Dashavatara, aka: Dasha-avatara, Daśāvatāra, Daśāvatārā, Dashan-avatara; 7 Definition(s)

Introduction

Dashavatara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

The Sanskrit terms Daśāvatāra and Daśāvatārā can be transliterated into English as Dasavatara or Dashavatara, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Daśāvatāra (दशावतार) refers to the “ten incarnations of Lord Viṣṇu”, as defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—The ten avatāras (incarnation) of Lord Viṣṇu are Matsya, Kūrma, Varāha, Narasiṃha, Vāmana, Paraśurāma, Raghurāma, Balarāma, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and Kalki. The hand gestures for the daśāvatāra in dancing and iconography are similar in some cases and dissimilar in most of the cases.

1. Matsya-avatāra,
2. Kūrma-avatāra,
3. Varāha-avatāra,
4. Narasiṃha-avatāra,
5. Vāmana-avatāra,
6. Paraśurāma-avatāra,
7. Raghurāma-avatāra,
8. Balarāma-avatāra,
9. Kṛṣṇa-avatāra,
10. Kalki-avatāra.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Hands of the Ten Avatars of Viṣṇu (Daśāvatāra):

1. Matsya,
2. Kūrma,
3. Narasiṃha,
4. Vāmana,
5. Paraśurāma,
6. Raghurāma,
7. Balarāma,
8. Kṛṣṇa,
9. Kalka;

(Buddha is omitted)

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).

General definition (in Hinduism)

Daśāvatāra (दशावतार) is a Sanskrit word referring to the ten incarnations of Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu is the name of a major Hindu deity and forms part of the trinity of supreme divinity (trimūrti) together with Brahmā and Śiva. They are seen as the cosmic personifications of creation (brahmā), maintenance (viṣṇu), and destruction (śiva).

They ten incarnations of Viṣṇu are:

1. Matsya,
2. Kūrma,
3. Varāha,
4. Nṛsiṃha,
5. Vāmana (Trivikrama),
6. Paraśurāma,
7. Rāma,
8. Kṛṣṇa,
9. Buddha,
10. and Kalki.

Also see the list of aṃśāvatāra, which includes twenty-one forms of Viṣṇu.

Dashavatara refers to the ten avatars of Vishnu, the Hindu God of universal preservation. The word Dashavatara derives from daśa, meaning “ten” and avatar (avatāra), meaning “descent”.

Yuga: The first four avatars of Vishnu appeared in Satya or Krita Yuga, the first of the four Yugas, also called 'The Golden Age'. The Kali-yuga is described as ending with the appearance of Kalki, who will defeat the wicked, liberate the virtuous, and initiate a new Satya or Kalki Yuga.

1. Matsya, the fish (Satya Yuga).
2. Kurma, the tortoise (Satya Yuga).
3. Varaha, the boar (Satya Yuga).
4. Narasimha, half-man/half-lion (Satya Yuga).
5. Vamana, the dwarf, (Treta Yuga).
6. Parashurama, Warrior with the axe, (Treta Yuga).
7. Rama, Ramachandra, the prince and king of Ayodhya, (Treta Yuga).
8. Krishna: the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudeva. (Dwapara Yuga),
9. Buddha: Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism (Dwapara Yuga),
10. Kalki: final incarnation (end of Kali Yuga).

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

daśāvatāra (दशावतार).—m The ten incarnations of viṣṇu.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Daśāvatārā (दशावतारा).—m. (pl.) the ten incarnations of Viṣṇu; see under अवतार (avatāra).

Derivable forms: daśāvatārāḥ (दशावताराः).

Daśāvatārā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms daśan and avatārā (अवतारा).

Daśāvatāra (दशावतार).—m.

(-raḥ) A name of Vishnu. E. daśa ten, and avatāra descent; the deity of whom there are ten descents from heaven, for the purpose of protecting or punishing mankind: see avatāra .

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