What are the implied meanings of the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu

Lord Vishnu took many avatars or incarnations to destroy evil forces and re-establish Dharma on earth. The ten most important avatars are called Dashavatar. In each cycle or Yuga, whenever evil threatens to overwhelm the world, Vishnu’s avatar appears on earth to restore balance and preserve the earth and all its inhabitants. Each of his ten avatars is associated with a particular meaning or significance. 

 

Let us see what the implied meanings of the 10 avatars of Vishnu are:

 

In this avatar, Lord Vishnu was half-fish and half-man. He protected the seed of creation when the universe faced dissolution due to the deluge or flood. The universe was recreated from the seed by the next incarnation, Koorma.

In the form of a tortoise, Prajapati created progeny. It was his duty or karma. The name Koorma is derived from karma. Further, he was also called Kashyap. Since all creation came from Kashyap or Prajapati, he was regarded as Koorma. So, the purpose of the tortoise form was that of creation. Vishnu came into prominence after the post-Brahman era and overshadowed Prajapati, whose actions were also attributed to Vishnu. In this manner, the Koorma incarnation became Vishnu’s second incarnation. The significance of the Koorma avatar is that just as the tortoise retracts its four limbs, head, and tail into its shell, one should also control shadripu or the six foes of the soul – lust, anger, greed, arrogance, attachment, and jealousy.

A demon named Hiranyaksha snatched the earth and took it to hell (Patal). Vishnu took the form of a boar (Varaha) and rescued the earth with its tusks, and placed it on the head of the serpent, Shesh. Then it killed Hiranyaksha. 

 

In this incarnation, Vishnu imparted spiritual knowledge to Sanatkumar and narrated the Varahopanishad to Rubhu. Varaha is a a tusked wild boar. The boar will not accept defeat even at the cost of its life. The seeker of spiritual truths too should not renounce spiritual practice even if he/she confronts death.

As Narasimha avatar (half lion and half-human), he killed the demon king, Hiranyakashipu, and restored righteousness on earth. The appearance of Narasimha from a pillar shows that God is present in animate as well as inanimate things.

Hiranyakashipu represents ignorance. Narasimha killed him by tearing open his abdomen, thereby freeing the embodied soul located in the chakra of spiritual energy or kundalini at the level of the navel.

Vamana was the son of Kashyap and Aditi. He sent the powerful demon king, Bali, to Patal or hell and held him in bondage. The three measures of land that Vamana requested of King Bali signify the all-pervading nature of Vishnu. With his three steps, Vamana covered the earth, space, and the sky (or earth, heaven, and hell).

In his Parashurama avatar, he was a sage, a Brahmin Kshatriya, who ended the tyranny of the Kshatriyas. Kartavirya abducted Kamadhenu, the divine wish-fulfilling cow and her calf from Sage Jamadagni’s ashram. In retaliation, Parashurama slew Kartavirya. Thereafter he went on a pilgrimage to undertake austerities. After he left, Haihayas beheaded Sage Jamadagni to avenge Kartavirya’s death. 

In revenge, Parashurama vowed to circumambulate the earth twenty-one times to rid the earth of evil Kshatriyas and Haihayas. 

Jamadagni symbolizes the burning fire of Sadhana. When the spiritual fire becomes strong, it causes spiritual ecstasy (Parashurama). Spiritual ecstasy (Parashurama) can rise in us only when our arrogance is destroyed and purified. King Kartavirya symbolizes the arrogance born out of valorous deeds. When such ecstasy rises, it kills and purifies temptations arising due to Maya (represented by Parashurama’s mother). Such ecstasy also kills and purifies the Kshatriya qualities like revenge, anger, etc. (killing the warrior clan of Kartavirya).

When it comes to our attempts for God-realization, the initial stage is the worship of the Kuladevata or family deity. Once this is accomplished, the spiritual practice of worshipping Rama, who is true to his word, is a devoted son and faithful husband, and who hits his target with just one arrow, is helpful to many seekers who wish to realize God. 

As Balarama avatar, he was Krishna’s elder brother. He was also the guru of Duryodhana and Bhima. Balarama is often regarded as an avatar of Shesha Naga. The word ‘Bala’ denotes strength, and he is associated with a farmer’s plow. From the evolutionary perspective, the Balarama avatar focused on the importance of agriculture. 

Vishnu incarnated as Krishna to kill the evil king, Kamsa, and also help humans to evolve as a society. He revealed his Vishwaroopam to Arjuna in the Kurukshetra battlefield and gave him the Geetopadesam. By doing so, Krishna revealed the fundamental reality behind life. In evolutionary terms, the avatar served to highlight the strength and power of human intelligence.

Kalki is the last avatar of Vishnu, but he is yet to be born. It is said that he will kill the demon Kali and start a new Satya yuga or Kalki yuga. He will arrive on his horse named Devdatta. He will destroy evil and re-establish Dharma. The priest Yadnyavalkya will help him in this mission. At the age of twenty-five, it is said that he will renounce his body at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. After this, the Krutyug (Satyayug) will begin. The Kalki avatar signifies that when Adharma becomes too excessive, a new order or civilization will be created by the destruction of the old.

Vishnu took different forms in his avatars, but they all had a common goal, which was to overcome evil forces and restore Dharma.  Hence, Vishnu is called the protector and preserver of the universe. Dashavatar Homam can be performed by devotees who wish to invoke the powers of the ten avatars of Vishnu. This Homam has the power to remove planetary doshas, offer protection from enemies, and bestow Moksha or salvation.

Report this Page