10 Incarnations of Lord Vishnu
Whenever dharma declines, Vishnu incarnates on earth to restore balance. From the fish who saved Manu in the primordial flood, to Kalki who will close this age — the ten avatars trace the arc of cosmic evolution.
मत्स्य
Matsya is the first of the ten primary avatars of Vishnu — the fish incarnation.
कूर्म
Kurma is the second avatar of Vishnu — the cosmic tortoise.
वराह
Varaha is the third avatar of Vishnu — the cosmic boar.
नरसिंह
Narasimha is the fourth avatar of Vishnu — the half-man, half-lion.
वामन
Vamana is the fifth avatar of Vishnu — the dwarf Brahmin.
परशुराम
Parashurama is the sixth avatar of Vishnu — the warrior Brahmin sage with the axe (parasu).
राम
Rama is the seventh avatar of Vishnu and the ideal man (Maryada Purushottama).
कृष्ण
Krishna is the eighth avatar of Vishnu and in many traditions is considered the Purna Avatara — the complete and direct incarnation of Vishnu himself.
बुद्ध
Buddha — Siddhartha Gautama, the historical founder of Buddhism — is considered the ninth avatar of Vishnu in the standard Dashavatara list.
कल्कि
Kalki is the tenth and final avatar of Vishnu — yet to come.