Vishnu is one of the three principal Hindu Gods (or part of the trinity of Hindu Gods or Trimurti), with Brahma and Vishnu being the other two in this trio. While Brahma is regarded as the Creator and Shiva as the Destroyer, Vishnu is regarded as the Protector or Preserver. He is among the most worshipped Gods in Hinduism and famed for his 10 incarnations popularly called as ‘dashavatara’ (where dasha means ten and avatar means incarnation or form).
Each of Vishnu’s avatars had a specific purpose. In each of his incarnations, Lord Vishnu saved the world from a particular challenge, and played a crucial role in destroying the evil while ensuring that only the good prevailed. Here is a look at the 10 forms of God Vishnu (or Dashavatara), in the order of their appearance.
10 Avataras of Lord Vishnu
1. Matsya
It is described as the first avatar of Lord Vishnu, in which he is believed to have saved the first man named Manu, from a huge flood. This incarnation is depicted as a giant fish and is also believed to have saved the sacred scriptures (Vedas) from getting stolen by a demon.
2. Kurma
It is regarded as a large turtle that appeared during the Samudra Manthana and supported the Earth. In some texts, Kurma is believed to have helped the gods and demons churn the ocean by pulling the rope used for churning. As per other texts, Kurma was Lord Vishnu in the form of a giant tortoise which saved mount Mandara from drowning. Mount Mandara was supposedly used as the churning rod during the Samudra Manthana.
3. Varaha
In the Varaha avatar, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of a wild boar and lifted the Earth out of the cosmic ocean. Legend has it that a demon named Hiranyakasha stole the Earth which is when God Vishnu took the form of a boar and rescued the Earth by lifting it with its tusks.
4. Narasimha
In this incarnation, Lord Vishnu appeared as a half-lion, half-human, with the claws and face of a lion and torso and lower body of a man. He is believed to have taken this form to kill demon Hiranyakashyapu who was creating havoc on Earth and had to be destroyed. He had been granted a boon from Lord Brahma according to which he could not be killed during the day or night, inside or outside the house, neither in the sky nor on land, neither in the heaven nor in patala, and by no weapon, human, God, demon or animal. So, Lord Vishnu took the form which was neither of these and killed the asura Hiranyakashyapu between day and night, on the threshold of his palace, on his lap, and with his claws.
5. Vamana
Legend has it that when the king of devas Indra, was defeated by the king of asuras Bali, the devas came to Lord Vishnu asking for help. Bali was conducting ritual sacrifices, when Lord Vishnu appeared before him as Vamana (who was a boy of a small stature). He asked Bali for 3 feet of land to which Bali readily agreed. Bali then appeared in his real grander form, stepping into the heavens, the patala, and then on Bali’s head, thus banishing him and restoring the three worlds back to king Indra.
6. Parashurama
It is believed that when the Kshatriyas were abusing their power and harassing innocent people, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Parashurama, and destroyed the Kshatriyas 21 times. He is among the chiranjivis (immortals) and it is believed that he will appear again during the Kala yuga as the guru of Vishnu’s 10th avatar Kalki.
7. Rama
He is the main character in the epic of Ramayana and is worshipped by a large population. He is known for his righteousness and nobility and for following the path of dharma, all his life. His wife Sita was kidnapped by Ravana. Rama, with the help of Hanuman and his vanarasena, reached Lanka, the kingdom of Ravana, and rescued his wife Sita. He brought her back to Ayodhya, but when the subjects questioned her purity, Lord Rama, on the request of his subjects, asked her to give the agnipariksha to prove her sanctity. Lord Rama thus stands as an example of someone who lived for others, sacrificing his happiness, for his family thus proving him to be an ideal son, and later for his subjects, thus proving to be an ideal king. Lord Rama is hence regarded as a Purushottama. Lord Vishnu appeared as Rama in the Treta yuga.
8. Krishna
The most important character in the Indian epic of Mahabharata, and most famed as the creator and narrator of Bhagvat Gita, Lord Krishna is a highly respected deity of the Hindus. He was the 8th avatar of Lord Vishnu. As a child, he was a prankster who won the hearts of everyone around. During youth, he was a protector of his people, and a destroyer of evil, when he killed the tyrannical king Kansa. He played the role of the best diplomat and an ideal mentor during Mahabharata, where he was crucial in restoring justice by destroying the Kaurava’s rule. Lord Vishnu appeared as Krishna in the Dvapara yuga.
9. Buddha
The Buddha (the enlightened one) is regarded as the 9th avatar of Lord Vishnu as per the Vaishnava tradition. Agni Purana says that Lord Vishnu took the form of Buddha to rescue the devas who were being defeated by the demons in their battles. Most Buddhists and some Hindus do not accept Buddha as Vishnu’s avatar. Thus, he is arguably an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, however, his life and teachings continue to guide many.
10. Kalki
He is the tenth and final incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that he will appear at the culmination of Kaliyuga, and mark the new beginning of Satya yuga. He is prophesied to arrive on a white horse carrying a sword and it is believed that he will destroy the adharma, following which there will be a huge pralaya (dissolution of the universe) and Satya yuga will begin again.
These 10 forms of Hindu God Vishnu are an example of how good triumphs over evil, and how a certain superpower appears to destroy all the wrong and restore righteousness. In all these incarnations, Lord Vishnu can be seen to have appeared in human or animal form with the sole purpose of establishing justice in an unjust world so that only the good wins.
