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'''Vaikuntha Chaturmurti''' or '''Vaikuntha Vishnu''' is a four-headed aspect of the Hindu god [[Vishnu]], mostly found in [[Kashmir]] (northern part of the Indian subcontinent). The icon represents Vishnu as the [[Mahavishnu|Supreme Being]]. He has a human head, a lion head, a boar head and a demonic head. Sometimes, even three-headed aspects of Vishnu where the demonic rear head is dropped are considered to represent Vaikuntha Chaturmurti. Though iconographical treatises describe him to eight-armed, he is often depicted with four. Generally, Vaikuntha Chaturmurti is shown standing but sometimes he is depicted seated on his ''[[vahana]]'' (mount) [[Garuda]].
The concept of a four-headed Vishnu first appears in the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]'', but the complete iconography was first found in a 5th-century [[Pancharatra]] text. The icon reflects influences from the [[Gupta period]] and the [[Gandhara]] architectural tradition. While as per one interpretation, the animal heads represent Vishnu's avatar [[Narasimha]] (lion-headed man) and [[Varaha]] (boar), another theory based on Pancharatra texts relates the four heads to ''Chaturvyuha'' - [[Krishna|Vasudeva]] (Krishna), [[Balarama|Samkarshana]] (Balarama), [[Pradyumna]] and [[Aniruddha]] - four ''vyuha''s (manifestations) of Vishnu. A cult centered on Vaikuntha Chaturmurti developed in Kashmir in the 8-12th century, when the deity also enjoyed royal patronage in the region. The [[Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho
==Names==
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The presence of Vaikuntha Chaturmurti found in Kashmir and north West India predating 10th century suggests the worship of Vishnu in this form in the era. The form developed a cult between 8th to 10th century CE. The 12th century chronicle ''[[Rajatarangini]]'' also mentions about the installation of this form of Vishnu. The icon received royal patronage from King [[Avanti Varman (Utpala dynasty)|Avantivarman]], the founder of [[Utpala dynasty]] (reign: 855-883 CE); temples built in his reign often depict Vaikuntha Chaturmurti.<ref>Desai p. 47</ref> Vaikuntha Chaturmurti became the [[Kuladevata|tutelary deity]] of the Karkotas and Utpala dynasties of Kashmir. It was also popular in the regions adjoining Kashmir.<ref name="Publications1989">{{cite book|author=Marg Publications|title=Art and architecture of ancient Kashmir|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=FQfqAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=17 December 2012|year=1989|publisher=Marg Publications|isbn=978-81-85026-06-0|page=85}}</ref>
The [[Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho
The Trailokyamohana form of Vishnu was worshipped in Gujarat between 12th to 15th century CE.<ref>Desai p. 45</ref>
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