Dashavatara facts for kids

The Hindu god Vishnu (in the middle) surrounded by his ten main forms. From top left, going around: Matsya (fish); Kurma (turtle); Varaha (boar); Narasimha (man-lion); Vamana (dwarf); Parashurama (warrior); Rama (prince); Krishna (blue god); Buddha (teacher); and Kalki (future warrior).

The Dashavatara are the ten main forms, or avatars, of Vishnu. Vishnu is an important Hindu god. Hindus believe Vishnu comes to Earth as an avatar to make things right again. The word Dashavatara means "ten avatars." Dasha means "ten," and avatara means "incarnation" or "form."

The list of these ten forms can be a bit different depending on the region or group of people. Sometimes, Balarama (Krishna's brother) is on the list, and sometimes Gautama Buddha is. The most common list includes Krishna and Buddha. All of these forms have already appeared, except for one: Kalki. Kalki is expected to appear at the end of the current age, called the Kali Yuga.

Some people think the order of the Dashavatara shows how life and understanding have developed over time, similar to modern ideas of evolution. Some Hindu texts also say there are many more avatars of Vishnu, even up to 24!

What Does Dashavatara Mean?

The word "Dashavatara" (दशावतार) simply means "ten avatars" or "ten forms."

• "Dash" (दश) means "ten."
• "Avatara" (अवतार) means "a form" or "an incarnation."

The Ten Avatars of Vishnu

Vishnu has countless forms, but the Dashavatara are considered his ten most important and complete forms.

Different Lists of Avatars

There are a few different versions of the Dashavatara list. Most lists have Krishna as the eighth avatar and Buddha as the ninth. However, some groups, especially in South India, list Balarama as the eighth and Krishna as the ninth. This is because they do not see Buddha as a form of Vishnu.

Here is a common list of the Dashavatara:

In Ancient Texts

Many ancient Hindu texts, called Puranas, mention the common Dashavatara list with Krishna and Buddha. For example, the Garuda Purana has this list.

Stories of the Avatars

The first five Dashavataras carved on a temple tower in Udupi, Karnataka.

1. Matsya (The Fish): Once, a great flood was coming to destroy the world. King Manu found a tiny fish that grew bigger and bigger. Manu realized it was Vishnu. Vishnu, as a giant fish with a horn, saved Manu and all creatures on a boat during the flood.
2. Kurma (The Turtle): Gods and demons were churning the Ocean of Milk to get a special drink of immortality. They used a mountain as a churning stick, but it started to sink. Vishnu turned into a giant turtle to hold the mountain up, helping them finish the task.
3. Varaha (The Boar): A demon named Hiranyaksha kidnapped the Earth and dragged it to the bottom of the cosmic ocean. Vishnu took the form of a mighty boar. He fought the demon for a thousand years, won, and lifted the Earth out of the ocean with his tusks.
4. Narasimha (The Man-Lion): The demon king Hiranyakashipu hated Vishnu and tried to kill his own son, Prahlada, for worshipping Vishnu. Vishnu appeared as a half-man, half-lion creature. He killed the demon king, protecting his devotee Prahlada and ending the persecution.
5. Vamana (The Dwarf): A powerful king named Bali had taken over the three worlds. The gods asked Vishnu for help. Vishnu appeared as a small dwarf boy. He asked Bali for just three steps of land. When Bali agreed, Vamana grew into a giant. With two steps, he covered the Earth and the heavens. For the third step, Bali offered his own head. Vishnu stepped on Bali's head, sending him to the underworld, but also granting him immortality.
6. Parashurama (The Warrior with an Axe): Parashurama was a fierce warrior priest. A king once stole his father's divine cow. In anger, Parashurama killed the king and his army. When the king's sons killed Parashurama's father, Parashurama vowed to destroy all evil kings on Earth. He is believed to still be alive, doing penance in the mountains.
7. Rama (The Prince of Ayodhya): Rama is a very popular avatar, known as the ideal man and a symbol of righteousness. His story is told in the Ramayana. While in exile, his wife Sita was kidnapped by the demon king Ravana. Rama traveled to Lanka, defeated Ravana, and rescued Sita. His return home is celebrated during the festival of Diwali.

1. Krishna or Balarama:
   • Krishna is a widely worshipped god. He was born to defeat his evil uncle, Kamsa. He plays a big role in the Mahabharata, especially as the charioteer of Arjuna in the Kurukshetra War. Krishna represents love, duty, and compassion. His birthday is celebrated as Krishna Janmashtami.
   • Balarama is Krishna's older brother. Some lists include him as the eighth avatar, especially when Krishna is seen as the source of all avatars.
2. Buddha, Vithoba, or Jagannath:
   • Gautama Buddha, who started Buddhism, is often seen as an avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism. Some Hindu texts say he taught non-violence.
   • In some parts of India, like Maharashtra, the local deity Vithoba replaces Buddha as the ninth avatar.
   • In Odisha, the deity Jagannath is sometimes considered the ninth avatar instead of Buddha.
3. Kalki (The Future Warrior): Kalki is the last avatar of Vishnu, who will appear at the very end of the current age, the Kali Yuga. He will ride a white horse and carry a shining sword. He will come when evil is everywhere and goodness has disappeared. Kalki will end the Kali Yuga and start a new age of truth.

How the Avatars Developed

Buddha's Place

Gautama Buddha was included as one of Vishnu's avatars around 330 to 550 CE. There are some similarities between the stories of Buddha and Vishnu. For example, both are said to appear when goodness is declining, to help bring things back to order. By the 8th century CE, Buddha was commonly listed as an avatar of Vishnu in many Hindu texts.

A temple door showing the Dashavatara, with Vithoba instead of Buddha. This is at Sree Balaji Temple, Goa. From left top to bottom: Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Vithoba, Vamana. From right top to bottom: Narasimha, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, and Kalki.

Krishna's Special Role

Some Hindu traditions, especially those that follow the Bhagavata Purana, believe that Krishna is the original Supreme God, and all other avatars come from him. These groups worship Krishna as the main source of all forms of God.

Even though there are lists with many more avatars, the idea of ten main avatars for Vishnu became widely accepted before the 10th century CE.

See also

In Spanish: Dashavatara para niños