Lord Vishnu is revered as the preserver and protector of the universe. It is believed that whenever evil begins to overpower good, when darkness overshadows light, and when injustice dominates righteousness, Lord Vishnu incarnates on Earth to restore Dharma. According to the scriptures, Lord Vishnu has taken 24 incarnations, each with the purpose of fighting evil forces and guiding people on the right path. Of these, 23 incarnations have already appeared, while the 24th incarnation—Kalki Avatar—is yet to appear. It is said that Kalki will descend at the end of the current age (Kali Yuga). Riding a white horse and wielding a sword, Kalki will destroy evil and restore righteousness.
The 24 avatars of Lord Vishnu are:
1. Four Kumaras: Divine child sages
2. Varaha: Boar incarnation
3. Narada: Divine sage and messenger of the gods
4. Nara-Narayana: Twin sages
5. Kapila: Founder of the Sankhya school of philosophy
6. Yajna: Personification of sacrifice
7. Dattatreya: Enlightened sage
8. Rishabha: Spiritual teacher
9. Prithu: Righteous king
10. Matsya: Fish incarnation
11. Kachchhapa (Kurma): Tortoise incarnation
12. Dhanvantari: Physician of the gods
13. Mohini: Enchantress incarnation
14. Narasimha: Half-man, half-lion incarnation
15. Vamana: Dwarf incarnation
16. Parashurama: Warrior-sage
17. Vyasa: Compiler of the Vedas
18. Rama: Ideal king and warrior prince
19. Balarama: Brother of Krishna
20. Krishna: Cowherd boy and wise teacher
21. Sri Hari: Form of Lord Vishnu
22. Hans: Swan or divine bird incarnation
23. Buddha: Founder of Buddhism
24. Kalki: Future incarnation, yet to come
Disclaimer: The content provided here is based on beliefs and information only. Always consult a concerned expert.
