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This article is about the concept in Hinduism. For the computing use, see Avatar
(computing). For the 2009 film, see Avatar  (2009 film). For other uses, see Avatar
(disambiguation).

Hindu god Vishnu (centre) surrounded by his ten major avatars,

namely Matsya; Kurma; Varaha; Narasimha; Vamana; Parashurama; Rama; Krishna; Buddha, and Kalki

This article contains Indic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks or boxes,
misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead of Indic text.

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Avatar (Sanskrit: अवतार, avatāra; pronounced [ɐʋɐtaːrɐ]) is a concept within Hinduism that in

Sanskrit literally means "descent". It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of
a powerful deity, goddess or spirit on Earth.[1][2] The relative verb to "alight, to make one's
appearance" is sometimes used to refer to any guru or revered human being.[3][4]
The word avatar does not appear in the Vedic literature;[5] however, it appears in
developed forms in post-Vedic literature, and as a noun particularly in
the Puranic literature after the 6th century CE.[6] Despite that, the concept of an avatar is
compatible with the content of the Vedic literature like the Upanishads as it is symbolic
imagery of the Saguna Brahman concept in the philosophy of Hinduism.
The Rigveda describes Indra as endowed with a mysterious power of assuming any
form at will.[7][8] The Bhagavad Gita expounds the doctrine of Avatara but with terms other
than avatar.[6][4]
Theologically, the term is most often associated with the Hindu god Vishnu, though the
idea has been applied to other deities. [9] Varying lists of avatars of Vishnu appear in
Hindu scriptures, including the ten Dashavatara of the Garuda Purana and the twenty-
two avatars in the Bhagavata Purana, though the latter adds that the incarnations of
Vishnu are innumerable.[10] The avatars of Vishnu are important
in Vaishnavism theology. In the goddess-based Shaktism tradition of Hinduism, avatars
of the Devi in different appearances such as Tripura Sundari, Durga and Kali are
commonly found.[11][12][13] While avatars of other deities such as Ganesha and Shiva are
also mentioned in medieval Hindu texts, this is minor and occasional. [14] The incarnation
doctrine is one of the important differences between Vaishnavism and Shaivism
traditions of Hinduism.[15][16]
Incarnation concepts that are in some aspects similar to avatar are also found
in Buddhism,[17] Christianity,[5] and other religions.[17]
The scriptures of Sikhism include the names of numerous Hindu gods and goddesses,
but it rejected the doctrine of savior incarnation and endorsed the view of
Hindu Bhakti movement saints such as Namdev, that formless eternal god is within the
human heart, and man is his own savior.[18][19]

Etymology and meaning[edit]

The Sanskrit noun (avatāra /ˈævətɑːr, ˌævəˈtɑːr/;[20] Hindustani: [əʋˈtaːr]) is derived from the
Sanskrit prefix ava- (down) and the root tṛ (to cross over).[21] These roots trace back,
states Monier-Williams, to -taritum, -tarati, -rītum.[3] It's cognate to "away" in English,
which is root from PIE *au- means "off, away".[22]
Avatar means "descent, alight, to make one's appearance", [3] and refers to the
embodiment of the essence of a superhuman being or a deity in another form. [21] The
word also implies "to overcome, to remove, to bring down, to cross something". [3] In
Hindu traditions, the "crossing or coming down" is symbolism, states Daniel Bassuk, of
the divine descent from "eternity into the temporal realm, from unconditioned to the
conditioned, from infinitude to finitude".[5] An avatar, states Justin Edwards Abbott, is
a saguna (with form, attributes) embodiment of the nirguna Brahman or Atman (soul).
[23]
 Avatar, according to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati actually means 'Divine Descent' in his
commentaries of The Shrimad Bhagavatam and The Bramha Samhita (mentioned in
Brahmavaivarta Purana).
Neither the Vedas nor the Principal Upanishads ever mention the word avatar as a
noun.[5] The verb roots and form, such as avatarana, appear in ancient post-Vedic Hindu
texts, but as "action of descending", but not as an incarnated person (avatara). [24] The
related verb avatarana is, states Paul Hacker, used with double meaning, one as action
of the divine descending, another as "laying down the burden of man" suffering from the
forces of evil.[24]
The term is most commonly found in the context of the Hindu god Vishnu.[1][3] The earliest
mention of Vishnu manifested in a human form to establish Dharma on Earth, uses
other terms such as the word sambhavāmi in verse 4.6 and the word tanu in verse 9.11
of the Bhagavad Gita,[4] as well as other words such as akriti and rupa elsewhere.[25] It is
in medieval era texts, those composed after the sixth century CE, that the noun version
of avatar appears, where it means embodiment of a deity. [6] The idea proliferates
thereafter, in the Puranic stories for many deities, and with ideas such as ansha-
avatar or partial embodiments.[4][1]
The term avatar, in colloquial use, is also an epithet or a word of reverence for any
extraordinary human being who is revered for his or her ideas. [21] In some contexts, the
term avatara just means a "landing place, site of sacred pilgrimage", or just "achieve
one's goals after effort", or retranslation of a text in another language. [3] The
term avatar is not unique to Hinduism even though the term originated with Hinduism. It
is found in the Trikaya doctrine of Mahayana Buddhism, in descriptions for the Dalai
Lama in Tibetan Buddhism, and many ancient cultures. [17]
Avatar versus incarnation[edit]
The manifest embodiment is sometimes referred to as an incarnation.[26] The translation
of avatar as "incarnation" has been questioned by Christian theologians, who state that
an incarnation is in flesh and imperfect, while avatar is mythical and perfect. [27][28] The
theological concept of Christ as an incarnation, as found in Christology, presents the
Christian concept of incarnation. The term avatar in Hinduism refers to act of various
gods taking form to perform a particular task which in most of the times is bringing
dharma back. The concept of avatar is widely accepted all over the India. [29] Sheth
disagrees and states that this claim is an incorrect understanding of the Hindu concept
of avatar.[30][note 1] Avatars are embodiments of spiritual perfection, driven by noble goals, in
Hindu traditions such as Vaishnavism.[30] The concept of the avatar in Hinduism is not
incompatible with natural conception through a sexual act, which is again different from
the Christian concept of the Virgin Birth.

Avatars of Vishnu[edit]
Main article: Vishnu
The concept of avatar within Hinduism is most often associated with Vishnu, the
preserver or sustainer aspect of God within the Hindu Trinity or Trimurti of Brahma,
Vishnu and Shiva. Vishnu's avatars descend to empower the good and fight evil,
thereby restoring Dharma. Traditional Hindus see themselves not as "Hindu", but as
Vaishnava (Worshippers of Vishnu), Shaiva (Worshippers of Shiva), or Shakta
(Worshipper of the Shakti). Each of the deities has its own iconography and mythology,
but common to all is the fact that the divine reality has an explicit form, a form that the
worshipper can behold.[32] An oft-quoted passage from the Bhagavad Gita describes the
typical role of an avatar of Vishnu:[9][28]
Whenever righteousness wanes and unrighteousness increases I send myself forth.
For the protection of the good and for the destruction of evil,
and for the establishment of righteousness,
I come into being age after age.

— Bhagavad Gita 4.7–8

The Vishnu avatars appear in Hindu mythology whenever the cosmos is in crisis,
typically because evil has grown stronger and has thrown the cosmos out of its balance.
[33]
 The avatar then appears in a material form, to destroy evil and its sources, and
restore the cosmic balance between the ever-present forces of good and evil. [33]
The most known and celebrated avatars of Vishnu, within the Vaishnavism traditions of
Hinduism, are Krishna, Rama, Narayana and Vasudeva. These names have extensive
literature associated with them, each has its own characteristics, legends and
associated arts.[28] The Mahabharata, for example, includes Krishna, while
the Ramayana includes Rama.[34]
Dashavatara[edit]
Main article: Dashavatara
The Bhagavata Purana describes Vishnu's avatars as innumerable, though ten of his
incarnations, the Dashavatara, are celebrated therein as his major appearances. [10][28] The
ten major Vishnu avatars are mentioned in the Agni Purana, the Garuda Purana and the
Bhagavata Purana.[35][36]
The ten best known avatars of Vishnu are collectively known as
the Dashavatara (a Sanskrit compound meaning "ten avatars"). Five different lists are
included in the Bhagavata Purana, where the difference is in the sequence of the
names. Freda Matchett states that this re-sequencing by the composers may be
intentional, so as to avoid implying priority or placing something definitive and limited to
the abstract.[37]

The Avatars of Vishnu

Name Description

The fish avatar. He saves Manu and the seven sages from the cosmic flood, and in
Matsya
some traditions, saves the Vedas from an asura called Hayagriva.[38]

The tortoise/turtle avatar. He supports the mountain named Mandara while the devas
Kurma[note 2]
and the asuras churn the ocean of milk to produce the nectar of immortality.[40]

The boar avatar. He rescues Bhumi, the goddess of the earth, when the asura
Varaha
Hiranyaksha abducts her, restoring her rightful place in the universe.[41]
 The Avatars of Vishnu

Name Description

The lion avatar. He saves his devotee Prahlada and frees the three worlds from the
Narasimha
tyranny of an asura named Hiranyakashipu.[42]

The dwarf avatar. He vanquishes the asura king Mahabali to the netherworld after
Vamana
taking three strides upon the universe, restoring the rule of Indra.[43]

The warrior-sage avatar. He destroys the oppressive kings of the military class and
Parshurama
creates a new social order.[44]

The prince avatar. He rescues his wife Sita when she is abducted by the rakshasa king
Rama
Ravana, restoring just rule to the world.[45]

The elder brother of Krishna and the god of agriculture. He is variously described as
Balarama(Debated)
an avatar of Shesha, the serpent-mount of Vishnu, and an avatar of Vishnu.[46]

The eighth avatar of Vishnu who incarnates to re-establish righteousness in the world.
Krishna He slays Kamsa, the tyrant of Mathura and his uncle, and participates in the
Kurukshetra War as the charioteer of Arjuna.[47]

The historical Buddha, who incarnates to delude the asuras from the path of the Vedas,
Buddha(Debated) ensuring the victory of the devas. In some traditions, he is referred to as an avatar of
Vishnu.[48]

The prophesied tenth avatar of Vishnu. He incarnates to bring an end to the present age
Kalki of corruption called the Kali Yuga, re-establishing the four classes and law to the
world.[49]

Longer alternatives[edit]
The Bhagavata Purana also goes on to give an alternate list, wherein it numerically lists
out 23 Vishnu avatars in chapter 1.3.[50]

1. Four Kumaras (Catursana): the four Sons of god Brahma and

exemplifying the path of devotion
 2. Varaha: The divine boar who lifts earth from cosmic waters
3. Narada: the divine-sage who travels the worlds as a devotee of Vishnu
4. Nara-Narayana: the twin-sages
5. Kapila: a renowned sage spoken of in the Mahabharata, son of Kardama
Muni and Devahuti and sometimes identified with the founder of
the Samkhya school of philosophy
6. Dattatreya: the combined avatar of the Hindu trinity Brahma, Vishnu and
Shiva. He was born to the sage Atri became a great seer himself
7. Yajna: the lord of sacrifices
8. Rishabha: the father of Bharata Chakravartin and Bahubali
9. Prithu: the sovereign-king who milked the earth as a cow to get the
world's grain and vegetation and also invented agriculture
10. Matsya: A narwhal who guided Manu's ark during the pralaya (deluge)
and also killed demon Hayagriva
11. Kurma: A giant tortoise who balances Mount Mandara atop his carapace
during the churning of cosmic ocean of milk
12. Dhanvantari: the father of Ayurvedic medicine and a physician to
the Devas
13. Mohini: the enchantress
14. Narasimha: The man-lion who kills demon Hiranyakashpu
15. Vamana: The dwarf-brahmana who takes the three worlds from Bali
Maharaj and purifies Him
16. Parashurama: The Brahmin warrior with an axe who kills Kartyavira
Arjuna and his Kshatriya allies
17. Rama: 'Perfect King' from Suryavansha, Subject of Ramayana
18. Vyasa: the compiler of the scriptures – Vedas and writer of the scriptures
(Puranas) and the epic Mahabharata
19. Krishna: Subject of the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita
20. Gautama Buddha: Founder Of Buddhism .
21. Kalki: The Divine Warrior
Avatars like Hayagriva, Hamsa and Garuda are also mentioned in
the Pancharatra making a total of forty-six avatars.[51] However, despite these lists, the
commonly accepted number of ten avatars for Vishnu was fixed well before the 10th
century CE.[35] Madhvacharya also regards Gautama Buddha as an avatar of Vishnu.[52]
Manava Purana
Manava Purana is one of Upa puranas. It narrates 42 avatars of Vishnu.

1. Adipurusha
2. Four Kumaras (Chatursanas)
3. Narada
4. Dattatreya
5. Kapila
6. Nara- Narayana
7. Yajna
8. Vibhu
9. Satyasena
10. Hari
11. Vaikunta
12. Ajita
13. Sharvabhouma
14. Vrishbha
15. Visvaksena
16. Dharmasetu
17. Sudhama
18. Yogeshwara
19. Brihadbhanu
20. Shaligram
21. Hayagriva
22. Hamsa
23. Vyasa
24. Matsya
25. Kurma
26. Dhanvantri
27. Mohini
28. Prithu
29. Vrishbha deva
30. Varaha
31. Narasimha
32. Vamana
33. Parashurama
34. Rama
35. Krishna
36. Buddha
37. Vikhanasa
38. Venkateswara
39. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
40. Dhyaneshwar
41. Kalki