Vishnu is one of the principal deities in Hinduism, known as the "Preserver" or "Sustainer" of the universe. He is often depicted as a blue-skinned, four-armed god holding a conch, discus, mace, and lotus flower.
One of the most well-known stories about Vishnu is his avatars, or incarnations. These are believed to be manifestations of Vishnu in different forms, sent to earth in order to restore balance and defeat evil.
The first avatar of Vishnu is Matsya, the fish. According to Hindu mythology, the world was once overwhelmed by a great flood, and the only way to save humanity was for Vishnu to take the form of a giant fish and pull the boat of the first man, Manu, to safety.
The second avatar of Vishnu is Kurma, the tortoise. In this incarnation, Vishnu helped the gods and demons to churn the ocean of milk in order to obtain the elixir of immortality. He did this by taking the form of a giant tortoise and serving as the foundation for the mountain that was used as the churning rod.
The third avatar of Vishnu is Varaha, the boar. In this incarnation, Vishnu defeated the demon Hiranyaksha, who had taken the earth and hidden it in the depths of the cosmic ocean. Vishnu took the form of a giant boar, dove into the ocean, and rescued the earth.
The fourth avatar of Vishnu is Narasimha, the man-lion. In this incarnation, Vishnu saved his devotee Prahlada from the wrath of his demon father, Hiranyakashipu. He did this by taking the form of a half-man, half-lion creature and killing the demon.
The fifth avatar of Vishnu is Vamana, the dwarf. In this incarnation, Vishnu helped to restore order to the universe by defeating the king Bali. He did this by taking the form of a dwarf and tricking Bali into giving him three steps of land. With the first step, he covered the earth, with the second step, he covered the heavens and with the third step, he pushed Bali down to the underworld.
The sixth avatar of Vishnu is Parashurama, the warrior with an axe. In this incarnation, Vishnu appeared as a warrior-sage, who was born to avenge the death of his father, who was killed by the Kshatriya king Kartavirya. He destroyed the Kshatriya 21 times over and cleared the earth of the evil kings.
The seventh avatar of Vishnu is Rama, the prince. In this incarnation, Vishnu appeared as Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, who is considered to be an ideal human being. Rama along with his wife Sita and brother Laxmana, defeated the demon king Ravana, who had kidnapped Sita.
The eighth avatar of Vishnu is Krishna, the cowherd. In this incarnation, Vishnu appeared as a cowherd and a mischievous child. He played a key role in the Mahabharata war and also gave the message of Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna.
The ninth avatar of Vishnu is Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna. He was known for his strength and was also considered as the incarnation of Adi-Sesha, the serpent on which Lord Vishnu rests.
In some versions of Hinduism, Gautama Buddha is considered to be the ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu. This belief is particularly prevalent in some Vaishnavism traditions, which consider Buddha to be an incarnation of Vishnu who appeared in order to lead people away from the caste system and the excessive ritualism that had become prevalent in Hinduism at the time. However, this belief is not universally accepted within Hinduism, and some consider Buddha to be a separate and independent spiritual teacher rather than an avatar of Vishnu.
The tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu, according to Hinduism, is Kalki. This incarnation of Vishnu is yet to come, and is believed to mark the end of the current Kali Yuga (the current age of the world), and the beginning of a new age of prosperity and spiritual enlightenment.
Kalki is often depicted as a powerful warrior, riding a white horse and brandishing a shining sword. He is said to be the destroyer of evil, and his arrival is expected to signal the end of the current age of darkness and ignorance, and the beginning of a new age of light and knowledge.
The exact nature of Kalki's mission is not fully clear in Hindu texts, but it is believed that he will come to earth to destroy the wicked and restore righteousness. He is also said to be the one who will usher in a new era of prosperity and spiritual enlightenment. He will be the one who will restore the balance of good and evil and bring an end to the cycle of rebirths.
In addition to his role as a destroyer of evil, Kalki is also said to be a teacher and a guide. He is believed to be a master of all the spiritual and worldly knowledge, and will use this knowledge to help humanity attain spiritual enlightenment. He will be the one who will guide the souls of the righteous to the ultimate destination -Moksha, the liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
In many Hindu texts and legends, Kalki is also said to be the final avatar of Lord Vishnu, and his arrival will mark the end of the current Kalpa (a cosmic cycle), and the beginning of a new Kalpa. The arrival of Kalki is believed to be the ultimate end of the current creation and the beginning of a new one.
In summary, Kalki, the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu, is believed to be the savior and the destroyer of evil, ushering in a new era of prosperity, spiritual enlightenment, and the end of the cycle of rebirths. He will be the one who will restore the balance of good and evil and guide humanity to the ultimate destination.
​