Hinduism Potpourri

Avatars of Lord Vishnu

First created: November 10, 1999
Lat updated:  December 20,2007

According to the Hindu beliefs, an avatar (u-wu-thaar) is "whatever is mighty or fortunate or strong, springing from a portion of my glory" (Lord Krishna in the sacred Geeta), and every good human is a partial incarnation of the Almighty. 

The ten chief incarnations, according to Vaishnavism (the sect of Hinduism worshiping Lord Vishnu), are of a more special type: when the Lord Vishnu is believed to have taken flesh in the form of animals (or men) to save the world from imminent danger of total destruction. They are listed below:

The Avatars or Manifestations of Vishnu

1. The Fish (Matsyavatar)
2. The Tortoise (Kurmavatar)
3. The Boar (Varahavatar)
4. The Lion-Man (Narasimha Avatar)
5. The Dwarf (Vamana Avatar)
6. Parashurama (Rama with an axe)
7. Rama (the prince of Ayodhya)
8. Krishna (the black tribal)
9. Buddha (the completely enlightened one)
10. Kalki ( the incarnation to come)

See Also:

• Who is God?
• Krishna in Indian Art
• See Pictures of Lord Vishnu