Dashavatar

Dashavatar

  Dasavatar is the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu (Narayana). Vishnu visits the Earth to kill the asuras (demons) and protect the earth. The demons who killed, frightened people, committed themselves to kings and ruled the earth. In such situations, people asked the gods for protection. Vishnu heard the prayers of people and manifested himself in different incarnations. There were times when other gods like Shiva, Durga, etc. also visited the land in different avatars. Vishnu had 24 avatars, 10 of which are considered the most important. These Avatar are considered to be Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Gautama Buddha and Kalki. In some southern states of India the Buddha was replaced by Balarama, who in classical Hinduism is the avatar of the serpent Shesha, the serpent of Vishnu.
Balarama is considered an avatar of Vishnu and in ISKCON too. Kalki is considered the Messiah in Vaisnavism.