An image of a reclining Lord Vishnu with the alvar poets arrayed below him.
The Nadar Press Ltd., Sivakasi, ca. 1920s. From the personal print collection of Archana Venkatesan and Layne Little
In Hindu devotional poetry, love directed toward Vishnu can take many forms, including service, maternal adoration and the intense intimacy of lovers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center left, performs rituals during the opening of the temple dedicated to Lord Ram in Ayodhya, India, on Jan. 22, 2024.
Press Information Bureau via AP
A scholar of Hinduism explains the importance of the consecration ritual, which is believed to bring the presence of the divine into the temple.
A child dressed up as Lord Krishna poses for a photo during the Krishna Janmashtami festival in Kolkata, India.
Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated as the birthday of the Hindu god Krishna. Many Hindus reenact episodes from mythology on Krishna’s life, known as ‘Krishna Lilas,’ and perform folk dances.
A Shaligram on top of a bed of small rocks.
Holly Walters
Many Hindus, Buddhists and people who follow the shamanic religion of Bon undertake a pilgrimage each year to northern Nepal to look for Shaligrams, believed to be a manifestation of Lord Vishnu.
The worship of the goddess Lakshmi on Diwali is said to bring prosperity.
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