Deity

Dashavatara

दशावतारDaśāvatāra

verses
17
books
7
chapters
15
Members
Matsya, Kurma

What the texts say

In the Agni Purana, the Dashavatara are the ten incarnations of Vishnu. Agni Purana 1.16.12 The Bhagavata Purana tells how Vishnu took the form of a fish, Matsya, and protected Vaivasvata Manu on a boat when the whole world lay deep in water. Bhagavatam 1.3.15 In the same text, Vishnu took the form of the boar Varaha and lifted the earth from the nether regions of the universe. Bhagavatam 1.3.7 Vishnu became Kurma the tortoise, whose shell was the pivot for Mount Mandara, the churning rod of the gods and the asuras. Bhagavatam 1.3.16 In the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu will appear at the beginning of Kali Yuga as Buddha, the son of Anjana. Bhagavatam 1.3.24 At the meeting of two yugas, Vishnu will be born as Kalki, son of Vishnu Yasha, when almost all rulers have become plunderers. Bhagavatam 1.3.25

Where to read

Every verse that names Dashavatara, book by book.

  1. Skanda Purana

    5 verses · 4 chapters

    • 2.7.20.32

      Again he sets in order—each in its own place—sages, gods, ancestors, worlds, dharmas, and social orders; and again occur the ten descents of the divine Viṣṇu, the discus-bearer.

    • 7.2.18.48

      “O god, how do you not know what Brahmā said at that time—that your ten avatāras, beginning with Matsya and Kūrma, formerly manifested for divine play?”

    • 7.4.8.62

      With nine (marks/forms) he is the ninefold manifestation, who grants everything—one who is hard to attain even for the gods. With ten he is the Ten Avatāras, the tenth (form/mark) bestowing kingship—of this there is no doubt.

  2. Agni Purana

    4 verses · 4 chapters

    • 1.16.12

      The incarnations are innumerable—past, future, and the rest. Any person who recites or listens to the account of Viṣṇu’s ten incarnations (Daśāvatāra) …

    • 3.43.7

      In the northern direction, (place) the ten (forms) beginning with Matsya; in the southeast, (place) Caṇḍikā; likewise in the southwest, having installed Ambikā, (place) Sarasvatī in the northwest.

    • 3.46.13

      He is Puruṣottama (the Supreme Person), bearing the eightfold discus-forms; He is arranged as the nine Vyūhas and marked by nine distinctive signs. He is the Lord of the ten Avatāras; among the ten and the one (beyond the ten), He is…

  3. Narada Purana

    4 verses · 3 chapters

    • 1.3.71.159

      May Nṛhari (the Man-Lion Lord), radiant like many moons, whose gaze is lovingly fixed upon Lakṣmī’s face, and who is accompanied by the ten avatāras, bestow happiness.

    • 1.4.119.14

      Then, O best of twice-born ones, on the tenth lunar day (Daśamī) of the bright fortnight in the month of Nabhasya (Bhādrapada), one should undertake the vow called the Daśāvatāra-vrata; and on that occasion one should bathe in a reservoir…

    • 2.1.28.29

      For the very sake of upholding Dharma, that all-powerful Lord Viṣṇu—who makes all things arise—assumed the ten avatāras, and in taking those incarnations He encountered suffering in many ways.

  4. Narasimha Purana

    1 verse · 1 chapter

    • 1.54.6

      O King, the ten avatars of Hari, the destroyer of sins, have been narrated to you by me. That devotee of Narasimha who always listens to this daily, goes to Vishnu.

Also named in

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