Ten Avatars of Vishnu

The great fish and first incarnation of Vishnu, MATSYA saved the four Vedas from the great flood.

Rajasthan School
Vishnu in his first of ten avatars, as Matsya, c. 1800
Painting (gouache painting on paper)
British Museum

The mighty turtle and second incarnation of Vishnu, KURMA saved the nectar of immortality for the gods by heaving a mountain onto his shell.

Garhwal, India
Vishnu as Kurma, c. 1860-1870
Painting (opaque watercolor on paper)
V&A Museum

The great boar and third incarnation of Vishnu, VARAHA saved the earth goddess, Bhudevi, along with the earth itself from an evil demon that had hidden them deep in the cosmic ocean of creation.

Panjab Hills, India
Dasavatara; Varaha avatara, c. 1700-1710
Painting (gouache painting on paper)
British Museum

A cunning half man/half lion and fourth incarnation of Vishnu, NARASIMHA defeated an evil demon king responsible for torturing followers of Vishnu.

Eastern Deccan, India
Narasinha, the fourth avatar of Vishnu, c. 1780
Painting (opaque watercolor on paper)
V&A Museum

A dwarf and fifth incarnation of Vishnu, VAMANA cleverly defeated the king of the demons, Bali, and banished the fiends to the underworld.

Mughal Dynasty
Vishnu as Vamana, the dwarf incarnation, about to draw water from a well, c. 1810
Painting (Opaque watercolor and gold on paper)
British Museum

Representation of young Rama with an ax, and sixth incarnation of Vishnu, PARASHURAMA’S penchant for fighting led him to destroy the entire corrupt warrior caste. He consequently threw away the ax and devoted his life to paying penance for his violent actions.

Eastern Deccan, India
Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu, c. 1780
Painting (opaque watercolor on paper)
V&A Museum

A noble prince, RAMA is the seventh incarnation of Vishnu. With his consort Sita, he epitomizes the virtues of loyalty, bravery, and the loftiest notions of what it means to be a great parent, spouse, and human being.

Mandi, India
Rama and Sita, c. 1810-1820
Painting (opaque watercolor on paper)
V&A Museum

KRISHNA, the eighth and perhaps most beloved incarnation of Vishnu, is the all-attractive and enchanting one who is thought to be the reincarnation of Rama. Krishna’s love for his consort Radha and devotion to mankind engenders the supreme form of bhakti among his devotees.

Rajasthan, India
Radha and Krishna, 1768
Painting (opaque water color on paper with gold details)
V&A Museum

The Enlightened One and ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, BUDDHA gave up a life of wealth and nobility to pursue divine bliss. He became the focus of the great world religion Buddhism.

Eastern Deccan, India
Buddha in Meditation, c. 1780
Painting (opaque watercolor on paper)
V&A Museum

The final and tenth incarnation of Vishnu, KALKI will appear at the end of the world on his white horse to conquer all evil.

Eastern Deccan, India
Kalki Avatar, c. 1780
Painting (opaque watercolor on paper)
V&A Museum