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Sign in to savethumb|Hindu god Vishnu's ten major avatars (Balarama-Krishna version) [[Dasavatara shrine, 18th century ivory, National Museum, New Delhi]]
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An avatar is an incarnation or earthly form of a deity, most notably in Hindu tradition where the god Vishnu is believed to have taken ten major forms throughout history to restore balance and fight evil. The concept matters because it represents how many religious traditions understand divine intervention in the world and has influenced Hindu theology, art, and storytelling for centuries.
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36 sectionsContents
- Etymology and meaning
- Avatar versus incarnation
- As a loanword
- Avatars of Vishnu
- Dashavatara
- Longer alternatives
- Types
- In Sikhism
- In Isma'ilism
- Avatars of Shiva
- Avatars of Devis
- Avatars of Parvati
- [[Mahavidyas]]
- [[Navadurgas]]
- Others
- In North India-
- East India
- South India
- Avatars of Lakshmi
- [[Ashtalakshmi]]
- With avatars of [[Vishnu]]
- Singular forms
- [[Matrikas]]
- 3 aspects of Mahalakshmi in [[Sri Vaishnava]]
- Mahavidya
- Other
- Avatars of Saraswati
- Avatars of Brahma
- Avatars of Ganesha
- Avatars of Varuna
- See also
- Explanatory notes
- References
- Citations
- General bibliography
- External links
thumb|Hindu god Vishnu's ten major avatars (Balarama-Krishna version) [[Dasavatara shrine, 18th century ivory, National Museum, New Delhi]]
Avatar (, ; ) is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means . It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, or spirit on Earth, including in human form. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearance" is sometimes used to refer to any guru or revered human being.