The **Dashavatara** refers to the ten principal incarnations (avatars) of the Hindu god Vishnu, who is considered the preserver of the universe in the Hindu trinity (Trimurti). These incarnations are believed to manifest during times of crisis to restore cosmic order. The ten avatars are:

1. Matsya (The Fish): Vishnu took the form of a fish to save the sacred scriptures (Vedas) and mankind from a great deluge.

2. Kurma (The Tortoise): In this form, Vishnu supported Mount Mandara on his back during the churning of the ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality (Amrita).

3. Varaha (The Boar): Vishnu took the form of a boar to rescue the Earth (personified as the goddess Bhudevi) from the demon Hiranyaksha, who had submerged it in the cosmic ocean.

4. Narasimha (The Man-Lion): To protect his devotee Prahlada and defeat the tyrannical demon king Hiranyakashipu, Vishnu appeared as a half-man, half-lion and killed the demon in a way that circumvented a boon that made him nearly invincible.

5. Vamana (The Dwarf): Vishnu incarnated as a dwarf Brahmin to humble the demon king Bali. Vamana asked for three paces of land and then expanded to cover the entire universe in three steps, thus reclaiming the worlds.

6. Parashurama (The Warrior with an Axe): Vishnu incarnated as Parashurama to rid the world of corrupt and oppressive Kshatriya rulers. He wields an axe given to him by Shiva.

7. Rama (The Prince of Ayodhya): As the hero of the epic Ramayana, Rama is the virtuous prince who embarks on a quest to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana, exemplifying righteousness (dharma).

8. Krishna (The Divine Cowherd): Krishna is one of the most widely venerated incarnations. His teachings in the Bhagavad Gita, his role in the Mahabharata, and his playful and mischievous deeds as a child and youth have made him a beloved figure.

9. Balarama (The Farmer) or sometimes Buddha: In some traditions, Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna, is considered the ninth avatar. In others, the Buddha is included as the ninth avatar, representing compassion and the rejection of animal sacrifices.

10. Kalki (The Warrior on a White Horse): Kalki is the prophesied future avatar of Vishnu, who will appear at the end of the current age (Kali Yuga) to restore righteousness and destroy evil.

These avatars collectively embody the divine role of Vishnu in maintaining balance in the universe and protecting it from chaos and destruction.

               JAI SHREE RAM!!     HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA!!