Shri Vishnu is a part of the Hindu trinity and is tasked with protecting and preserving the universe. He will take an avatar to protect dharma and reinstate righteousness every time the world is troubled with ‘adharma’ and evil. There are ten known avatars (incarnations) of Shri Vishnu, out of which nine have already passed. Lets look at the ten avatars of Shri Vishnu in today’s post.
1. Matsya (The Fish)
Matsya was Vishnu’s first incarnation. In the Matsya avatar, Shri Vishnu is said to have rescued the first man, Vaivasvata Manu, and the seven sages (Saptarishi) during the great Flood. A sample of every plant and animal species was brought to renew the earth on the boat carrying Manu and Saptarishis. Matsya also recovered the Vedic scriptures from the asura Hayagriva and slayed him.
2. Kurma (The Turtle)
Shri Vishnu took the Kurma avatar during the epic event of Samudra Manthan. He also took care to ensure that the Asuras do not drink the ‘amrit’ generated from the event.
3. Varaha (The Boar)
Varaha, the boar-like avatar, was Vishnu’s third incarnation. Shri Vishnu arrived as Varaha to rescue the earth (personified as the goddess Bhudevi) from the demon Hiranyaksha, who had taken her and hidden her in the primordial waters. After killing the demon, Varaha lifted the Earth out of the water using his tusks, bringing Bhudevi back to her rightful place in the cosmos.
4. Narasimha (Half Lion / Half Man)
Narasimha was the fourth incarnation of Shri Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu, the Asura was awarded a boon from Lord Brahma, making it impossible for him to be killed by man or animal, indoors or outdoors, during the day or night, on Earth or among the stars, with a weapon that was either alive or inanimate. Shri Vishnu took on a human form but a lion’s head and talons during his incarnation. The rakshasa was lying on his thighs at dusk on the threshold of his courtyard when he was torn apart with his claws.
5. Vamana
Shri Vishnu took the Vamana avatar to push Raja Mahabali to the ‘Paatal lok’ and restore Indra’s rule over the heavens.
6. Parashuram
Parashurama was Shri Vishnu’s sixth incarnation. Parashuram was the son of Rishi Jamadagni and Renuka. He was given an axe by Lord Shiva who was pleased with his intense penance. In Hindu dharma, he was the first Brahmin who later became a Kshatriya (a warrior-saint) to share the responsibilities of both castes. He killed twenty one generations of cruel Kshatriya kings. It is believed that Parashuram is still alive and resides on Mahendragiri mountain. He is one of the Chiranjeevi’s.
7. Ram
Rama was Shri Vishnu’s seventh incarnation. Shri Ram is called ‘maryada purshottam’ in Hindu dharma. He slayed the asura king Ravan and rescued Sita, his wife and daughter of Raja Janak.
8. Krishna
Shri Vishnu’s eighth avatar was Shri Krishna. He was born as the eighth child of Devaki and Vasudev. Some of the main events of his life were killing Kansa, giving Arjun the knowledge of Bhagavat Gita and being the main strategist of the Mahabharat war.
9. Balaram
Balaram was the elder brother of Shri Krishna. He is often considered the ninth incarnation of Shri Vishnu. When Kansa had killed the first six children of Devaki and Vasudev, the seventh child who was a plenary expansion of Shri Vishnu was transferred from the womb of Devaki to the womb of Rohini by Yogmaya. Balaram is also believed to be an avatar of Sheshnag – the serpent on whom Shri Vishnu reclines.
10. Kalki
The Kalki avatar of Shri Vishnu is to arrive at the end of the Kaliyuga (the present yuga). According to the holy scriptures, when the time comes for Kalki to return, he will do so mounted atop a white horse and brandishing a flaming sword. He will be the one to announce the end of time, and then he will usher in the Satya Yuga that follows.
