History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c91.263

v7.c91.263

In medieval and modern times the avatāras of Viṣṇu have been regarded as ten, viz. Matsya, Kūrma, Varāha, Nṛsiṁha or Narasimha (Man-lion), Vāmana, Paraśurāma, Rāma (son of Daśaratha), Kṛṣṇa, Buddha and Kalkin. The Varāha-purāṇa mentions these ten in that order ¹⁶¹⁹ In an inscription on the lintel above the figure of Śaṅkara-Nārāyaṇa in the Varāha-Perumal ¹⁶²⁰ temple, this Paurāṇik verse except the first six letters (which cannot be read) is seen inscribed. The *locus classicus* about the descent of God in different forms is in the Bhagavadgītā ¹⁶²¹ viz. 'Whenever piety or righteousness (*dharma*)