Vaishnav ( वैष्णव )

Another major sect of sanatan is 'Vaishnav'. It is a practice in which lord 'Vishnu' is worshipped by the followers and regarded as the supreme i.e. above all. In the sect, following the teachings of lord Vishnu and adapting the path of Dharma (i.e. righteous actions) is to be done.

Lord Vishnu

Lord Vishnu is one of the Trimurti, and he is oftenly regarded as the protector of the world. He has been recoginized as the protector of 'Dharma' (i.e justice), the destroyer of 'Adharma' (i.e injustice), and the guide to take the righteous path in life.
As per the ancient texts of 'Sanatan', the abode of lord Vishnu is 'Kshirsagar'.

How does Vishnu look like?

Lord Vishnu is holds a 'Lotus' in his lower left hand, a mace named 'Kaumodaki' in his lower right hand, a conch named 'Panchajanya' in his upper left hand, and a discus named 'Sudarshan' in his upper right hand.

Widely known names of Vishnu:

Hari, Narayana, Parabrahma, Paramatma, Prabhu, Purushottama, Vidhata and many more.

Incarnations of lord Vishnu:

Even though lord vishnu have many incarnations, out of all most recoginised are the Dashavtara:

1. Matsya
2. Kurma
3. Varaha
4. Narasimha
5. Vamana
6. Parshurama
7. Rama
8. Krishna
9. Buddha
10. Kalki

(click on the above names to know more about these avataras)

Why do Lord Vishnu take birth again and again?

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत ।
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ॥४-७॥
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् ।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ॥४-८॥

Yada yada hi dharmasya glanirbhavati bharata;
Abhythanamadharmasya tadatmanam srijamyaham.
Paritranaya sadhunang vinashay cha dushkritam;
Dharmasangsthapanarthay sambhabami yuge yuge.

meaning -
Whenever there is decay of righteousness, O Bharata.
And there is exaltation of unrighteousness, then I Myself come forth ;
For the protection of the good, for the destruction of evil-doers.
For the sake of firmly establishing righteousness, I am born from age to age.