main image

VASHNU

Real Name: Vashnu

Identity/Class: God/deity (extradimensionals/immortals)

Occupation: God/deity of wealth

Group Membership: Apu deity (Incan pantheon)

Affiliations: Richard Hawkins, previous guardian(s)

Enemies: Thieves

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Possibly Ekeko (see comments)

Base of Operations: Vashnu has part/all of his essence in a statue in an underground cave in an unrevealed location in west South American seaboard

First Appearance: World of Fantasy#3/1 (September, 1956)

Powers/Abilities: Vashnu is a true immortal who ceased to age upon reaching adulthood and cannot die by conventional means. His nature is to smile and he can imbue a human's lifespan by up to 1000 years without the need for food or sleep; the objective is to have the human act as guardian for the incredible wealth made as offerings to the god across centuries and collected in a secret underground treasury. Part (or all) of his essence is contained within a giant stone statue in this underground cavern, which he also keeps illuminated by reflecting small light off his accumulated treasures.

Height: Unrevealed
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Unrevealed

History:

(World of Fantasy#3/1 (fb) - BTS) - Vashnu was worshiped by the ancient Incan population prior to European invasion and offerings of wealth have been made to him across centuries. These accumulated in a secret underground cavern known to very few. The cave's entry point was marked by the "Cave of the Growling Beast" (potentially stalactites and stalagmites resembling teeth). Part (or all) of Vashnu's essence was contained within a giant smiling statue in this cavern through unrevealed means and a guardian (or Incan treasure hunter) was assigned to protect the treasure. Vashnu imbued the guardian with an extended lifespan so that he did not require to eat or sleep with his role ending when the next person seeking his treasure arrived. About 1000 years later in the 1950s, an American museum sent an expeditionary trio to find Vashnu's treasury.

(World of Fantasy#3/1) - The trio of treasure hunters, Chase, Kent and greedy Richard Hawkins (the latter who had secretly bought a map of the cavern maze from an indigenous South American), descended into underground caves suspected to be the location. The raiders investigated many shafts but only Hawkins found the treasury chamber. The tired Incan guardian there, having served about 1000 years, gladly relinquished his role, beseeching release from Vashnu, who granted his wish and the guardian crumpled dead. Vashnu then assigned the role to the unwitting Hawkins. Not finding Hawkins, the other two treasure hunters left. Many years passed and Hawkins continued to revel in the riches of Vashnu's vault and the statue laughed.

 

 

Comments: Created by uncredited writer & Dick Ayers.

Only images of the statue of Vashnu are shown. This may be Vashnu himself but is likely a statue containing part/all of his essence.

Vashnu is very likely the Incan god Ekeko (smiling god of wealth and abundance) or possibly Urcaguary (deer-headed serpentine god of metals, jewels and other underground items of great value). However, Ekeko is mobile like other Apu, so I speculate that the statue contains part of his essence (or may even be magically trapped there).

Vashnu is not identified as a god in the story, so he may also be a mischievous but powerful local deity. I'm going with the god of wealth Ekeko as he received tributes and this vault is where he stored his gold and jewels.

Thanks to Ron Fredricks for the cleaned up image in Hawkins' sub-profile.

This profile was completed 7/14/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Vashnu has no known connections to:

Richard Hawkins

Richard Hawkins was one of a trio assigned by an American museum sent in the 1950s to find the hidden Incan treasury of Vashnu. Hoping to secure the legendary wealth for himself, he first secretly bought a map of the maze of caverns from an indigenous South American. After the trio of treasure hunters descended, they separated and Hawkins found the treasure cavern with Vashnu's statue and the 1000+ year-old Incan guardian. Hawkins intended to shoot the Incan to steal some of the treasure but Vashnu released the Incan from his guardian duty by letting him die. Hawkins marveled at the wealth in Vashnu's treasury, initially not realizing the guardian role had passed to him. Meanwhile, not finding Hawkins, the other two of the museum's raiders left and reported him tragically lost to the museum curator. Years later, greedy Hawkins continued to revel in the gold and riches as the Vashnu statue laughed.

 

 

 

 

 

--World of Fantasy#3/1

images: (without ads)
World of Fantasy#3/1, p3, pan1 (statue main image)
   p4, pan7 (statue headshot)
   p3, pan7 (previous guardian falling before statue)
   p1, pan1 (Hawkins, full body)
   p3, pan2 (Hawkins with treasure)

Appearances:
World of Fantasy#3/1 (September, 1956) - uncredited writer, Dick Ayers (pencils & inks), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 09/24/2021
Last updated: 09/23/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com.

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix!

Back to Characters