What is an avatar?
Q: What is an avatar?
A: An avatar is a deity in Hinduism which comes down to earth in a human form, an animal form or a partly human and partly animal form.
Q: Who were some of the avatars of Vishnu?
A: Some of the important avatars of Vishnu are Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Balarama Krishna, Buddha and Kalki.
Q: What is the story behind the Matsya Avatar?
A: According to Hindu mythology there was a very wicked demon (an asura) who snatched the Vedas (the holy books of Hindus) and went deep inside the sea. At this point Vishnu came as the Matsya (fish) avatar who went deep into the sea and brought back the Vedas. He gave them to Manu who was said to be first man in world.
Q: What does 'avatar' mean when used in various media today?
A: The word 'avatar' is usually translated into English as "incarnation", but better as "appearance" or "manifestation".
Q: What is meant by next birth of God in Hinduism?
A: In Hinduism an avatar is seen as next birth or reincarnation of God on earth. It can take different forms such as human or animal depending on what it needs to accomplish during its time on earth.
Q: What was Vishnu's fourth avatar?
A: The fourth avatar of Vishnu was Narashimha which took form of man with head of lion.
