A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.2112

c5.2112

Vishnu’s preserving and restoring power has been manifested to the world in a variety of forms called Avatāras, literally ‘descents,’ but more intelligibly ‘incarnations,’ in which a portion of his divine essence was embodied in a human or supernatural form possessed of superhuman powers. All these Avatāras became manifest for correcting some great evil or effecting some great good in the world. The Avatāras are ten in number, but the Bhāgavata Purāna increases them to twenty-two, and adds that in reality they are innumerable. All the ten Avatāras are honoured, but the seventh and eighth, Rāma and Krishna, are honoured as great mortal heroes and receive worship as great gods. Krishna is more especially looked upon as a full manifestation of Vishnu, and as one with Vishnu himself, and he is the object of a widely extended and very popular worship. See Avatāra.