The Preserver is Vishnu, one of the Trimurti. Because he is the Supreme Being, he has always assumed an incarnation to bring order to chaotic situations on earth. There have been countless occasions when the world has seen catastrophes, with evil winning out over light. When tyranny was in power and bad monarchs, tyrants, and demons terrorised the population, God would manifest. Several times throughout history, Mother Earth has had to bear the weight of sin, wickedness, and the darkness that has engulfed her.
According to the Bhagavatha Purana, Vishnu is the Supreme Being who takes on a human form and travels to earth to bring about justice. The Puranas claim that Vishnu has assumed a number of Avatars (manifestation). There have reportedly been 23 crucial incarnations thus far, and the 24th will occur right now, in Kalyug, when God manifests as Kalki.
Below is a list of Vishnu’s 24 forms and how each one differs from the others in appearance and function.
Purush Adi
The Adi Purush is Vishnu’s main and original avatar. He represents the beginning of all existence on earth since he is laying on a serpent’s body. A lotus grows from God’s navel in the representation of the Adi Purush, and Brahma lives there. All-powerful is Vishnu.
(4) Kumars
The first four conscious creatures were named Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana, and Sanat Kumara by Brahma, the God of Creation. They assisted Brahma in the creation of life, despite the fact that they were still newborns.
Narada
One of Vishnu’s avatars was Narada. He took the shape of a sage and could instantly transition between realms while holding a tambura (a string instrument) and a kartal (a percussion instrument). Narada was a singer and storyteller who was revered as the gods’ messenger. He was regarded as the first journalist because of his ability to easily transmit news from one God or Devta to another.
Narayana Nara
The Supreme Being, Vishnu, manifested as the twin sages Nara and Narayana. The twin sages were created to uphold righteousness, justice, and redress wrongs. They created Dharma on this planet. Given their combined might, Nara and Narayana were able to defeat Shiva’s destructive Pashupathastra via meditation.
Kapila
In the Vedic era, Kapila was a famous sage who is mentioned in the Mahabharata. The Samkhya (formula) School of Philosophy was established by him. Samkhya was the method for learning about perception, inference, and source-proofing.
Dattatraya
Dattatraya was a saint who had mastered yoga who was also a Triimurti and shown as having three heads and six hands. They each stood for Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. He combined the characteristics of the three main Hindu deities.
Yajna
Yajneshwra, the name of Vishnu, is a depiction of Yajna, the sacrifice fire. To request a wish from the Gods, people light a sacrificial fire and make sacrifices. Indra, the King of the Gods, is referred to as Yajna in several early Vedic scriptures.
Rishabha
Vishnu took on the form of a preacher and spiritual leader in one of his incarnations. The founder of Jainism, he was Rishabha. Having escaped the cycle of life and death himself, he led humanity on the road to redemption.
Prithu
The first Sacred King on Earth, Prithu, served as Vishnu’s avatar. He was in charge of planting all the vegetation and cultivating the crops. On the whole surface of the world, agriculture and farming were first introduced by Prithu. This holy King spent his entire life teaching people about religion and serving God.
Dhanvantari
The God of Ayurveda is an incarnation of Vishnu. After the sea had undergone the hard churning that the Devas and Asuras refer to as Amrit Manthan, he emerged from the water. He is the God who manifested with the Amrit pot (nectar of immortality). For achieving good health, he is revered by the public.
Mohini
The only female incarnation of Vishnu was that of Mohini. The jug of Amrit (nectar) belonged to the Devas, but the Asuras (demons) had stolen it by force. The latter begged God to save them since they were defenceless.
Vishnu changed into the lovely Mohini. She tricked the Asuras (demons) into giving her the jug of Amrit. She then gave the nectar to each God in turn. With his Sudarshan Chakra, Vishnu, who is Mohini, also severed Rahu’s head.
Hayagreeva
In this incarnation, Vishnu appeared as both an animal and a person. He was Hayagreeva, a person of wisdom and understanding. He had the appearance of a guy with a horse’s physique. When he recovered the Vedas, which had been taken by the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, he restored knowledge. He brought back insight and illumination.
Vyasa
Vyasa, an eternal sage, was in charge of writing and compiling many of the Vedas. He was known as Ved Vyasa, and he was the author of the Mahabharata as well as the father of Pandu and Dhritarashtra.
Avatar Matsya
According to the Matsya Purana, Vishnu takes the shape of Matsya, a creature that is half man and half fish. When the big floods happen, Matsya alerts Manu, the human race’s supreme commander, and helps him save mortals from this natural disaster. He assists Manu in preserving the Vedas and the seeds of all living things on earth.
Avatar Kurma
Vishnu assumed the shape of a hybrid tortoise and human. The purpose of Vishnu’s incarnation was to help the Devas and Asuras churn the ocean by stabilising Mount Mandara on his shell while the Devas and Asuras churned the water. During this, Vishnu carried the weight of the universe on his back.
Avatar Varaha
Vishnu manifested as a tusked, half-boar, half-man creature. When he tosses Bhoodevi, who stands for the earth, into the ocean’s depths, he kills the demon Hiranyaksha. He uses his tusks to pull Bhoodevi from the depths and bring her back to the surface.
Narasimha
Hiranyakashipu, the malevolent demon king, thought he was invincible until Vishnu took on this terrifying and ferocious form, ending his rule. He ridiculed the notion of the Supreme Being known as God and pressed his son Prahlad to prove His existence. A furious Hiranyakashipu kicked the pillar next to Prahlad after the fervent worshipper of Vishnu said that God was everywhere. When Vishnu appeared as Narasimha, he brutally assassinated Hiranyakashipu. In order to bring about justice, peace, and various forms of Dharma on earth, Vishnu annihilated the demon king.
Vamana
As the diminutive Brahmin known as Vamana, Vishnu assumed this shape. He adopted this form in order to check the demon king Mahabali’s rising might. Vamana, the dwarf lad, was given whatever he wanted by King Mahabali. Vamana said that all he required was a plot of ground that was three paces wide. Vamana then developed his form further and scaled the universe with two enormous steps. The King honoured his promise and extended his head. Mahabali was sent to the underworld by Vishnu when Vamana put his foot on his head.
Parashurama
With an axe in hand, Parashurama was a ferocious Kshatriya Brahmin. It was a two-edged avatar since Parashurama was a sage who used the shaft to destroy the rule of the wicked Kshatriyas. The Kshatriyas had turned bad and were abusing their position of authority to put others through agony.
Rama
Rama is a major Hindu god and a pivotal character in the epic Ramayana. He ultimately puts an end to the terrible demon ruler of Lanka, Ravana, who was born into a Kshatriya household as the oldest son of King Dasharatha. After that, he frees his wife Sita from Ravana’s captivity. Rama is regarded as the ideal male role model. He endures painful situations, but he fulfils his responsibility as the fair and righteous king of the people of his country, Ayodhya, even if he loses Sita in the process.
Balarama
Balarama, Krishna’s older sibling, is an important Vishnu incarnation. He appears as Krishna’s older brother in the epic Mahabharata. Bhima of the Pandavas and Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas, learned how to use the weapon Gadha from Balarama (mace). Along with Krishna, he has several adventures in bringing the villainous King Kansa to justice.
Krishna
An important manifestation of Vishnu is Krishna, who serves as the Pandavas’ counsellor and Arjuna’s charioteer during the Battle of Kurukshetra in the Mahabharata epic. He also overthrows Kansa, his malevolent maternal uncle. The Puranas also have clear descriptions of Krishna’s early life.
Buddha
Siddhartha, a prince from a noble lineage, was the birth name of God. Gautama Buddha was his name, and he became wise under the Bodhi tree. People from various walks of life were taught the Buddhist principles by Siddhartha. By following the Noble Eightfold Path, Buddhism puts an end to human suffering.
Kalki
Vishnu has not yet taken birth in this incarnation, and people are eagerly awaiting the Kalki avatar. Vishnu is seen riding a white horse and wielding a brilliant sword. Vishnu assumes this form in order to vanquish Kali, the embodiment of all evil, and to mark the beginning of the Kalkiyuga or Satyayuga. To put a stop to all wrongdoing and restore Dharma, Vishnu repeatedly assumes human form. He is the universe’s Supreme Protector and Preserver.