Dashavatara
The Dashavatara are the ten principal incarnations Lord Vishnu is believed to have taken to restore dharma whenever it was under threat.
Matsya
The fish avatar, who saved Manu and the Vedas from a great deluge.
Kurma
The tortoise avatar, who supported Mount Mandara during the churning of the ocean.
Varaha
The boar avatar, who rescued the earth goddess from the cosmic ocean.
Narasimha
The half-man, half-lion avatar, who protected devotee Prahlada.
Vamana
The dwarf avatar, who humbled King Bali in three cosmic strides.
Parashurama
The warrior-sage avatar, wielding an axe to restore balance.
Rama
The ideal king of Ayodhya, hero of the Ramayana.
Krishna
Statesman, philosopher and central figure of the Mahabharata.
Buddha
In many Vaishnava traditions, an avatar teaching compassion and non-violence.
Kalki
The prophesied avatar yet to come, who will end the current age.