Vishnu-The Lord of the Universe-Chapter#5

Lord Vishnu resting on Adhi-Sesha and His consort Goddess Lakshmi attending to him.

Adhi Sesha

Sesha is generally depicted with a massive form that floats coiled in space, or on the universal ocean, to form the bed on which Vishnu lies. Sometimes he is shown as five-headed or seven-headed, but more commonly as a many hundred-headed serpent. He is closely associated with Vishnu. Balarama and Lakshmana are considered avataras of Sesha. Sesha represents time. Sesha covers Vishnu’s head depicting that Lord Vishnu has won time. Each head of the giant snake represents innumerable desires, pleasures and maya(illusions). Vishnu rests on this serpernt majestically to signify that He has won all desires and He is beyond human perception.


Garuda-The giant eagle and mount of Vishnu.


Garuda in Hindu mythology is the mount (vahanam) of Vishnu. Garuda is depicted as having a golden body, white face, red wings, and an eagle's beak and wings but a man's body. Garuda is the half brother of Arunan, Lord Surya’s charioteer.
Source: Write-up on Garuda is a wikipedia modified article.

Lord Hanumaan

Hanuman is a vanara who lived during the Treta Yuga. Hanumaan is believed to be an avtar of Lord Shiva. He was a very close friend of Lord Ram. Also known as 'Anjaneya' (son of Anjana), He is one of the most important personalities in the Indian epic, the Ramayana. Hanumaan and Vinayakar are the only two deities who aren’t controlled by the ill-effects of Shani. Anjana was worshipping Lord Shiva, elsewhere, Dasaratha, the king of Ayodhya, was performing the Putrakama Yagna in order to have children. As a result, he received some sacred pudding, to be shared by his three wives, leading to the births of Lord Rama(Vishnu avtar), Lakshmana(Adhi-Sesha Avtar), Bharata(Vishnu’s conch or sangu) and Shatrughna(Vishnu’s chakra). By divine ordinance, a fragment of the pudding flew in the air. Vayu, the Hindu deity of the wind, delivered the falling pudding to the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it. Hanuman was born to her as a result. Hence Vayu is considered to be foster father of Hanumaan. When Lakshmana is severely wounded by Indrajit during the war against Ravana, Hanuman is sent to fetch the Sanjivani, a powerful life-restoring herb from the Dronagiri mountain in the Himalayas to revive him. When he is unable to find the specific herb before nightfall, Hanuman again displays his might by lifting the entire Dronagiri mountain and brings it to the battlefield in Lanka, thus helping others find the herb to revive Lakshmana. An emotional Rama hugs Hanuman, declaring him as dear to him as his own beloved brother Lakshmana.

Shortly after he is crowned Emperor upon his return to Ayodhya, Rama decides to ceremoniously reward all his well-wishers. At a grand ceremony in his court, all his friends and allies take turns being honored at the throne. Seeing Hanuman come up to him, an emotionally overwhelmed Rama embraces him warmly, declaring that he could never adequately honour or repay Hanuman for the help and services. Sita, however, insists that Hanuman deserved honour more than anyone else and asks him to seek a gift. Upon Hanuman's request, Sita gives him a necklace of precious stones adorning her neck. When he receives it, Hanuman immediately tores it apart and peers into each stone. Taken aback, many of those present didn't know why he was destroying the precious gift. Hanuman answers that he was looking into the stones to make sure that Rama and Sita are in them, because if they were not present, the necklace is of no value to him. At this, a few mock Hanuman, saying his reverence and love for Rama and Sita could not possibly be as deep as he was portraying. In response, Hanuman tears his chest open and everyone is stunned to see Rama and Sita literally in his heart.

Dwara Balakas-Security guards of Vaikuntam

Jayan and Vijayan are the Dwarabalakas of Vaikuntam. They are Vishnu’s security guards. Once a group of sages visited Vaikuntam to meet Lord Vishnu. At the entrance the sages are blocked by Jayan and Vijayan. Angered by this act, the sages curse Jayan and Vijayan. Due to the curse they lose their honour and they are made to take birth in earth. They are given two options. They must take seven births as friends of Almighty or three births as enemies of God. Jayan and Vijayan were devoted to Vishnu and wanted to return back to Vaikuntam as soon as possible. So they agree to take birth as enemies of God so that they can return soon. They take birth as Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu and they are slain by Varaha and Narasimha avtars of Lord Vishnu. Then in Treta Yuga, they take birth as Ravanan and Kumbakarnan and Vishnu descends as Lord Ram to kill them. In the Dwarpa Yuga, they take birth as evil king’s Kamsa and Sisupala and Lord Krishna who is none other than Vishnu himself kills them to restore Dharma.