Lord Vishnu is one of the principal deities in Hinduism and is known as the preserver of the universe. He is often depicted as holding a conch shell and a discus(Sudarshana Chakra) and is usually shown with four arms. Vishnu is considered the second god in the Hindu trinity, alongside Brahma (the creator) and Shiva (the destroyer). He is also considered the supreme god in Vaishnavism which is one of the major traditions within Hinduism. According to Hindu mythology, Vishnu is said to have taken on various incarnations or avatars in order to restore balance to the world, and some of his most recognised avatars include Rama and Krishna. Apart from being prevalent for his 10 avatars, he is also known as Narayana, Vasudeva, and Hari.
The Srimad Bhagavatam, also known as the Bhagavata Purana, is one of the 18 major texts of Hinduism. In the Srimad Bhagavatam, Lord Vishnu is said to have 24 avatars, which include the 10 avatars, the Dashavatara. The additional 14 avatars are not as widely recognized as the Dashavatara.
The 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu are considered to be the most significant and important incarnations of Vishnu, as they have played a major role in shaping the course of human history, restoring balance to the world, and defeating evil. Also, different scriptures mention different versions of Lord Vishnu’s Dashavatara. For example, in some scriptures, Buddha is mentioned as one of the forms of Vishnu whereas, in some, Buddha is replaced with Balarama. Let’s look at the list of 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu in order and learn about the legends behind them.
1.Matsya(fish) Avatar
In Lord Vishnu’s Dashavatara, the first avatar, the Matsya avatar is considered to be one of the most important avatars of Vishnu. According to Hindu mythology, Matsya is the fish incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who appeared to save the world from a great flood.
According to the legend, a tiny fish came to king Satyavrata(well-known as Manu) when he was washing in a river, and asked the king to protect him. The king took care of the fish as he grew bigger and bigger, and then one day, the fish told the king that a great flood was coming and that he must build a boat to save himself and the entire world’s population. When the flood came, the fish appeared in its true form as Lord Vishnu and towed the boat to safety.
Lord Vishnu is often depicted as a fish with a human upper body and arms, holding a conch and a discus. The story of the Matsya avatar is believed to be a reminder of the cyclical nature of creation and destruction, and the importance of preserving the balance of the universe.