Known as The Preserver, he is the second of the Trimurti Creator Triad along with Brahma and Shiva. He rules the Universe on a day-to-day basis and ensures creation is balanced and stable except when it isn’t.

A very active deity, he guest-stars in many legends and tales. As necessity demands, he switches shape with his ten Avatar modes:

1. A fish called Matsya
2. A tortoise called Kurma
3. A boar called Varâha
4. A man-lion called Narasimha
5. A dwarf called Vamana
6. A bruiser with a battle-axe called Parashurama
7. A prince called Rama
8. A God called Krishna
9. A Buddha called Buddha.
10. Kalki The rider on the white horse at the end of the world. Or he might be just the horse. He hasn’t used this one yet.

So he can be a bit of a boar and is also known to turn turtle. In fact he’s always on the turn, changing shape and form every time he pops down to see us. He’s also the husband of Lakshmi and father of Kama. It makes your head spin. Where is he going to pop up next and how will we know?

But he is a damn good demon destroyer so we should not mock. The last thing we need is an infestation of demons.

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Article last revised on September 19, 2018 by Rowan Allen.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders

References: Coming soon.

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