South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c8.s2: II
South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c8.s2
- Language
- English
II
c8.s2.1
His ten incarnations.
c8.s2.2
The more popular forms of Vishnu, worshipped in the temples, generally refer to his numerous avatārs or incarnations. There are ten such avatārs recognized as of primary importance; but of these only five are commonly represented for worship. They are (1) Varāha "the Boar incarnation"; (2) Narasimha "the Man-lion incarnation"; (3) Vāmana "the Dwarf incarnation," developing eventually into Trivikrama; (4) Rāma, the hero of the Rāmāyana; and (5) Krishna, the pastoral god and the chief actor in the great war of the Mahābhārata. The other five incarnations of Vishnu, viz., the Fish, the Tortoise, Parasurāma, Buddha and Kalki though represented largely on walls, pillars and ceilings of temples being either carved or painted, are not generally worshipped as the chief deity in a temple.¹
c8.s2.3
¹ Parasurāma, "the axe-bearer, Rāma" is supposed to be the founder of the west-coast country, having miraculously reclaimed it from the encroaching sea. He is, therefore, often worshipped in Malabar in special shrines dedicated to him. Siva temples with the name Parasurāmēśvara are common and these are believed to owe their existence to Parasurāma. In the Kachchhapēśvara temple at Conjeeveram, on a stone set up under a tree, there is a representation of the Tortoise incarnation of Vishnu, worshipping Siva. This is reproduced by Mr. Rea in his Madras Archæological Survey Report for 1910-11, Plate V, fig. 1.
Linked texts (2)
- Mahābhārata — Vyāsa, Sanskrit
- Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa — Vālmīki, Sanskrit