Avatars of Vishnu are collectively known as ‘Dasavatara’ in the basic Hindu Trinity of Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. The Puranas speak of the 10 avatars of Vishnu.

The first 4 avatars of Lord Vishnu are said to have appeared in the Krita Yuga. The next three avatars appeared in the Treta Yuga, the 8th incarnation in the Dwapara Yuga and the 9th in the Kali Yuga. The 10th is predicted to appear at the end of the Kali Yuga in some 427,000 years time.

Dasavatara of Lord Vishnu
The Dasavatara of Lord Vishnu is discussed below:

1. MatsyaThis was the form of the fish, taken up by Vishnu during a deluge that submerged the earth.

2. Kurma: In this incarnation, Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise.

3. Varaha: Varaha is the 3rd avatar of Vishnu, who appeared in order to defeat the demon Hiranyaksha.

4. Narasimha: A combination of man and lion, Narasimha represents another form of Vishnu.

5. Vamana: The next incarnation of Vishnu is Vamana (the dwarf). This is his 5th Avatar and the first incarnation of the Second Age i.e., Treta Yuga.

6. Parashurama: Vishnu took up the form of Parashurama, the 6th Avatar born as the son of the sage-couple, Jamadagni and Renuka.

7. Rama: In Hinduism, he is considered to be the 7th Avatar of Vishnu and an important manifestation of God. Vishnu came in the form of Rama to rescue the world from the demon, Ravana.

8. Krishna: Lord Krishna is the 9th incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the most popular of all his incarnations.  Lord Krishna was the charioteer of Arjuna in the battle of Kurukshetra in Mahabharata.

9. Buddha: Gautama Buddha is mentioned as an Avatar of Vishnu in the Puranic texts of Hinduism. Lord Vishnu took up the avatar of Buddha, to purify Hinduism of excessive ritualism.

10. Kalki: The Kalki Avatar is the only avatar of Vishnu that is set in the future. Kalki – the 10th and the last avatar of Vishnu, will ride forth on a horse to redeem humankind and re-establish righteousness.

Read more : Avatars of Lord Vishnu