Did Lord Vishnu do anything before he rested on Adi Sesha?

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu is considered the preserver of the universe and is one of the principal deities of the Hindu pantheon.

As per the Hindu scriptures, Lord Vishnu is said to have taken many avatars or incarnations to protect the world and its inhabitants. Some of his most famous avatars include Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, and Lord Narasimha.

Before Lord Vishnu rested on Adi Sesha, it is believed that he created the universe and all its beings, including the gods and demons. In Hindu mythology, this act of creation is attributed to Lord Brahma, who is considered to be the creator of the universe. However, Lord Vishnu is said to have instructed and guided Lord Brahma in this process.

Additionally, Lord Vishnu is also believed to have engaged in various acts of protection and preservation before resting on Adi Sesha. For example, he is said to have defeated many powerful demons and saved the world from destruction. One such instance is the story of the churning of the ocean of milk, where Lord Vishnu helped the gods obtain the elixir of immortality and prevented the demons from gaining it.

Overall, before resting on Adi Sesha, Lord Vishnu is believed to have engaged in various acts of creation, protection, and preservation in Hindu mythology.

Did Lord Brahma worship Lord Vishnu? Did he know about him before he created the universe?

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma is believed to be the creator of the universe, while Lord Vishnu is the preserver. It is said that Lord Brahma did not worship Lord Vishnu as he is considered to be a part of the Hindu Trinity that also includes Lord Shiva.

However, there are various stories in Hindu mythology that depict Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu working together. For example, there is a story of Lord Brahma creating the world and Lord Vishnu preserving it by taking various avatars like Lord Rama and Lord Krishna. In another story, Lord Vishnu takes the form of a boar (Varaha) and saves the earth from being destroyed, after which Lord Brahma is said to have praised him.

It is also believed that Lord Brahma knew about Lord Vishnu before he created the universe, as Lord Vishnu is considered to be the Supreme Being and the source of all creation. In fact, Lord Brahma is said to have been born from a lotus flower that grew from Lord Vishnu's navel, which further emphasizes the close relationship between the two deities.

What is the meaning of "Anant" or "Deva" in relation to Lord Vishnu?

"Anant" and "Deva" are two different names or epithets used for Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology.

1. Anant: Anant is a Sanskrit word that means "infinite" or "eternal". Lord Vishnu is often referred to as Anant because he is believed to be the infinite and eternal cosmic force that permeates the universe. Anant also refers to Lord Vishnu's serpent-like form, which is said to be endless and unbounded.

2. Deva: Deva is another Sanskrit word that means "god" or "deity". Lord Vishnu is one of the three major gods in the Hindu pantheon, alongside Brahma and Shiva. He is considered to be the preserver of the universe and is associated with qualities like compassion, love, and harmony. As such, he is often referred to as Deva or "God" in Hindu scriptures and hymns.

What is the story of Lord Vishnu protecting his enemy like Hanuman does for Lanka’s Ravan?

The story you are referring to is that of Lord Vishnu protecting King Mahabali, who was actually his enemy, during a festival called Onam.

According to Hindu mythology, King Mahabali was a righteous and powerful ruler of the ancient kingdom of Kerala. He was so beloved by his people that they considered him to be like a god. However, he was also ambitious and sought to conquer the three worlds - heaven, earth, and the underworld - and become the ruler of the universe. This ambition threatened the gods, including Lord Vishnu, who saw him as a potential threat.

In order to curb King Mahabali's power, Lord Vishnu decided to take on a different form - that of a dwarf named Vamana. Vamana approached King Mahabali during a grand sacrifice that he was performing and asked for a small amount of land, enough to cover his three steps. King Mahabali, who was known for his generosity, granted the request.

However, as soon as King Mahabali granted the wish, Vamana grew in size and covered the earth and the skies in his first two steps. For his third step, he asked King Mahabali where he should place it. The king realized that Vamana was actually Lord Vishnu in disguise, and offered his own head as the third step. Vamana placed his foot on the king's head and sent him to the underworld.

However, Lord Vishnu was so impressed with King Mahabali's devotion and generosity that he granted him a boon - the king could return to earth once a year to be with his people and celebrate Onam. Lord Vishnu also promised to protect King Mahabali and his kingdom from any harm during the festival. This is why Onam is celebrated as a time of joy and celebration in Kerala, and why Lord Vishnu is seen as a protector of his former enemy

What is the order of Lord Vishnu's incarnations from least to greatest power level?

It's not appropriate to rank Lord Vishnu's incarnations in terms of power levels as all incarnations are considered divine and powerful. However, in Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu has ten primary incarnations known as the Dashavatara. These ten incarnations are believed to represent various stages of evolution and are as follows, in no particular order:

Matsya (the fish)

Kurma (the turtle)

Varaha (the boar)

Narasimha (the half-man, half-lion)

Vamana (the dwarf)

Parashurama (the warrior with an axe)

Rama (the king of Ayodhya)

Krishna (the cowherd and prince of Mathura)

Buddha (the enlightened one)

Kalki (the warrior on a white horse)

Each of these incarnations has a specific purpose and significance in Hindu mythology, and they are all revered equally. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to rank them in terms of power or importance.

Who is Shukracharya and why did he worship Lord Vishnu?

Shukracharya is a prominent figure in Hindu mythology and is considered to be one of the greatest sages in Hinduism. He was the son of Rishi Bhrigu, one of the seven great sages (Saptarishi) and was the guru of the Asuras or the demon race.

According to Hindu mythology, after the Asuras were defeated by the Devas (gods), Shukracharya performed severe penance to please Lord Vishnu and attain immortality. Lord Vishnu was pleased with his devotion and granted him the Sanjivani mantra, which has the power to revive the dead. Shukracharya then used this mantra to revive the dead Asuras and became their guru.

Shukracharya is also credited with inventing the Mritasanjivani Vidya, a branch of Ayurveda that deals with the healing of the dead. He is revered as a great scholar, teacher, and an expert in the field of astrology and medicine. He is also known for his role in negotiating a truce between the Devas and Asuras during the Samudra Manthan or the Churning of the Ocean

How many forms of lord Vishnu?

Lord Vishnu is considered to have ten primary forms or avatars, known as the Dashavatara. These are:

Matsya (the fish)

Kurma (the tortoise)

Varaha (the boar)

Narasimha (the half-man, half-lion)

Vamana (the dwarf)

Parashurama (the warrior with an axe)

Rama (the prince and king of Ayodhya)

Krishna (the cowherd and prince of Mathura)

Buddha (the enlightened one, according to some traditions)

Kalki (the future avatar, who is yet to appear)

Apart from these ten forms, there are many other forms and manifestations of Lord Vishnu that are revered in Hinduism, such as Hayagriva, Narayana, and Mohini, among others.