The Dasaavtars

Dasavatara

WHAT IS AVATARA?
AVATAR is a word that is commonly heard but rarely understood. In English, the word has come to mean "an embodiment, a bodily manifestation of the Divine." However, the Sanskrit word Avatara means "the descent of God" or simply "incarnation." When the Lord, from the highest realms of the heavens, chooses to come “down to earth”, this descent is called an “Avataara”. Lord Vishnu, the benevolent god who watches over the welfare of humanity, descended to earth and took on various forms to fight catastrophes and wars to save humanity.
WHY SHOULD GOD TAKE “AVTAARAS”?
Lord Krishna has made it clear in "Bhagavad Gita" that
Yadhaa yadhaa hi Dharmasya Glaanir bhavathi Bhaaratha Abhyuthaanam Adharmasya Tad Aatmaanam srujaamyaham
"Whenever there is a decline in the natural order of the Universe, whenever there is a rise in evil beyond certain limits, I manifest myself” and
Paritranaaya Saadhoonaam Vinaasaaya cha Dushkritaam Dharma Samsthapanaarthaayaya Sambhavami yuge yuge
"To protect the virtuous, to destroy evil and to establish Dharma, I recreate myself in every Yuga".
WHY SHOULD HE TAKE THE TROUBLE OF “COMING DOWN” TO US?
He can do all these without coming down. But, it is to give us the reassurance that He is with us by being in our physical proximity that He takes these Avataaras. He can appear in this world as a concrete person and appear to be in flesh and blood and every such manifestation is called an Avatara. The concept of Avataara is a distinguishing feature of Hinduism that is not present in any other religion.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAIN AVATARAS OF LORD VISHNU ?
“Avtaaraa: asankhyeyah” – Avataaras are countless. There is a saying that the Lord Himself has not kept a tab on the number of Avataaras He had taken! Down from the Vedas to Puraanas, as many as 100 + Avataaras have been identified but only 10 as the main Avataaras.
DO THE AVATARAS HAVE ANY BEARING TO THE MODERN THEORY OF EVOLUTION?
We cannot say so exactly. But in a way, we may derive a parallel:
First, the creatures that live solely in water - Matsya;
Then, those that can live in both water and land (amphibian) - Koorma;
Then, those that live solely on land (mammals) - Varaaha;
Then Half-lion and Half-man - a stage between Homo sapiens and animals (Tiryaks) - Nara + Simha;
Then, Homo sapiens with short stature - Vaamana;
Then, the rough and tough and not so civilized human - Parasurama, (Rama with the axe)
Then, the Perfect example of Civilized human - Sri Rama, (Rama with the bow)
Then, one with occupational (Ex: Agricultural) skills - Balarama, (Rama with the plough)
Then, Superhuman - Sri Krsihna
Then, the apocalyptic - Kalki