Page 685 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

ANDHR A PR ADESH AND TELANGANA  683

Avatars of Vishnu

Vishnu, the second god in the Hindu Trinity, personifies the preserving power
of nature. Seen as the most “human” of the gods and the redeemer of humanity,
he is said to have appeared on Earth in several avatars or incarnations, whenever
the cosmic order was disturbed. From the 2nd century, a new devotional worship
of Vishnu’s incarnation as Krishna developed in South India, and, by AD 1000,
Vaishnavism had become widespread. At his most famous temple, in Tiru pati,
Vishnu is worshipped as Venkateshvara, the God who Fulfils Desires. Lakshmi,
the Goddess of Wealth, is his consort.
Main image
The Ten Incarnations of Vishnu
Vishnu descends to earth periodically,
in order to redress the balance
between good and evil. He is said to
have ten main avatars, of which nine
have already appeared; the tenth is
yet to come. Krishna, the
eight avatar
Kavad is a portable wooden shrine, who came
which shows Vishnu in his Krishna to free the
world from
avatar, protected by the serpent oppression.
Adi sesha, and with his brother Balrama.
Matsya, the fish and first avatar, rescued Manu Rama, the seventh avatar, is Buddha, is the
(the first man) and the Vedas from a flood. the embodiment of goodness. ninth avatar
(see p225).

Kurma, the tortoise and second
avatar, churned the ocean to Krishna
produce amrita, the divine nectar.
Parasurama, the sixth
Vamana, the dwarf avatar, came to subdue
priest and the fifth the Kshatriyas who
avatar, saved the world were overpowering
from a demon. the Brahmins.

Varaha, the boar Kalki, the tenth avatar, is
and third avatar, still to come. Vishnu will
saved the earth then appear for the final
from drowning in Narasimha, the half-man, half-lion fourth destruction and will
the ocean by lifting avatar, killed the demon Hiranyakshipu and recreate the world in
it up on his tusks. delivered the earth from his evil deeds. perfect purity.

See also features on Hindu Mythology (see pp28–9), Ganesha (see p471) and Shiva (see p570)

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