The VishantiReal Name(s): Hoggoth, Oshtur, and Agamotto
Classification: Mystical Abstract entity
Nationality: Inapplicable
Place of Birth: Unrevealed, possibly inapplicable
Occupation: Mystical deities
Known Relatives: Unrevealed, possibly inapplicable
Affiliations: None
Extent of Education: Unrevealed, possibly inapplicable
Base of Operations: Unrevealed, possibly inapplicable
Height: Probably Inapplicable
Weight: Probably Inapplicable
Eyes: Various
Intelligence: Immeasurable
Strength: Incalculable
Speed: Warp speed
Stamina: Immeasurable
Durability: Godlike
Agility: Probably Inapplicable
Reflexes: Probably Inapplicable
Distinguishing Features: (Hoggoth) Blue skin, pointed ears, (Oshtur) Green skin, (Agamotto as a lion or a tiger) Golden skin, image of an ankh on his brow, (Agamotto as a caterpillar) None
Note: The Vishanti have never appeared to any human, even those trained in the occult, in their true aspect, which no mortal mind could comprehend and remain sane, instead appearing in a variety of disguised physical forms. It is their most frequently adopted forms that the statistics apply. When Doctor Stephen Strange has visited Agamotto's own dimension, Agamotto has appeared to him as a gigantic caterpillar. In fact, Agamotto explained to Strange that this was not his true form and that he had made himself an image from Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" that he had seen in Strange's mind Agamotto has also been pictured as a being resembling no creature on Earth.
Hoggoth is often called "hoary Hoggoth," presumably indicating that he is of great age. Agamotto, however, has claimed to have existed before the creation of the Earth. Hence, if Hoggoth is indeed the eldest of the Vishanti, he is older than most other known beings in the multiverse. Sorcerers speak of "the hoary hosts of Hoggoth" and sometimes invoke the hosts themselves in casting spells. This fact suggests that Hoggoth's hosts themselves have existed perhaps as long as Hoggoth himself and that they too can bestow mystical power. No more is known about the hosts of Hoggoth, however.
Oshtur is often called "omnipotent Oshtur." This name suggests that she may be the most powerful of the three Vishanti. However, it is clear that Agamotto himself is one of the most powerful known mystical beings. On one occasion Dr. Strange invoked both Hoggoth and Oshtur in casting a spells against Agamotto, but the spell failed. Possibly this incident indicates that Agamotto is more powerful than either Hoggoth or Oshtur, or perhaps only that the other two Vishanti chose not to help Strange against Agamotto (in any event, though Oshtur clearly possesses vast power, she is presumably not literally omnipotent.) The fact that Oshtur is also addressed as "gracious lady" may indicate that she has a kindly and noble nature.
Of the three Vishanti, the most is known about Agamotto the All-Seeing according to one account, Agamotto was the first sorcerer supreme of the Earth dimension. Considering that Agamotto claims to be older than the Earth itself, and that he appears to be of other dimensional origin, this account may not be entirely accurate. However, Agamotto may indeed have himself acted directly to protect the Earth dimension before the rise of its first native sorcerer supreme.
Agamotto himself is called "the All-Seeing," and has apparently spent his long life observing events throughout the multiverse from the pocket dimension in which he resides. Agamotto's senses and mind are far more complex than a human being's, enabling him to watch and comprehend seemingly unlimited number of events simultaneously.
Agamotto dwells within a pocket dimension that Doctor Strange has entered by casting a spell that mystically transports him into the Eye or Orb of Agamotto. (If Strange enters through the Eye, then he exits through the Orb, and vice versa.) Agamotto's dimension is said to be a realm of "unreality," in which the natural laws of the Earth dimension do not necessarily apply. Hence, once when Strange was mortally wounded on Earth, he would not die as long as he remained within Agamotto's dimension. A traveler into Agamotto's dimension perceives that dimension according to his own subconscious fantasies. Hence, Strange's perception of that dimension appears to be based on his knowledge of the works of Lewis Carroll, EC Comics. 1960s' psychedelic art, and medieval art, among other things.
In his documented appearances along side Hoggoth and Oshtur, Agamotto appears to act as solemnly as the other two Vishanti. However, when he encounters Doctor Strange in his pocket dimension, Agamotto behaves quite differently, sometimes taking an ironic attitude toward Strange and the multiverse in general, sometimes becoming threatening, and sometimes acting in a highly benevolent manner. To what extent Agamotto's behavior with Strange reflects his true personality is not known. Moreover, it is possible that Agamotto is continually role-playing in his encounters with Strange in an effort to test Strange's skill and determination.
Powers: The Vishanti are mystical deities themselves. This means that they are capable of not only manipulate magical forces directly for virtually any purpose, but they also generate much of these energies themselves.
This will give them the following abilities: powers of the mind/soul/body, derived through manipulating the mystical energies on the psychic plane (mesmerism, astral projection, thought-casting, etc.), powers gained by tapping the universe's ambient magical energy and employing it for specific effects (teleportation, illusion-casting, energy projection), and finally, the powers gained through the tapping of extra-dimensional energy which normal sorcerers have to invoke entities or objects of power for, but to which the Vishanti themselves have unlimited access to. This results in the fact that, as long as it's derived from mystical energy, the Vishanti can do anything with it that they set their mind to.
Abilities: Virtually everything involving magical energies they can realize, but about their physical abilities (if they have even physical bodies) there is nothing known.
Paraphernalia: Agamotto is known to be the creator of the Amulet of Agamotto, which contains the Eye of Agamotto. The Amulet of Agamotto is traditionally in the possession of the Earth dimension's principal opponent to the sinister mystical being, Dormammu. Currently the amulet is the principal weapon in the possession of Dormammu's arch foe, Doctor Stephen Strange.
Doctor Strange also possesses another creation of Agamotto, the Crystal Orb of Agamotto, a mystical crystal ball through which Strange can see persons and things in far distant places both in the Earth dimension and other dimensions. Agamotto is aware of every time either the amulet or the Orb is utilized.
Presumably the Crystal Orb of Agamotto and the Eye of Agamotto draw on Agamotto's mystical ability to observe distant places and conceiled mystical aura.
Agamotto utilizes a device whose true form is unknown, but which Doctor Strange perceives as the caterpillar's hookah, or water pipe. Agamotto claims he uses it to focus his magic spells.
Together the Vishanti are responsible for the creation of The Book of The Vishanti. The greatest known source of magical knowledge in the Earth dimension. The Book contains descriptions of more spells and occult rituals than any other known work except the Darkhold, which deals primarily with black magic and is linked to the Evil demon-god Chthon. Every possessor of the Book has added his or her own original spells to the volume. Consequently, the arcane lore contained within The Book of The Vishanti is written in a variety of languages. It is not known how many pages the Book contains: as if by magic, pages seem to materialize within its binding to accommodate additional spells.
History: Normally the Vishanti don't mettle in human affairs but when Dr. Strange summoned them during an attack on him by Sligguth, the minion of Shuma-Gorath, they came to his aid. Shuma-Gorath is a long-time enemy of the Vishanti.
They will appear to other cosmic deity's though. For instance, they appeared to Kubik and Kosmos on their tour of the plains of existence.
Doctor Strange first entered Agamotto's pocket dimension soon after Strange had been mortally wounded by his enemy, Silver Dagger. When the dying Strange used the Orb of Agamotto, he found himself drawn through the Orb into Agamotto's dimension. There Strange met Agamotto, who appeared to him as a giant Caterpillar but did not identify himself. The caterpillar claimed that Strange's own wish to continue living was an 'unreal' desire (presumably because it seemed impossible), and that its unreality caused him to be drawn into this dimension of unreality (It is quite possible, however, that Agamotto drew Strange into the dimension specifically to save his life. After briefly taking on a more sinister form and battling Strange (possibly as a test of Strange's will to live), Agamotto told Strange how to leave the pocket dimension. Strange did so, died and returned to life through the intervention of the spirit of his deceased mentor, the Ancient One, and defeated Silver Dagger. On realizing that Strange was on the side of morality in their clash, Silver Dagger was himself drawn into Agamotto's dimension and remained a prisoner there for some time. Strange returned briefly to Agamotto's dimension in a later encounter with Silver Dagger.