The Ten Incarnations of Lord Vishnu

Lord Vishnu is known from his incarnation on the earth whenever and wherever it required to re-establish the principles of religion and moral values. According to Bhagwata Purana, there are total Twenty Two incarnations of Lord Vishnu but out of them ony Ten are considered as major and hence refereed to as Dashavatars (दशावतार). The rest twelve incarnations are refereed as minor or Anshavatars (अंशावतार). Lord Vishnu's super natural preserving, restoring, and protecting powers have been manifested in the world in this series of nine incarnations whereas one is yet to come.The first four are said to have appeared in the Satya Yuga (सतयुग) or the Era of Truth. Next three avatars appeared in the Treta Yuga (त्रेता युग) or the Era of Balance, the eighth descent in the Dwapara Yuga (द्वापर युग) and the ninth in the Kali Yuga (कलियुग)  or Mechine Era. The tenth is predicted to be appear at the end of this Kali Yuga in some 4270 years from the start of Kali Yug after which there will be only 800 more years will be left on earth. This time is very very close from now and is expected within next 400 years. All the incarnations have their mission, types and characteristics according to the time and need. These Ten incarnations are as follows

1. Matsya or the fish, appeared in the Satya Yuga

2. Kurma or the tortoise, appeared in the Satya Yuga

3. Varaha or the boar, appeared in the Satya Yuga

4. Narasimha or the half man and half lion appeared in the Satya Yuga

5. Vamana, the dwarf, appeared in the Treta Yuga

6. Parashuama or Rama with the axe, appeared in the Treta Yuga

7. Rama or  Ramachandra, the prince and king of Ayodhya, appeared in the Treta Yuga

8. Krishna (meaning "dark coloured" or "all attractive") appeared in the Dwapara Yuga along with his brother Balarama, a descent of Sheshnaag

9. Gautama Buddha (meaning "the enlightened one") appeared in the beginning of Kali Yuga (specifically as Siddhartha Gautama)

10. Kalki ("Eternity", or "time", or "The Destroyer of foulness"), has to appear at the end of Kali Yuga, the era in which we currently are

1. Matsya Avatar (The Fish Incarnation)

Appeared in the Satya Yug, Matsya or The Fish Incarnation is the first major incarnation of Vishnu. Lord Vishnu takes the form of a fish in order to retrieve the Vedas from the demon Hayagriva, who stole them from Lord Brahma. Without the Vedas, Creation of the Universe cannot take place. He slayed the demon Hayagriva, recovered the Vedas, and also saved the pious king Satyavrata from the deluge so that life and religion can be preserved for the next cycle of Creation. Hence the misson was protecting the seed of creation at the time of dissolution (महाप्रलय) of the universe. This is preserved at the time of every dissolution of the universe by the fish incarnation. The universe is then recreated from that seed by the next Kurma or tortoise incarnation) and slaying of the demons Hayagriv (Bhagvat Puran), Shankhasur (Skand Puran). The implied meaning of this incarnation was 'Just as a fish swims against the stream of a river, that is towards its origin so also a seeker should go to his place of origin, that is, to The Supreme God'. This is what It teaches us.

2. Kurma Avatar (The Tortoise Incarnation)

Kurma or the tortoise incarnation also appeared in the Satya Yuga. The turtle Incarnation is the second major incarnation of Lord Vishnu. When the deitys (देवताओं) and the deamons (दानवों) agreed for churning the ocean (समुद्र मंथन) in order to get the nectar of immortality, the mount Mandara they were using for the churning started to sink in the ocean. Then The Lord Vishnu took the form of a turtle to bear the weight of that mountain. The mission of this incarnation was creation and supporting of all functions. Assuming the form of a tortoise Prajapati created progeny. This was His duty or karma (कर्म). His name Kurma was later derived from the word karma. Further He was also referred to as Kashyap. Kashyap was Prajapat (प्रजापति) or the creator of progeny. Since the entire creation was derived from Kashyap He was believed to be Kurma. From this, one will realise that the mission in the tortoise form was basically that of Prajapati. After the Post-Brahma era, Lord Vishnu in his physical form came into prominence overshadowing Prajapati and all the latter’s actions were attributed to Lord Vishnu. At the time of churning of the ocean the tortoise who supported the Mandar mountain vibrating with the sweat of deities and demons on Its back was the unrealisable Adikachchapa (Kurma incarnation) and It considered the churning of the mountain on Its back as mere scratching of Its body. The implied meaning of this incarnation was 'Just as the tortoise withdraws its four limbs, head and tail into its shell so also one should control the six foes of the soul called shadripu (षड्रिपु).



3. Varaha Avatar (The Boar Incarnation)

Varaha or the boar incarnation appeared again in the Satya Yug. A demon named Hiranyaksha (हिरन्यक्ष) abducted the earth from our solar system and placed it at the place below the cosmic ocean where all the waste after the cosmic creation was found. No one was willing to go at such a dirty place to retrieve the earth. Then Lord Vishnu has assumed the form of a boar divulging (प्रकट किया) himself from the nose of Lord Brhma and retrieved the earth with its tusks (दांतों से) and installed it on the head of the serpent, Shesh temperoraly. Then he faught with the Hiranyaksha and slew him. He has taken the boar form because boar can roam around in dirty places very easily. In this incarnation Lord Vishnu also preached Spirituality to Sanatkumar and narrated the Varahopanishad to Rubhu. The implied meaning of this incarnation was, Varaha is a one tusked wild boar. The boar does not accept defeat even at the cost of its life. Similarly a seeker too should not give up spiritual practice even if on the verge of death when doing so.

More coming soon

The Worship of Lord Vishnu

Ritualistic worship of Lord Vishnu is prevalent since the Vedic period. The greatest Vaishnav is Shiva and the greatest Shaiva is Vishnu because They worship each other.

The famous verse of Lord Vishnu is the Vishnusahasranam (विष्‍णुसहस्रनाम). Amidst chanting these One thousand Names Lord Vishnu is ritualistically worshipped with an offering of tulsi leaves or lotus flowers while sipping water through the palm (आँचमन) is the most traditional method but this is a very difficult method and and is adopted and suited to sagas (साधु), saints (संत) and one who is doing penance (तपस्या) of lord vishnu. For Householder (ग्रहस्थ) people there are other simpiler mearhods described below.

Like all other gods, Lord Vishnu is also worshiped by the method of sixteen step worship called Shodashopachar Pujan (षोडशोपचार पूजन). Tulsi (तुलसी) leaves are essential for His worship but if lotuses are available, it is even better. Khir (खीर) a sweet delicacy made from milk and rice is Lord Vishnu’s favourite holy sacrament (नैवेद्य). The ritualistic worship should be done throughout the year using a different Name every month. It should be done on the twelfth day (द्वादशी) of the Hindu lunar month. Keshav in the month of Margashirsha (मार्गशीर्ष) , Narayan in Poush (पौष), Madhav in Magh (माघ), Govind in Phalgun (फाल्गुन), Vishnu in Chaitra (चैत्र), Madhusudan in Vaishakh (बैशाख), Trivikram in Jyeshtha (ज्येष्ठ), Vaman in Ashadh (आषाढ़), Shridhar in Shravan (श्रावण), Hrushikesh in Bhadrapad (भाद्रपद), Padmanabh in Ashvin (आश्विन) and Damodar in Kartik (कार्तिक) should be the names used in the worship. The idol (मूर्ति) should be made of gold ideally but if not possible, gold plated silver will also do and if this too is also not possible, clay idol with chrome yellow color painted will also do. It should be draped in white cloth and installed (स्थापित) on a pot (कलश) with Green Mango Leaves surrounding. Every substance in the worship should be offered chanting the twelve letter mantra, “Om Namo Bhagvate Vasudevaya (ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ।). The flowers and fruits offered every month should be different.

The above meathod is for ruital worship which is done once a month however there is an even shorter method with certain substances and mantras for daily worship. These are collection of small mantras that can be chanted with devotional feeling and with tulsi, dhoop, deep, sacrament and water for offering to complete the pooja. This pooja is preferably done in the morning but can also done in other times of the day. It takes less then 5 miniuts to complete. The Mantras are


Vishnustuti (बिष्णुस्तुति)

शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजं । प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत्सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥

Meaning

Dressed in white you are, O all-pervading one (समस्त ब्रह्माण्ड मे व्याप्त), glowing like the colour of moon with four arms. I meditate (चिंतन) of your ever-smiling face, and pray to remove all the obstacles (विघ्न-बाधाएं) from my way.


Vishnu Vandana (बिष्णु – वन्दना)

शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशम् । विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्णं शुभाङ्गम् ॥
लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यम् । वन्दे विष्णुं भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम् ॥

Meaning

Whose embodiment (साकार रूप) itself is a true (परम) serenity (शान्ति) giving, who reclining on serpent (भुजंग) shesha (शेषनाग), from whose navel (नाभि) springs (प्रकट करता है) the lotus, who is god of the gods. Who is also the basis of this universe, who is present everywhere or omnipresent (सर्वव्याप्त) like the sky, whose character resembles that of clouds, whose body is auspicious (शुभकारी). Who is the consort (पति) of the Godess Lakshmi, whose eyes are like lotus, who is attainable by Yogis through meditation. I adore (वंदना करता हूं) to such Lord Vishnu, who appeases (शांत करते हैं) all sorrows (संतापों), who is the one Lord of all the worlds.


Shri Vaishno Shodshanamstotram (श्रीविष्णोषोडशनामस्तोत्रम्)

औषधेचिन्तयेद्विष्णुं भोजने च जनार्दनम् । शयने पद्मनाभं च विवाहे च प्रजापतिम् ॥
युद्धे चक्रधरं देवं प्रवासे च त्रिविक्रमम् । नारायणं तनुत्यागे श्रीधरं प्रियसंगमे ॥
दु:स्वप्ने स्मर गोविन्दं संकटे मधुसूदनम् । कानने नारसिंहं च पावके जलशायिनम् ॥
जलमध्ये वराहं च पर्वते रघुनन्दनम् । गमने वामनं चैव सर्वकार्येषु माधवम् ॥
षोडशैतानि नामानि प्रातरुत्थाय य: पठेत् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोके महीयते ॥

Meaning

One should contemplate (चिंतन करना) of Vishnu when consuming medicines to get it effective and Janardan when eating as he provides us the food. Padmanabh before sleeping and Prajapati during ones marriage since he has created the universe and is responsible for procreation (सन्तानोत्पत्ति). Lord Chakradhar (Vishnu or Krushna) when fighting a battle to win it and Trivikram during a journey to make the journey sucessfull. Narayan at the time of death to get salvation and Shridhar during the Sex intercourse (समागम) with the beloved (परमप्रिय) to thank him for providing the ablity and opportunity to enjoy this. Remembering Govind in case of Nightmare (दुस्वप्न), Madhusudan in a calamity (विपत्ति). Narsinha when lost in the forest and the form of Vishnu in the celestial ocean (क्षीरसागर) when threatened by the fire, His Varaha incarnation when there is fear of drowning (डूबना) and Raghunandan when there is fear of fall from a mountain or height. Baman after loosing everything as only he can return them all as he did it in his Baman incarnation with King Bali when he lost his everything and Madhav when performing day-to-day chores (काम-काज). Whoever recites these sixteen names out of one thousand names of Lord Vishnu after waking up in the morning, He gets free from all sins (पापों से) and goes to Lord Vishnu's World at the end that means gets salvation (मुक्ति) from the cycle of life and death.


Vishnu Yachana (विष्णु याचना)

लाभस्तेषां जयस्तेषां कुतस्तेषां पराजयः ।
येषामिन्दीवरः श्याम: हृदयस्थो जनार्दनः ॥

Meaning

For those, who have him in their hearts, who has the splendours (भव्यता) of a blue lotus (नीलकमल), who has a dusty skin, who is empathetic (समानुभूतिमय) to the pains and sorrows (संतापों) of people, theirs is all gain and gain, theirs is all victory and victory, how can they ever face defeat (पराजय).


This completes the collection of small mantras that can be recited (पाठन) by the devotee once a day for doind his worship in todays fast life. One can also follow the meenings of these Shlokas translated here in there day to day life on vasrous moments as described.

I would like to give speical thanks to Mr. S. L. Abhyankar for providing me translation of "Vishnu Yachana" as well as helping me alot in getting me correct translations of other shlokas through a wonderful blog "Learn Sanskarit" (Click here) run by Mr. Himanshu Pota for a grate cause.

My next post will focus on an overview of 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

Lord Shri Vishnu

हरि अनंत हरिकथा अनंता । कहहिं सुनहिं बहुबिधि सब संता ॥

These lines form Shri Ramcharitmanas written by Gosvami Tulsidas around a little more then 400 years ago explains everything about almighty Lord Vishnu in one phrase.

Lord Vishnu is the all-pervasive Lord who expands into everything. He is in every living and non-living. He is inside you and me. He is the maintainer of this Universe (ब्रह्माण्ड) and the complete cosmic creation. He is called Vishnu because He overcomes all.

The Traditional Sanskrit explanation of the name Vishnu involves the root Vis, meaning "to pervade" (व्याप्त होना) as in Rigveda and a suffix nu meaning "all" (समस्त), translating into "The All-Pervading One" (समस्त ब्रह्माण्ड मे व्याप्त). He is also called Narayana (नारायण), which means the shelter, resting place or ultimate goal of all living entities which inturns means Salvation (मोक्ष). Thats why is has been said that one should chant word Narayan at the time of death to get salvation. There are other names of Lord Vishnu chanted on various instances of life explained in the next post of this blog.

According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Vishnu is unborn (अजन्मा) and he is the only one who never ends. Lord Brahma (ब्रह्मा) and Lord Shiva (शिव) are created by him at the time of cosmic creation and are of equal in all powers to him but for the purpose of creation and maintinance of this universe respectively. He himself however is taken the responciblity of distroying of evil (अशुभ, दुष्ट) powers in the Universe for the restoration of religion (धर्म) or moral order. He himself said in Shrimad Bhagavad Gita (श्रीमद्‍भगवद्‍गीता) which is one of the ancent epic (महाकाव्य) and Sacred Scripture (पवित्र धर्मग्रन्थ) narrated by the Lord Vishnu himself during his Krishna Incarnation (अवतार) at time of battle of Mahabharata (महाभारत) around 5500 years ago

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत। अभ्युथानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥

परित्राणाय साधुनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् । धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ॥

Meaning

Whenever and wherever there is a decline in moral order, and a predominant rise of irreligion (अधर्म) or demoral, O descendant (वंशज) of India. At that time I descend or come down myself to deliver the pious (धर्मनिष्ठा) and to annihilate (विनाश करने) the miscreants (दुष्टो), as well as to reestablish the principles of religion and moral values, I Myself appear, Era after Era.

According to Rig-Veda (One of the most ancent litrature written by Lord Bhramha itself), the principle nature of Lord Vishnu is trur serene (परम शांत). He is philosophical (स्थितप्रज्ञ) between passion (अनुराग) and reclusion (वैराग्य). In his commonest forms, Lord Vishnu is portrayed in a four armed form (चतुर्भुजी स्वरूप) having dark blue complexion, the color of passive with four hands holding Conch (शंख), Cosmic Disc (सुदर्शन चक्र) whirling on his index finger, Lotus Flower (कमल पुष्प) and Mace (गदा).

The Conch represents the five basic elements of this universe called Soil, Water, Fire, Sky and Wind. It spreads the primordial (आदिकालीन) sound of Om (ओउम) which is said to be the sound of the original vibration of universal creation. The Lord also blows his conch in calling everyone to turn to the higher reality rather than remaining in the darkness of material existence. This calling is the inner-voice which nudges all beings of conscience to seek the absolute truth. The second is Cosmic Disk or Sudarshan Chakra (सुदर्शन चक्र). The word Sudarshan is derived from two words, su (सु) and darshan (दर्शन). It means the vision (दर्शन) of which is auspicious (सु). The word Chakra is derived from chruhu (चृ:) which means movement and kruhu (कृ:) which means to do. Thus chakra means that which is moving in a circle. Out of all weapons this is the only one which is constantly in motion. It signifies reminder of the cycle of time and limitless power and light that destroys all forms of dark and ignorance. It is also a lethal (प्राण घातक) weapon that he uses against the demons (दानवों) and evil powers. The third hands hold a Lotus which is a symbol of creation. The energy which emanates from Vishnu’s navel (नाभि), that is from the Para (दृष्टांत) mode of speech is depicted (चित्रित) as a Lotus. This energy of creation is not derived from Lord Vishnu alone but from the union of Lord Vishnu and Godess Lakshmi, his wife. Lord Vishnu is also named Padmanabh due to the Lotus which springs (प्रकट होता है) out of his navel. In his fourth hand, he holds a Mace which represents the cosmic intellect or knowledge. It is called Kaumodaki (कुमोदकी), meaning that which captivates (मोह लेना) the mind. It is also associated with time, which destroys all, and is thus also related to Kali (कलि), the power of time.

He also wears a Victory Garland (वैजन्ती माला) which has five rows of flowers that the Lord wears indicates the five senses and the Lord’s illusory (मायावी) power which affect the senses. The fragrance (सुगंध) coming out of it represents the subtle elements found within the material manifestation (अभिव्यक्ति). All this reflects the Lord’s mastery of the whole universe, which is created out of the mixing or revolving of the five elements and the universal mind and intellect. The Srivatsa or lock of hair on the Lord’s chest, which indicates the Goddess of Fortune, represents the products of the material creation, or the objects of enjoyment for which all living beings seek. And the gem, called Kaustubha (Treasure of the Ocean) represents the one who enjoys these products. Thus, this world of the enjoyer and the enjoyed is but a piece of decoration for the Lord, a spark of His energy. He is represented formless (निराकार) ether.

Lord Vishnu is often depicted as reclining on serpent (भुजंग) shesha (शेषनाग), the coiled, seven-headed snake floating on celestial ocean (क्षीरसागर) a cosmic waters that represents the peaceful Universe. This pose symbolizes the calm and patience in the face of fear and worries that the poisonous snake represents. The message here is that you should not let fear overpower you and disturb your peace. The vehicle of Lord Vishnu is Garuda the Peacock (गरुड़) the king of the bird empowered with the courage and speed to spread the knowledge of the Vedas, Garuda is an assurance of fearlessness at the time of calamity (विपत्ति).

There are Four Personages of Lord Vishnu have been described in the Vishnu Puran. The first reclines on Shesh, the second nurtures creation, the third assumes an incarnation and reinstates Righteousness (धर्म) and the fourth destroys unrighteousness and evils. Lord Vishnu has four main parts. With one He becomes the unmanifest Brahma, with the second Prajapati like Marich etc., with the third He is the time and with the fourth He is in the form of animate and inanimate creation. Thus in these four ways He exists in creation.

It was Vishnu who started the tradition of the Guru (गुरु) and the disciple (शिष्य). Narayan is the first Guru and Narad, the son of Lord Brahma is the first disciple. Since the Guru’s very mission is to take His disciple to the Final Liberation or Salvation, it is said that one must seek knowledge from Sadashiv and the Final Liberation from Janardan, that is Vishnu (ज्ञानं इच्‍छेत्‌ सदाशिवात्‌ मोक्षं इच्‍छेत्‌ जनार्दनात्‌) According to the Shaiva sect the Guru-disciple tradition began with Lord Shiva, His first disciple being Vishnu or Parvati.

Lord Vishnu is also known as master of all sciences and espically the science of all illusions (माया) for which he is also called Lord of all illusions or Mayapati (मायापति). Lord Vishnu is also called Hari (हरि), or one who removes the darkness of all illusions which take control over the human beings making him feel as if he himself is an entity seperate form the god. This is required to run this world otherwise everybody will immidiately tend to reach back to the god and the whole world will end prematurely. Lord Vishnu do this with help of his illusion power godess called Yogmaya (योगमाया) whom he has created for the purpose. She then take contorl of the minds of all the living beings by the order of Lord Vishnu and its the Lord Vishnu only who can get rid of it from once mind if one worships him and hence called Hari. Lord Shiva also known as Rudra (रूद्र) and Lord Bhahma also known as the Supreme Father (परमपिता) has also the power of getting rid or illusion being equal to Lord Vishnu and hence them all together refereed as Trinity (त्रिदेव) in the various texts of Hindu Mythology. At annihilation (महाप्रलय) or the time of end of all existances, Lord Shiva and Lord Bhrahma gets merged into Lord Vishnu and then Lord Vishnu finally vanishes his four armed form (चतुर्भुजी स्वरूप) and attains his formless state (निराकार रूप) which again can do the cosmic creation of the universe. Thats why Lord Vishnu is worshipped in both shape form (साकार रूप) and shapeless form (निराकार रूप) by the devotees.

The next post will focus on the methods of doing worship of Lord Vishnu.