Presentations Of The Divine - Avatars - AQA - BBC Bitesize - BBC

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1. Brahman
2. Features of the Divine
3. Presentations of the Divine - deities
4. Male deities
5. Female deities
6. Presentations of the Divine - avatars
7. Cosmology

Presentations of the Divine - avatars

An avatar is an incarnation, or representation, of a god. Avatars usually take the form of humans or animals.

Gods take the form of a human or animal for a special reason or to help people, for example in times of need. For example, Vishnu appeared as the avatar Rama to fight and defeat the ten-headed demon Ravana.

Avatars of Vishnu

In Hinduism, avatars are usually incarnations of Vishnu, who is the protector aspect of the Trimurti. He has appeared through avatars many times for important reasons. The most famous avatars of Vishnu are Rama and Krishna.

Hindus believe that there are ten avatars of Vishnu. This means he has appeared or will appear ten times in different forms. Hindus believe that he has appeared nine times already as different forms and is still yet to appear for the last time. The final avatar to appear is called Kalki and it is believed that he will ride in on a white horse to destroy all the evil in the world.

The ten avatars of Vishnu are:

1. Matsya - the Fish
2. Kurma - the Tortoise
3. Varaha - the Boar
4. Narasimha - the Man-Lion
5. Vamana - the Dwarf
6. Parasurama - the Angry Man
7. Lord Rama - the Perfect Man
8. Lord Krishna - the Divine Statesman
9. Balarama - Krishna’s Elder Brother
10. Kalki - the Mighty Warrior

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More guides on this topic

• The nature of human life in Hinduism
• Practices in Hinduism

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