / Upendra · Family: Gods · Role: god · First appears: Book I, Canto 14 · Rávan Doomed

In Book I, Canto 14, the Gods asked Náráyaṇ to take mortal form and defeat Rávaṇ, and he promised to destroy Rávaṇ and his kin before reigning as a human king. In Canto 15, Vishṇu divided his being into four to dwell on earth. In Canto 27, he slew Kávya’s mother when she sought Indra’s throne; in Canto 31, appearing as a dwarf, he gained three steps of land from Bali, measured the worlds and hurled Bali to the nether world.

In Book I, Canto 62, Vishṇu granted Śunahśepha long life after hearing his hymn. In Canto 75, he overcame Śiva’s bow, then made peace with him, and lent his bow to Richíka. Book IV, Canto 42, tells of Vishṇu slaying Panchajan and Hayagríva and taking the shell and discus. In Book VI, Canto 119, Brahmá revealed that Ráma was Vishṇu in human form: “Thou art the Lord Náráyaṇ, thou The God to whom all creatures bow.”