Vishnu

The Hindu god Vishnu is one of the most important gods in the divine hierarchy, alongside the gods Brahma, the creator, and Shiva, the destroyer. Vishnu sustains creation; he guards the balance between good and evil. In case of trouble, he descends to earth, in a form suitable to restore order. Thus Vishnu once came down as a wild boar, when a water demon had submerged the earth in the ocean. The huge animal turned the earth with its snout up. Another avatar of Vishnu is Krishna who grew up among the herders of Vrindavan. He is usually mounted on Garuda, a mythical creature, part human and part eagle. Vishnu is usually represented with four arms, with which he holds his attributes.