The 21 Avataras

600 42 48
                                    

We all know about the 'Dashavataras', the Ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
Matsya
Koorma
Varaha
Narasimha
Vamana
ParushuRama
SriRama
BalaRama
SriKrishna
Kalki
So Are there only 10 Incarnations of the Lord? We even know some incarnations which are definitely not in the list. What about them? Why aren't they in the list?
Let us find out......

Everything in this Universe is a manifestation of the Lord. Then why need of an Incarnation.

Paritranaya Sadhunam
Vinasayacha Dushkrutam!
Dharma Samsthapanardhaya
Sambhavami yuge yuge!!
For Saving the Good, Slaying the Bad and Establishing Righteousness. I Incarnate Time to Time.
The Lord himself has said the reason in Bhagavad-Gita.
We are familiar with the Buddhavatara. In some lists of Dashavatara, in place of BalaRama there exists Buddha. This states that there are Avatars apart from the Dashavataras. What are they?

According to Srimad Bhagavata there are 21 incarnations of the Lord which are considered the most Important.

1. HiranyaGarbha
He is the First Brahma. The Creator of the Universe and also the other Nine Bramhas. He is born from the stomach of Lord Narayana and is regarded as the First Incarnation of the Lord .

 He is born from the stomach of Lord Narayana and is regarded as the First Incarnation of the Lord

Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.

2. Kumaras
The Kumaras are four sages (rishis) who roam the universe as children or Bramhacharis.
They are named Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanatkumara. They are described as the first mind-born creations and sons of the creator-god HiranyaGarbha ( Bramha). Born from Brahma's mind, the four Kumaras undertook lifelong vows of celibacy (Bramhacharya) against the wishes of their father. They are said to wander throughout the materialistic and spiritualistic universe without any desire but with purpose to teach. All four brothers studied Vedas from their childhood, and always travelled together.
They are said to be the second Incarnation of the Lord.

They are said to be the second Incarnation of the Lord

Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Things You Probably Dont Know from Hindu TextsWhere stories live. Discover now