10 Avatars of Lord Vishnu

23 JAN 2024

Credit: Google Images

Credit: Google Images

Matsya(fish) Avatar

In Lord Vishnu’s Dashavatara, the first avatar, the Matsya avatar is considered to be one of the most important avatars of Vishnu. According to Hindu mythology, Matsya is the fish incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who appeared to save the world from a great flood.

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Kurma(tortoise) Avatar

Among the 10 incarnations of Vishnu, the Kurma avatar is also considered to be one of the most important avatars of Vishnu. Kurma is the tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who appeared to help the devas (gods) and asuras (demons) in the churning of the cosmic ocean of milk (Ksheera Sagara) to obtain the nectar of immortality.

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Varaha(boar) Avatar

Among Lord Vishnu’s Dashavatara, the Varaha avatar is the boar incarnation wherein he rescues Mother Earth(Bhudevi) from the harmful clutches of a demon king named Hiranyaksha.

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Narasimha(man-lion) Avatar

The fourth avatar out of the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu was the Narasimha avatar in which Vishnu appears in a half-human and half-lion form. The legend behind it is found in the Hindu scriptures, specifically in the Bhagavad Purana and the Vishnu Purana.

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Vamana(dwarf) Avatar

The legend of Lord Vishnu's Vamana avatar tells the story of a demon king named Mahabali, who was just but his growing ego led him to challenge the authority of the gods. Lord Vishnu, in the form of a dwarf Brahmin named Vamana, asked Mahabali for a small piece of land, no larger than the space he could cover with three steps.

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Parashurama(Rama with an axe) Avatar

In order to restore balance and justice to the world, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Parashurama and set out to eliminate the corrupt Kshatriyas. He travelled the land, destroying any Kshatriya who was oppressing the people and restoring the power to the Brahmins.

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Rama Avatar

Lord Vishnu's Rama avatar is the story of prince Rama from Ayodhya who was banished to the forest for 14 years, where he faced many challenges including the abduction of his wife Sita by the demon king Ravana.

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Krishna Avatar

Lord Vishnu's avatar, Krishna, was born to a royal family but raised in a cowherd community in Vrindavan. He was prophesied to defeat King Kamsa, who had imprisoned his parents and sought to kill him.

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Buddha(Gautama Buddha) Avatar

Buddha is considered Lord Vishnu’s avatar in some Hindu traditions. According to the legend, a prince named Siddhartha Gautama, renounced his royal life to seek spiritual enlightenment.

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Kalki Avatar(the final and future avatar)

Lord Vishnu's Kalki avatar is the final incarnation of Lord Vishnu that is yet to come. The Kalki avatar is said to appear at the end of the current age, known as the Kali Yuga.