[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930) › v7.c91.263 # History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c91.263 History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c91.263 - **Language:** English ### [v7.c91.263](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.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\*) - [Previous: v7.c91.262](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c91.262) - [Next: v7.c91.264](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c91.264) - [Up: v7.c91](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c91) ## Cites (2) - [Varāhapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.varaha) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Bhagavadgītā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darsana.all.gita) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c91.263](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c91.263) · Pramāṇa