Lakshmi or Mahalaxmi (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune, love and beauty, the lotus flower and fertility. Representations of Lakshmi (or Shri) are found in Jain and Buddhist monuments, in addition to Hindu temples. Generally thought of as the personification of material fortune and prosperity, she is somewhat analogous to the Greco-Roman Aphrodite or Venus, as she also represents eroticism and is similarly thought to have originally "borne of the sea" in her most famous myth, as did those love goddesses.

She is the consort of Vishnu and married his incarnations Rama (in her incarnation as Sita), Krishna (as Rukmini) and Venkateshwara (as Alamelu). In addition to Rukmini, however, she was also thought to have incarnated as the milkmaid Radha, Krishna's youthful lover prior to his marriage to Rukmini. In Vaishnava traditions, She is believed to be the Mother Goddess and the Shakti of Narayan.

Vishnu (IAST viṣṇu, Devanagari विष्णु), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being (i.e., God ) or Ultimate Reality for Vaishnavas and a manifestation of Brahman in the Advaita or Smarta traditions of Hinduism.

The Vishnu Sahasranama^[1] describes Vishnu as the All-Pervading essence of all beings, the master of and beyond the past, present and future, the creator and destroyer of all existences, one who supports, sustains and governs the Universe and originates and develops all elements within.

In the Puranas, Vishnu is described as being the colour of clouds (dark-blue), four-armed, holding a lotus, mace, conch and chakra (wheel). Vishnu is also described in the Bhagavad Gita as having a 'Cosmic Form' which is beyond the ordinary limits of human sense perception ^[2].

It is also within the Puranas that the information regarding Vishnu's avatars is given. Nine of these avatars, or 'incarnations' are described as having occurred in the past, with one still to happen at the end of Kali Yuga. The Bhagavad Gita mentions their purpose as being to rejuvenate Dharma^[3] and vanquish negative forces.

In the Dvaita^[4] Vaishnava traditions, Vishnu is the Supreme Being. Within the Advaita traditions, Vishnu is viewed as one of many 'forms' of the ultimately formless Brahman; however, Smarta adherents worship Vishnu as one of the five principal forms. In virtually all the Sanatana Dharma traditions, Vishnu is worshipped, either directly or through avatars such as Rama, Krishna, Varaha and Narasimha.

In the Trimurti, Vishnu is responsible for the maintenance or 'preservation' of the universe, with the other roles of creation and destruction being under the care of Brahma and Shiva, respectively.

Vishnu is the center of the universe, the symbol of union, love, truth and light. He also represents the positive forces of matter - the roots of life. He penetrates everything; even our most intimate and innermost thoughts. He surrounds everything, infiltrates everything and spreads everywhere by dividing himself, yet remaining whole.

Vishnu has two faces ; his positive face manifests itself as Vishnu and his negative face is symbolized by Shiva, the destructive principal.

The wives or consorts of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are Saraswati, Laxmi, and Parvati, respectively.

The "Avatars" or "Incarnations" of Vishnu

An avatar is an incarnation of God on earth at an important time in history. He fights and destroys evil and enlightens the consciousness and wisdom of the world of that time. To do that he manifests himself in different forms; as a king, saint, prophet and even as an animal to guide the human race every continent.

The Varaha-Purana mentions 10 and the Bhagavata Purana 22, incarnations of Vishnu.

1. Kumara
2. Varaha
3. Narada
4. Nara
5. Kalpila
6. Dattatreya
7. Yajna
8. Rishasbha
9. Prithu
10. Matsya
11. Kurma
12. Dhanvatari
13. Mohini
14. Narsimha
15. Vamana
16. Parashurama
17. Vyasa
18. Rama
19. Balrama
20. Krishna
21. Buddha
22. Kalki a future incarnation, who will come to mark the end of the present "Kalyuga" or time cycle.