The Epics, Scriptures, and Ritual Life of Hinduism

Central to Vaishnava theology is the doctrine of avatara, literally "descent," according to which Vishnu periodically takes embodied form to restore dharma when it is gravely imperiled. The most widely recognized systematization of these descents is the Dashavatara, the "ten avatars," which typically lists Matsya (the fish), Kurma (the tortoise), Varaha (the boar), Narasimha (the man-lion), Vamana (the dwarf), Parashurama, Rama, Krishna (in some lists joined or replaced by Balarama), the Buddha, and Kalki, an avatar yet to come who is expected to appear at the end of the current cosmic age. Among these, Rama and Krishna hold especially prominent places in devotional life. Rama, the protagonist of the Ramayana, is venerated as an exemplar of righteous kingship and filial duty, his story central to the festival of Diwali. Krishna, whose life is narrated across the Mahabharata, the Harivamsa, and the Bhagavata Purana, is revered both as a divine statesman and teacher, in his role delivering the Bhagavad Gita, and as a beloved, playful figure of childhood and youthful romance, particularly in his relationship with Radha, a devotional theme that has inspired centuries of poetry, painting, and performance.