Dashavatara, meaning ten avatars, refers to the 10 incarnations of Hindu god Vishnu, one of the supreme deities of Hinduism. When Vishnu descends to earth to restore cosmic order, he takes on the form of a human, an animal or other being. Each such form is called an avatar. The Bhagavata Purana mentions Vishnu’s avatars as innumerable, however, ten of these avatars, the Dashavatara, are his most celebrated ones.
Featured Image: Mashalti, Panel relief depicting the Dashavatara (ten avatars) of the god Vishnu in the Vidyashankara temple at Shringeri, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Table of Contents
- Lord Vishnu’s Dashavatara
- Dashavatara Variations
- Beyond Dashavatara: Other Avatars of Vishnu
- Dashavatara Time Frame
- Dashavatara and Darwinian Evolution
Lord Vishnu’s Dashavatara
Each of Vishnu’s avatars has its own unique teachings and significance, but they are all united in their emphasis on the importance of preserving order, defeating evil, and restoring balance to the universe. Together, they represent the many different aspects of Vishnu’s power and teachings, and they continue to hold deep spiritual significance for millions of Hindus around the world. Here is the most widely accepted list of the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu and their importance in Hindu mythology:
Matsya Avatar (The Fish)
Matsya Avatar
In his first avatar, Vishnu took the form of a giant fish (narwal) to rescue the first man, Manu, and other living beings from a great flood that threatened to destroy the world. Matsya instructed Manu to build a boat and to be in it with the Saptarishi (the seven sages) and all sorts of seeds, to repopulate the earth after the flood. When the flood comes, Matsya steers the ship safely to the Himalayas.
There is also a different version of the story according to which Vishnu assumed the form of Matsya in order to save the Vedas from a demon named Hayagriva.
Matsya is the first avatar of Vishnu, and is often interpreted as a symbol of the primal life force that emerges from the depths of the ocean. This avatar represents the idea of creation, and it is seen as a reminder of the infinite potential that exists within all beings.
Kurma Avatar (The Tortoise)
Kurma Avatar
In his second avatar, Vishnu took the form of a giant tortoise to support the mountain that was used to churn the ocean of milk and bring forth the nectar of immortality.
As the legend goes, Vishnu advised the other gods (devas) to churn the Milky Ocean in order to recover lost treasures and the nectar of immortality (Amrit) that would enable them to defeat the demons (asuras).
Knowing the gods would not be able to churn the great ocean themselves, Vishnu made a deal with the demons. If they helped to churn he would give them a fair share of the treasures and the nectar of immortality. The demons agreed and Vishnu proposed to use Mount Madura as a stick and the giant serpent, Vasuki, as a churning rope. The serpent was coiled around the mountain and each side by alternate pulling of the rope caused the mountain to rotate in the water.
However, as they churned, the mountain started to sink into the sea. To help them, Vishnu incarnated as a giant tortoise. It dived into the sea and supported the weight of the mountain on its carapace, thus allowing the churning to continue. This avatar represents the idea of selflessness and sacrifice.
Varaha Avatar (The Boar)
Varaha Avatar
According to legend, the demon Hiranyaksha, who had received a boon from Brahma, submerged the entire world under the water of the cosmic ocean, hiding the Earth from sight.
Seeing this, Lord Brahma asked Vishnu to save the world. Assuming the form of a wild boar, known as Varaha, Vishnu dove into the cosmic ocean where he fought with Hiranyaksha for a thousand years. After killing him, he lifted the Earth on his tusks and restored it to its original place.
Varaha is the third avatar of Vishnu, and he is often interpreted as a symbol of the power of transformation. The boar represents the ability to dig deep and unearth hidden truths, and this avatar represents the importance of confronting one’s fears and limitations in order to achieve spiritual progress.
Narasimha Avatar (The Lion-Man)
Narasimha disembowels Hiranyakashipu
Hiranyakashipu, a powerful demon king, had received a boon from Brahma that he could not be killed by any man, animal or God. In addition, he could not be killed inside or outside his palace, during the day or the night, or by any weapon. Hiranyakashipu grew so arrogant then he began to terrorize the world and declared himself as the ruler of the universe.
However, his own son Prahlad was a devout devotee of Lord Vishnu, and refused to worship his father instead. This enraged Hiranyakashipu who tried to kill Prahlad several times, but each time Lord Vishnu always intervened and saved him.
One day, Hiranyakashipu asked Prahlad where his God was, to which Prahlad replied that God is everywhere, including in the palace’s pillars. In a fit of rage, Hiranyakashipu struck the pillar, and Lord Vishnu emerged from it in the form of Narasimha, who was half-man and half-lion. Narasimha grabbed Hiranyakashipu, sat on the threshold of the palace, and killed him with his bare hands at dusk, which was neither day nor night. This way, the boon given to Hiranyakashipu was nullified, and the balance of the universe was restored.
Narasimha is the fourth avatar of Vishnu and represents the idea of confronting evil and restoring justice.
Vamana Avatar (The Dwarf)
Vamana steps on Bali’s head
The legend of Vishnu’s three steps, also known as the Trivikrama legend, is an ancient Hindu myth. According to the legend, a powerful demon named Bali had become a great king and had conquered all the worlds, including the heavens so the gods appealed to Vishnu for protection and he agreed to confront him.
Vishnu appeared before Bali as a Vamana (dwarf) Brahmin and offered a compromise: If the fighting stopped, the gods would settle for a small territory covered by three of Vamana’s steps and the demons could have the rest of the universe. Bali agreed, thinking that three paces of land in dwarf steps would be a small amount, but as soon as he granted the request, Vishnu grew to an enormous size and covered the entire universe with his first step.
With his second step, Vishnu covered the heavens, leaving no space for Bali to rule. Finally, Bali offered his own head as a place for Vishnu to take his third step, which Vishnu accepted and pushed Bali to Patala, making him ruler of the netherworld.
Parashurama Avatar (The Warrior)
In this avatar, Vishnu took the form of a warrior to rid the world of corrupt and oppressive rulers. The Parashurama avatar represents the idea of duty and righteousness.
According to the texts, the warrior class of the Kshatriyas, had begun to abuse their power and tyrannise people. One day, King Kartavirya Arjuna came to sage Jamadagni’s ashram and stole the Kamadhenu, the divine cow that granted wishes. When Jamadagni asked for the return of the cow, the king hit him, killing him. When Parashurama, Jamadagni’s son, learned about the crime, he got furious. Parashurama who was raised as a warrior and was taught the art of warfare, archery, and other skills, challenged the king to battle. They fought and Parashurama killed the king.
The Ksatriyas sought revenge and with an army of 21,000 warriors a series of wars began in which Parashurama eliminated the Ksatriya race. According to the legend, the sea was filled with the blood of the Kshatriyas killed by Parashurama.
Rama Avatar (The Prince)
Rama Avatar
In this avatar, Vishnu took the form of the prince Rama to defeat the demon king Ravana and restore order to the world.
Rama was born to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in the city of Ayodhya. He was the eldest of the four sons of the king and was known for his virtues, including courage, wisdom, and compassion. However, Rama’s stepmother, Kaikeyi, demanded that her son Bharata be crowned as the king, so at Kind Dasharatha’s command, Rama was to be exiled to the forest for 14 years. Rama, being an obedient son, accepted his father’s command and left for the forest together with his wife and brother Lakshmana.
During their exile, Sita was kidnapped by the demon king Ravana of Lanka. With the help of his devotee Hanuman and Sugriva’s army of monkeys, Rama managed to kill Ravana after a fierce battle, and rescue Sita. He then returned to Ayodhya, where he was crowned king and ruled with justice and righteousness for many years.
Rama is the seventh avatar of Vishnu, and his story teaches the importance of living a life of duty and righteousness. Rama is seen as a model for how one should live in order to achieve spiritual fulfillment.
Krishna Avatar (The Divine Cowherd)
Krishna in Vrindavana
In this avatar, Vishnu took the form of the divine cowherd Krishna in order to teach the world about the importance of devotion and divine love.
Krishna was born to King Vasudeva and his wife Devaki, however, his parents were imprisoned by Devaki’s brother Kamsa because of a prophecy that Devaki’s eighth child would cause Kamsa’s death. To save Krishna, King Vasudeva managed to sneak him out of the prison and placed him in the care of Nanda and Yashoda, who raised him as their own son in the village of Vrindavan.
As a child, Krishna was known for his playful and mischievous nature, and performed many miracles that revealed his divine nature. He played the flute and charmed the cows and the gopis (cowherd girls) of Vrindavan with his music, but he also defeated many demons who were sent by the tyrant ruler Kamsa to kill him. When he grew up, Krishna became the charioteer and advisor to Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, and delivered the famous discourse known as the Bhagavad Gita, which outlined the principles of dharma and karma.
The life of Krishna was also marked by many romantic stories, including his love for Radha, his childhood friend and lover, and his marriage to Rukmini, the princess of Vidarbha.
Buddha Avatar (The Sage)
In this avatar, Vishnu took the form of the sage Buddha to teach the world about the importance of compassion, the nature of reality and the path to enlightenment.
Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama, was born in a royal family in Lumbini, Nepal, around 563 BCE. He was raised in luxury and shielded by his father from the harsh realities of the world, but one day he ventured out of the palace and was struck by the suffering he saw around him. The experience was so catalytic that he left his royal life behind and embarked on a spiritual journey to seek enlightenment.
After years of meditation and asceticism, Siddhartha attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree. He became known as the Buddha, which means “the enlightened one.” He spent the rest of his life spreading his teachings, known as the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, to help people end their suffering and achieve liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth.
Kalki Avatar (The Future)
Kalki Avatar
Vishnu is said to appear as Kalki at the end of Kali Yuga (current age) to restore order and usher in a new era of peace and enlightenment.
According to legend, Kalki will be born to a Brahmin family in a town called Shambhala. Kalki is depicted as a warrior riding a white horse and wielding a flaming sword, and he will come to rid the world of evil and establish a new era of peace and prosperity.
Kalki’s arrival is associated with the destruction of the current world order, which is said to be marked by chaos, greed, and moral decay. He is believed to defeat the demon Kali, who represents the negative forces of the age, and establish a new era of dharma, or righteousness. The Kalki avatar represents the idea of hope and renewal.
Dashavatara Variations
The Dashavatara list of Vishnu, varies across sects and regions. In some lists Krishna is included as the eighth avatar and the Buddha as the ninth avatar of Vishnu. Other lists, like the one in the Shiva Purana, name Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna, as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and Krishna as the ninth.
Many Vaishnavites hold that Balarama was the ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu rather than Lord Buddha. Nonetheless, it is generally believed that Balarama was an avatar of Shesha, Lord Vishnu’s celestial serpent.
Beyond Dashavatara: Other Avatars of Vishnu
According to the Hindu text of Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu’s avatars are countless. However, ten of them, collectively known as the Dashavatara, are particularly revered as his most important avatars. These ten principal avatars of Vishnu are mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana, the Agni Purana and the Garuda Purana.
In the Bhagavada Purana there is also an alternate list mentioning 24 avatars of Vishnu, while in the Manava Purana there is mention of 42 avatars of Vishnu.
Dashavatara Time Frame
According to Hindu mythology, Vishnu’s avatars appeared in different time periods or Yugas.
The avatars of Matsya, Kurma, Varaha and Narasimha appeared in the Satya (or Krita) Yuga. The next three avatars, namely Vamana, Parashurama and Rama appeared in the Treta Yuga while Krishna (or Balarama, depending on tradition), appeared in the Dwapara Yuga. Buddha appeared in the final period or Kali Yuga, and also Kalki is prophesized to appear in the same period.
Dashavatara and Darwinian Evolution
The Dashavatara refers to the 10 primary avatars, or 10 incarnations, of Vishnu. Each of these avatars is believed to represent an important stage in the evolution of human civilization.
Some scholars draw a correlation between the ten avatars of Vishnu and Darwin’s Theory on Evolution. They argue that the Dashavatara of Vishnu represents an early form of evolutionary thought. They state it portrays a progression of life forms from simple to complex, with each avatar representing a higher stage of development.
However, this interpretation is far from being universally accepted and is the subject of ongoing debate among scholars.
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