Lord Visnu whose duty is to preserve the world, often incarnates himself to establish the Dharma and to preserve the socio-ethical order. The ten incarnations of lord Visnu:
• In the Matsyavatara (Fish-incarnation), the Lord is said to have saved Manu (the progenitor of mankind) and the Saptarsis (the seven sages, mind-born sons of Brahma) along with their wives during the deluge. The worlds was repopulated through them later on.
• Lord Visnu incarnated himself as the Kurma (the Tortoise) in order to support the mount Mandara which started sinking during the churning of the ocean (Samudramathana). The gods and the demons had jointly undertaken this adventure to et Amrta (nectar) from the ocean.
• The Varahavatara (Boar-incarnation) in which the Lord killed the demon Hiranyaksa and lifted the earth out of the flood waters in which it had been submerged. This may be a symbolic representation of the extrication of the world from the deluge of sin by the power of the Supreme Being.
• Narasimha (Man-lion incarnation) appeared to save Prahlada, the great devotee of Visnu was being severely tortured by his father, demon Hiranyakasipu (who was a non-believer in the existence of God). Narasimha emerging out of the pillar killed Hiranyakasipu. Narasimha is especially the embodiment of valour which is a divine attribute and hence worshipped by rulers and warriors. His Mantra is said to be very powerful, capable of destroying enemies and evils.
• When Bali the grandson of Prahlada conquered the three worlds, Indra was deprived of his heavenly kingdom. Lord Visnu incarnated as Vaman (the Dwarf), a young Brahmana boy and approached Bali who was known for his munificence, for a gift of land that could be covered by three steps. With the first and the second he covered the earth and heaven and with the third, he pushed down Bali to the netherworld.
These five Avataras have been referred to in the various sections of the Vedas. The next five incarnations are in the human form.
• Parasurama (Rama with the battle-axe) is the sixth Avatara. Born as the son of the sage-couple, Jamadagni and Renuka, he exterminated the tyrannical among the Ksattriyas led by Kartavirya, who were oppressing the people.
• Sri Rama, one of the two most popular incarnation of the Lord Visnu, comes next. He typifies the ideal man. His story, the Ramayana has now become an immortal epic. His name is known as the ‘Taraka-mantra’, the Mantra that takes one across the ocean of transmigration.
• Balarama, the elder brother of Sri Krsna, is the eight incarnation. His many adventures include the slaying of the ape Dvivida and the demon Dhenuka, shaking the ramparts of Hastinavati (the capital city of Pandavas) and dragging the river Yamuna out of its course.
• Buddha, considered as avatara, seem to be disappear from the list only after the 15th century. Buddha as we all know, brought the most tremendous religious movement, refusing all superstitions and brought the most gigantic spiritual wave.
• Sri Krsna, the ninth incarnation of Lord Visnu is, perhaps, the most popular, so much so, that he is considered Purnavatara (the incarnation in toto) and all other deities are regarded as his manifestations. To a Hindu, he is the supreme statesman, warrior, hero, philosopher and teacher.
• The tenth Avatara Kalki, is yet to come. He will descend upon the earth at the earth of the present age (Kali Yuga). Riding on the back of white horse, with a drawn sword, he will destroy the enemies of Dharma and re-establish it in all its glory.
Tirumalanath
tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com
For more information/queries, contact ur nearest Ramakrishna Math or Visit https://www.sriramakrishnamath.org
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