Balram Avathar

While all avathars are incarnations of Lord Vishnu it is Aadisesha the five hooded of snake on which Mahavishnu reclines in his 'yoganidhra' that incarnates as Balarama.

Balarama was born to Vasudeva and his first wife Rohini. Thus he becomes the elder brother of Lord Krishna. There is not much significance in this avathar. From the
evolutionary angle this avathar marks the
period when human started a settled way of life taking to agriculture- Balarama is pictured as carrying a plough on his shoulders. Being a contemporary of Krishna the spot light is more on Krishna than on Balarama.

Sri Rama Avathar

Rama avathar is called Dharma Avathar. He not only overcame 'adharma' (evil forces) but also taught man kind how to lead a perfect life of truthfulness, kindness, obeisance to parents etc.Now we will go to the story. In the north of the Ganga was the great kingdom called Kosala. Its capital was Ayodhya. King Dasartha ruled over the Kingdom.The people of Kosala were very happy contented and virtuous. The land was protected by a mighty army and no enemy could come any where near.

But the King Dhasartha was always very sad because he had no children. King Dhasaradha wanted to perform asvamedha yaga in which a Horse is sacrificed in the alter to beget a progeny and consulted his religious teachers for their advice. They agreed that performing asvamedha yaga would bless the king with a heir to his throne.

All arrangements were completed and the cermonies were setin motion strictly as enjoined by the Shastras. Out of the sacrificial fire came a goddess with a vessel of nectar which King dasaratha gave to his queens.

In time Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and satrugun were born. The king was over-joyed and brought them up with great care. They were schooled in all arts, vedas and sasthras. They were so valorous that when the boys were only about 16 years old sage Viswamithra came to the king and complained that 'rakshasas' were obstructing the sage from performing their yagas etc and requested the king to to send Rama with him to kill the demons. Accordingly Rama set forth with the sage and killed all the demons.

King Janakar 0f mathila kingdom was a very pious and righteous ruler. He was long without and issue and prayed to Lord Vishnu for a child. One day when the king was getting his land ploughed he found a female child with a strong bow At the time when Rama with Sage Viswamithra was in forests kill in gall the demons the news came that King Janaka was conducting a'swayam-vara'- ceremony to choose a bride-groom, for sita who was by then grown up as an young maiden. The condition laid down by King Janaka was who-ever broke the 'Shiva-dhanush' that was found along with sita in the field that person would be chosen to marry Sita.

Viswamithra took Rama and Lakshmana to the 'swayamvara' where they were received with the respect due to the princes. A number of princes tried their and in bending the bow but they could not even lift it. However Rama effortlessly lifted the bow and broke into two to the amazement of all present and the delight of sita who was watching the proceedings from a balcony above the hall. Rama married sita with great pomp and pageantry and went back to Ayodhya with his bride and Lakshman and Viswamithra. When it was time king Dasaratha wanted to crown Rama as the king and retire to the forest to devote his time to penance renouncing all pleasures of life. Called 'vana-prastha- asram this is considered the last stage in a man's life. Kaikeyi the third wife of dasaratha and a step-mother to Rama however wanted her son Bharatha to be crowned the king Long time earlier Kaikeyi saved the life of King dasaratha when his chariot over turned. Pleased King Dasaratha Promised kaikeyi two favours she would ask for. She however did not ask for anything at that time but said that she would make her wish known at the appropriate time later.

 Now she invoked the promise that King dasaratha had made and asked that Bharatha be crowned the King instead of Rama. Her second wish was that Rama should be banished to the forest and live there for 14 years as an ascetic before returning to the kingdom. King dasaratha was distressed in the extreme as he had a soft corner for Rama as his eldest son. But he was cornered.

When Rama heard about his step mother's wishes he voluntarily steped down in favour of Bharatha and also agreed to go to the forest for 14 years. King dasaratha was saved the unhappy task of telling Rama to do these. But he was very sad at the thought of Rama going to the forest and died broken hearted. Rama was not shown the remains of his father but was hustled into going to the forest. Lakshmana his brother and sita his wife insistedon going with him and reluctantly Rama agreed. So the trio set for thon their 'vana-vasam' (residence in the forest).Bharatha the son of kaikeyi was however not happy to reign over the kingdom as his mother wanted him to but went into the forest in search of Rama to persuade him to return to ayodhya take the crown.When Bharata did meet his brother Rama would not agree to return to the kingdom but insisted that his step-mother's wishes should be fulfilled. So Bharata took the pair of Rama's wooden slippers with him to Ayodhya, kept those on the throne and ruled as the Vice-roy of Rama. Rama set up an 'ashram' in the forest and settled down there with his brother and wife. One day Rama went for a hunt and left Lakshmana behind as a guard for Sita.

The present day Sri lanka was then ruled by the ten-headed demon king Ravana. He was an ardent devotee of lord Shiva and had the distinction of having sung the whole of 'Rig veda' in songs. He attained great prowess doing penance to Lord shiva became power-drunk and mis-ruled over his kingdom leading a life of laxity. Once Ravana's sister Soorpanagai was wandering around in the fore stand ran into Rama and Lakshmana and was struck by the hand some features of the princes. She went up to Rama and spoke to him coylyto entice him but Rama was so much devoted to Sita that he would not countanence any other women in his life. He chasticed her and drove her away. 

She next went to Lakshmana with similar intentions. But Lakshmana did not like her obsene manners and to spite her he cut off her nose with his sword. Soorpanaga vowed to take revenge on both the brothers She ran to her brother Ravana and mis-represented her encounter with Rama and Lakshmana. She also told him about the rare beauty of Sita and kindled his desire to possess Sita. So he took the form of a deer and went near the ashram. Sita was so struck by the beauty of the animal and wanted to keep it in the ashram. She asked Rama to bring the deer to her. Rama went after the animal which was running fast taking Rama away from the ashram. At one point the deer gave out a cry "hey Lakshmana"mimicrying the voice of Rama. Sita was panic stricken and thought Rama was in deep trouble and asked Lakshmana to immediately go and see what was wrong. Lakshmana protested that his job was to guard Sita and nothing would have happened to valorous Rama. On Sita's insistence Lakshmana left the ashram to look for Rama. All the while Ravana was watching and when Lakshmana was out of sight pounced upon Sita and carried her away in his sky-chariot to Lanka as his kingdom was called.

Rama was disconsolate when he returned and found sita missing. Heup braided Lakshmana for leaving sita unguarded. On regaining composure they both set forth in search of sita. On their way they saw the wounded jatayu the eagle who told them that he saw Ravanathe King of Lanka carrying away Sita south-ward. Jatayu was wounded by Ravana when he tried to rescue sita.

So Rama and Lakshmana went south-ward towards Lanka in search of Sita. On the way they met Hanuman who became most faithful and devoted to Rama. Through Hanuman Rama got the following of Sugriva and his army of monkeys. Sugriva and his brother Vali had some family quarel and rama siding with Sugriva killed vali. This act bound Sugriva to Rama.

Rama sent Hanuman to search for sita in the south-ward region and scourging around Hanuman found sita in the asoka- vana in Lanka disconsolate and sorrounded by evil ladies. Hanuman met sita and took from her a ring to show to rama that he had indeed found sita and returned to Rama who was over-joyed that his sita was still alive. Rama set forth with the army of monkeys to rescue sita. Knowing the powers of Ravana Rama prayed to lord for strength to fight Ravana and his hordes. Shiva granted him the boon. Armed with this Rama invaded Lanka. After an epic battle he vanquished Ravana and his army and rescued Sita.

By this time the prescribed peiod of 'vana-vasa' was over. So Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman the ever-faithful flew back to Ayodhya in a 'pushpaka- wimana' (sky-chariot bedecked in flowers)They were received by the people of Ayodhya with pomp and pageantry. Rama was crowned the king of Kosala and commenced his glorious rule. This in short is the epic story of Rama the perfect. Mahavishnu took this incarnation to show to the world an example in virtuous living. From another angle this marks the period when human solved as a perfect being in the long process of evolution.

Kalki Avathar

(Avathar yet to come)

paritranaya saadunaam vinashayasa dushkrudham
dharma samsthaba narthaya sambavami yuge yuge

(meaning)

 
Whenever evil over-takes the good and the world is sinking with sins at that time I will come to
annihilate the evil and establish righteousness.

quote ;by Lord Sri Krishna
from Bhagavat Geeta :-

Sri Krishna Avathar

Sri Krishna avathar is compleately Divine.In this avathar Lord Krishna gave Bhagavat Gita to mankind a compilation that is a religious classic with pro found phylosophical thoughts. Gita has taught many things to mankind to lead a life of love, affection,devotion,duty toparents,duty to country etc. 

God Sri Krishna says he liberates mankind from their sins when they completely surrender to him and helps them attain perfection. He also says in Gita "abandoning all rites and duties take refuge in mealone. Do not grieve for I shall librate you from all sins. Kamsa the king of Madhurapuri was a cruel ruler.

He imprisoned his father and took over the reign.He got his sister Devaki whom he loved very much
married to Vasudeva and was bringing them home when Yogamaya appeared in the sky and warned Kamsa that the eighth child of Devaki born with the astrologoical star "Rohini"would kill
him.Immediately kamsa was very rest less and consulted his friend Jarasanda and according to his advice imrpisoned both Devaki and Vasudeva. When ever devaki gave birth to a child he would immediately kill the baby. Devaki and Vasudeva were very sad and prayed to God Vishnu. 

The God appeared before them and said "Iwill be born as your 8th child and I will kill Kamsa Do not worry and have peace of mind." So saying God disappearedAside to the story of Krishna avathar: In the mean time Sri vishnu ordered Aadhi-sesha his five-hooded snake to go into Devaki'swomb to be the seveth child. But He said this child would in time be transfered to the womb of Rohini the first wife of Vasudeva and would be born as Balarama another avathar of theGod. 

God again ordained that Yokamaya Shakthi would be born as a girl child to Yasoda a lady in the yadava clan in Gokulam at the same time when Sri vishnu would be bornas Lord Krishna to Devaki. When Devaki gave birth to Lord Krishna God ordered Vasudeva to take the baby to Gokulam leave it with Yasoda and bring the female child born to Yasoda to the prison to be with Devaki. By Gods will the jail gates unlocked by them selves, the guards fell asleep to facilitate Vasudeva to take the child to Gakulam as divinely ordained. Further the river Yamuna which was in spateparted to open a path for vasudeva to pass with the child on his head. It was raining also. 

By Gods instruction a five-hooded snake opened its hood like an umbralla over the child to protect it fromthe rain. He reached to gokulam and exchanged the children and he came back to the jail with Yogamaya born as a female child. The doors closed and locked itself automatically. All the gaurds woke up from deep slumber.As soon as he left the child with devaki Immediatly the child began to cry. The guards immediately in formed to Kamsa that a child was born to Devaki. Kamsa immediately went to the jail and was surprised and confused to find that the eighth child was a baby girl.However he snached the baby and dashed it head against the jail wall. The baby rose up and appeared as Devi Yokamaya and said "Homerciless king why are you trying to kill me ? The one to kill you is already born and is growing up some were. You cannot escape from death." saying this Yogamaya disappeared.

Kamsa was stunned and went to his palace a worried person. He felt very rest less. In the mean time grand celebrations were going on in Gokulam over the birth of Sri Krishna. Kamsa heard about this and sent his men to Gokulam to find out how many children were born with Rohini as their zodiac star. They went to Gokulam and found that 25 such children were born and informed Kamsa accordingly.They also told him that grand celebrations were going on in one Nanda gopan's house Kamsa some how felt very uncomfortable about the birth of Krishna to Nanda gopan and Yasoda and tried various means to kill the child but did not succeed. In time Lord Krishna killed the cruel king. & release his parents Vasudevan & Devaki and they sent young Krishna to a hermit for 'gurukula-vasam' for hisformal education. Krishna learnt all the sasthras and all the arts.On finishing his education he shifted to Dwaraka from Madhura. He distroyed all the evil forces and and established Dharma. Krishna helped the 'Pancha-pandavas' the five brothers among whom Arjuna was Krishna's very close friend. He helped them win the war with 'Kowrawas' the evil 100. During the war between the'Kowravas" and the 'Pandavas' Lord Krishna gave the message of SriBhagvat Gita to Arjuna and to the world.The essance of Gita: The Bhagavad-Gita describes to us how the aspirant to the heaven savoids bodily excesses and indulgence and practices abstinence.

He goes to a quiet place, regulates his breathing focuses his mind on one point and becomes harmonized with God and detaced from all desire for the fruit of action. When one attains this unity of mindhe arrives at a perfect understanding with his fellow beings through sympathy and love.He is the supreme lord of spiritual experience who conveys those moments of celestial glory when man gets beyond the eveil of the flesh and also indicates their true relation to the problems of daily existence. As a rule these qualities should be associated with Bhakti, love, dovotion, mercy and tenderness, Krishna's exhortation in Gita is enshrined in millions of hearts as the words of God. It is acknowledged by all as one of the supreme treasures of human literature. Its gospel of devotion to dutywithout attachment or desire for reward, has shown the way of life for all human rich or poor learned or ignorant - those who seek lightin the darkness of the problems of life.

Vamana Avathar

The Gods and others from other lokas Implored to God to put Mahabali in his place.Once Mahabali was performaing a big "yaga"( offering things in the sacrificial fire) and at the end of the yaga was giving away gold and other things in charity. 

Whoever went to the palace on that day could ask whatever they wished and the king would certainlyoblige them.God seized this opportunity and came to Mahabali's palace as adwarf-mendicant. The dwarf asked the King for just 3 foot-measure of land for himself. 

The king was perplexed and wondering why the dwarf was asking for only a 3 foot-measure of land when he could ask for acres and acres of land. However the king agred and asked the dwarf the measure the land with
his feet. ho! God assumed gigantic proportions his head reaching up to the sky - the highest world above and his feet down at

Pathala-loka the lowest of the worlds below the earth .God took one step and that covered all the worlds above the second step covered all the worlds below and there was no place left for his third foot measure. God asked king " Mahabali , I have taken two steps and have covered all the lokas tell me where to keep my foot for the third foot-measure."

Mahabali realising that the dwarf was no other than God him self Bowed before the dwarf and said " Please my lord you may keep your foot over my head as the third measure." Accordingly God put his foot on Mahabali's head and pressed hard to push the King to 'Pathala'loka' and told him "O king! this is where you belong and you should confine your  self  to this loka only." Mahabali realised his folly and ruled long over Pathala-loka.This is to show the people that they should live in their own place sand should not be so greedy to occupy the other lands.This was the Lord's fourth incarnation - as a dwarf.
The Gods and others from other lokas Implored to God to put Mahabali in his place.Once Mahabali was performaing a big "yaga"( offering things in the sacrificial fire) and at the end of the yaga was giving away gold and other things in charity.


Whoever went to the palace on that day could ask whatever they wished and the king would certainlyoblige them.God seized this opportunity and came to Mahabali's palace as adwarf-mendicant. The dwarf asked the King for just 3 foot-measure of land for himself. The king was perplexed and wondering why the dwarf was asking for only a 3 foot-measure of land when he could ask for acres and acres of land. However the king agred and asked the dwarf the measure the land with his feet. ho! God assumed gigantic proportions his head reaching up to the sky - the highest world above and his feet down at Pathala-loka the lowest of the worlds below the earth .God took one step and that covered all the worlds above the second step covered all the worlds below and there was no place left for his third foot measure. God asked king " Mahabali , I have taken two steps and have covered all the lokas tell me where to keep my foot for the third foot-measure."

Mahabali realising that the dwarf was no other than God him self Bowed before the dwarf and said " Please my lord you may keep your foot over my head as the third measure." Accordingly God put his foot on Mahabali's head and pressed hard to push the King to 'Pathala'loka' and told him "O king! this is where you belong and you should confine your  self  to this loka only." Mahabali realised his folly and ruled long over Pathala-loka.This is to show the people that they should live in their own place sand should not be so greedy to occupy the other lands.This was the Lord's fourth incarnation - as a dwarf.
The Gods and others from other lokas Implored to God to put Mahabali in his place.Once Mahabali was performaing a big "yaga"( offering things in the sacrificial fire) and at the end of the yaga was giving away gold and other things in charity.

Whoever went to the palace on that day could ask whatever they wished and the king would certainlyoblige them.God seized this opportunity and came to Mahabali's palace as adwarf-mendicant. The dwarf asked the King for just 3 foot-measure of land for himself. The king was perplexed and wondering why the dwarf was asking for only a 3 foot-measure of land when he could ask for acres and acres of land. However the king agred and asked the dwarf the measure the land with his feet. ho! God assumed gigantic proportions his head reaching up to the sky - the highest world above and his feet down at Pathala-loka the lowest of the worlds below the earth .God took one step and that covered all the worlds above the second step covered all the worlds below and there was no place left for his third foot measure. God asked king " Mahabali , I have taken two steps and have covered all the lokas tell me where to keep my foot for the third foot-measure."

Mahabali realising that the dwarf was no other than God him self Bowed before the dwarf and said " Please my lord you may keep your foot over my head as the third measure." Accordingly God put his foot on Mahabali's head and pressed hard to push the King to 'Pathala'loka' and told him "O king! this is where you belong and you should confine your  self  to this loka only." Mahabali realised his folly and ruled long over Pathala-loka.This is to show the people that they should live in their own place sand should not be so greedy to occupy the other lands.This was the Lord's fourth incarnation - as a dwarf.
Whoever went to the palace on that day could ask whatever they wished and the king would certainlyoblige them.God seized this opportunity and came to Mahabali's palace as adwarf-mendicant. The dwarf asked the King for just 3 foot-measure of land for himself. The king was perplexed and wondering why the dwarf was asking for only a 3 foot-measure of land when he could ask for acres and acres of land. However the king agred and asked the dwarf the measure the land with his feet. ho! God assumed gigantic proportions his head reaching up to the sky - the highest world above and his feet down at Pathala-loka the lowest of the worlds below the earth .God took one step and that covered all the worlds above the second step covered all the worlds below and there was no place left for his third foot measure. God asked king " Mahabali , I have taken two steps and have covered all the lokas tell me where to keep my foot for the third foot-measure."

Mahabali realising that the dwarf was no other than God him self Bowed before the dwarf and said " Please my lord you may keep your foot over my head as the third measure." Accordingly God put his foot on Mahabali's head and pressed hard to push the King to 'Pathala'loka' and told him "O king! this is where you belong and you should confine your  self  to this loka only." Mahabali realised his folly and ruled long over Pathala-loka.This is to show the people that they should live in their own place sand should not be so greedy to occupy the other lands.This was the Lord's fourth incarnation - as a dwarf.
Whoever went to the palace on that day could ask whatever they wished and the king would certainlyoblige them.God seized this opportunity and came to Mahabali's palace as adwarf-mendicant. 

The dwarf asked the King for just 3 foot-measure of land for himself. The king was perplexed and wondering why the dwarf was asking for only a 3 foot-measure of land when he could ask for acres and acres of land. However the king agred and asked the dwarf the measure the land with his feet. ho! God assumed gigantic proportions his head reaching up to the sky - the highest world above and his feet down at Pathala-loka the lowest of the worlds below the earth .God took one step and that covered all the worlds above the second step covered all the worlds below and there was no place left for his third foot measure. God asked king " Mahabali , I have taken two steps and have covered all the lokas tell me where to keep my foot for the third foot-measure."


Mahabali realising that the dwarf was no other than God him self Bowed before the dwarf and said " Please my lord you may keep your foot over my head as the third measure." Accordingly God put his foot on Mahabali's head and pressed hard to push the King to 'Pathala'loka' and told him "O king! this is where you belong and you should confine your  self  to this loka only." Mahabali realised his folly and ruled long over Pathala-loka.This is to show the people that they should live in their own place sand should not be so greedy to occupy the other lands.

This was the Lord's fourth incarnation - as a dwarf.
Mahabali realising that the dwarf was no other than God him self Bowed before the dwarf and said " Please my lord you may keep your foot over my head as the third measure." Accordingly God put his foot on Mahabali's head and pressed hard to push the King to 'Pathala'loka' and told him "O king! this is where you belong and you should confine your  self  to this loka only." Mahabali realised his folly and ruled long over Pathala-loka.This is to show the people that they should live in their own place sand should not be so greedy to occupy the other lands.This was the Lord's fourth incarnation - as a dwarf.

Vamana was his fifth incarnationVamana means a Dwarf There is an interesting story behind this avatharam.Emperor Mahaballi (he is the grand sun of Prahaladan) ruled over the Pathala-loka. Instead of being confined to his-loka he captured the other lokas and was ruling over them.

Parasurama Avathar

Parasurama was the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu Parasurama was the fourth son of sage Jamadhagni and Vasugi. The sage was a highly learned person and used to teach vedas and sasthras to a number of desciples. Those days young princes and children of humble parents used to stay together without any distinction with the master. Parasurama was one of the disciples and was extremely obedient to his father besides being a very diligent student.

He learnt all the sasthras taught by his father in earnestness.Vasugi sage jamadhagni's wife was very devoted to her husband and her children and looked after all the students with kindness and great care. Ever day she used to go to the river closed by very early in the morning to bathe. After taking bath she would make an
earthern pot and fetch water for the family.One day as she was making the pot a 'gandharva' ( celestial beings)passed over-head in the sky. She saw the reflection of the gandharva in the river water and was struck by the hand some features just for a moment.That wavering of the mind was considered being untrue to her husband. As a result that day however much she tried she could not make the pot. It broke every time she shaped it. Vasugi was unnerved by this and was afraid to go home.


Sage Jamadhagni sensed this through his mental power sand became incensed that his wife admired the beauty of some one other than her husband. Wanting to punish her he ordered Parasurama to behead his mother. Being an obedient son he immediately carried out his father's order. However Parasurama was overcome with great grief and also feltvery angry towards his father. He developed a cruel nature though he remained a sage all his life.

Narasimha Avathar

The Lords fourth incarnation was Nara-simham This incarnation was demi-human- Half human and Half animal (lion). Nara means human simham means lion.

After his brothers death Hiranyaksibu became afraid for his life. He wanted long life and power. One day he got the idea to go to the forest and do meditation to get more life and also ward off any trouble with any animal or the Gods.

So Hiranyaksha went to the forest to do meditation. After a severe and devoted meditation for along time LORD Brahma appeared before him. He asked Brahma for immortality .But Brahma said no. He said all men when born have to die some time or the other and cannot live for ever. Brahma said "ask some thing else" Then Hiranyakasibu asked that he should not die either at the hands of any human or killed by any animal - in the day or at night. Brahma gave him the boon asked for and disappeared.

Even though his wife was pregnant Hiranyakasibu went to the forest to do penance. In the meantime Indra thought "If Hiranyakasibu gets the boon that he wants then we will all be in deep trouble. Hence I should kidnap his wife and keep her in jail". So when he returned after kidnaping Hiranyakasibu's wife Naradhathe sage came and stoped him. Naradha told Indra "you should not do this kind of coward acts. Hiranyakasibu is definitely going to get the boon and nobody can stop him. leave the lady with me and go to your 'lokha'. Indra left that lady with Sage Naradha and went off. Naradha took that lady to his abode and told her good moral stories. She would listen to him but sleep off. At that time the Sage would start to tell the stories of God Vishnu and also Prayers to God Narayana. The child in the womb of the lady listened to all the stories about Narayana and also the prayers. These got embedded firmly in the mind of the child-to-be born. The child when born was named Prahalada and he grew up as anardent devotee of Lord narayana.


But Hiranyakasibu had ordered all his subjects and all around him to pray to himself and not to any god. Hence was much annoyed by the devotion of his son to lord Narayana whom to God Narayana whom he considered as his enemy. Prahalada was ill-treated and tortured to forget god Narayana but could not get him to forget the Lord. Rakshasa Hiranyakasibu lost all his patience and one day in irritation asked prahalatha "Ok my boy where is that god Narayana ? Can you show me"? "yes"said Prahalada. He is everywhere and anywhere. The Rakshasa asked his son " pointing to a pillar "is he in this pillar ?" "yes he is in this pillar" said the son. Immediately the rakshasa took his huge club and hit the pillar. The pillar broke in to two pieces and appeared from it Narasimha neither a human nor an animal ie (half man and half lion) and took the Rakshasa on his lap and killed him with his claws. Thus came to end the evil called Hiranyakasibu. God took Narasimha avathar only to kill evil.
This was Lord's fourth incarnation to shave people they should be devoted to the God.


But Hiranyakasibu had ordered all his subjects and all around him to pray to himself and not to any god. Hence was much annoyed by the devotion of his son to lord Narayana whom to God Narayana whom he considered as his enemy. Prahalada was ill-treated and tortured to forget god Narayana but could not get him to forget the Lord. Rakshasa Hiranyakasibu lost all his patience and one day in irritation asked prahalatha "Ok my boy where is that god Narayana ? Can you show me"? "yes"said Prahalada. He is everywhere and anywhere. The Rakshasa asked his son " pointing to a pillar "is he in this pillar ?" "yes he is in this pillar" said the son. Immediately the rakshasa took his huge club and hit the pillar. The pillar broke in to two pieces and appeared from it Narasimha neither a human nor an animal ie (half man and half lion) and took the Rakshasa on his lap and killed him with his claws. Thus came to end the evil called Hiranyakasibu. God took Narasimha avathar only to kill evil.
This was Lord's fourth incarnation to shave people they should be devoted to the God.

Matsya avathar

Matsya, the one-horned fish, is the first among, the Dasa Avatara, the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The core concept of Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) is that there is no beginning or end. There is only transformation. When man abandons Dharma and ventures into the territory of Adharma, Nature starts its destructive transformation. 

We humans term this as apocalypse or total annihilation. Lord Vishnu incarnated as Matsya to save all that was good in the world before its destruction. Just before the total destruction of the world, Matsya, the one-horned fish, swam into the hands of a pious man and asked him to save it from a big fish. The pious man took the fish home and placed it in a small vessel. The fish kept on increasing its size. It was then transferred from the small vessel to a big vessel; from it to a well, from well to a pond, from pond to a lake; and finally it was transferred to the ocean but it still kept growing. 

The pious man in some Puranas is Manu, in some other Puranas it is Satyavrata. The pious man realizes the fish is Narayana and prostates before it. Matsya then told him that there will be a Mahapralaya in seven days. Matsya requests him to gather the seeds of all plants and a pair each of all living beings. He is asked to put them in a ship and wait for the deluge (Mahapralaya). Matsya also tells the pious man that it will again appear during the deluge and he will need to tie the boat to its horn using Snake Vasuki as the rope. In some versions, Matsya sprouts the horn and uses Ananta Sesha as the rope and navigates the boat to safety without the help of the pious man. In Bhagavad Purana, the boat is not build by the pious man but instead it appears before the deluge and he has to enter it with the seeds of all plants. 

When the boat was tossed hither and thither in the massive flood, Matsya appeared near the boat and Satyavrata tied the boat to the horn of Matsya using Snake Vasuki as the rope. Matsya navigated the boat safely to the top of Mount Meru. When the deluge was taking place, a demon named Hayagriva with the face of a horse stole all the Vedas and sasthras from Brahma. and hide them in the deep sea.After a terrible fight with the Hayagriva,Vedas are restored and returned to the Brahma.

Koorma Avathar

God's second incarnation was Koorma means turtle.God wished to create another creature one that could live in the water and on the land. The turtle can live in the water and land. So the turtle was his second creation in this world. This is the reason why god is shown as half-turtle and half-god. It is called koorma Avatharam Many years ago there was a war between the devas (gods) and the demons and the gods lost this war. 

They prayed to Vishnu to rescue them from the oppression of the demons. Vishnu told Brahma and the other gods that they should have a temporary truce with the demons. The two sides should get together to churn the ocean .Vishnu would ensure that the devas benefited more from this churning of the ocean than the demons did. The truce was agreed upon and the two sides got ready to churn the ocean. The mountain Mandara was used as a churning rod and great sake Vasuki as the rope for churning. 

 The devas grasped Vasuki’s tail and the demons grasped Vasuki’s head. But as the churning began, the mountain Mandara which had no base, started to get immersed in the ocean .What was to be done? Lord Vishnu came to the rescue. He adopted the form of a turtle and the peak was balanced on the turtle’s back . As the churning continued, terrible poison named kalkuta emerged from the depths of the ocean and was swallowed by Shiva. Shiva’s throat became blue from this poison and he is there fore known as Nilakanthan. The goddess Varuni, the goddess of wine(sura), came out next. 

The gods readily accepted her and thus they came to be known as suras. But the demons rejected Varuni and were therefore known as asuras. She was followed by the Parijata tree, a beautiful tree that came to occupy the pride of place in Indra’s garden. A jewel named koustubha emerged and was accepted by Vishnu as his adornment. Three wonderful animals came out next- the cow Kapila, the horse Ucchaishrava and the elephant Airavata .They were followed by the apsaras, beautiful women who became the dancers of heaven. They were known as apsaras because they emerged from water. The goddess sri Lakshmi came out next and was united with Vishnu . Finally ,Dhanvantari emerged with a pot of amrita(amrita kumbam) (the life - giving drink) in his hands. Dhanvantari was the originator of medicine(ayurveda). The demons where capture the amrita kumbam from Dhanvantari and departed with the amrita kumbam. 

Mohini Avathar  But Vishnu quickly adopted the form of a beautiful woman (mohini). So beautiful was the woman that the demons were charmed. “Pretty lady,” they said. “ take the amrita and serve it to us. Marry us.” Vishnu accepted the amrita,but he had no intention of giving it to the demons. He served it to the gods instead. There was only one demon who was some what clever. His name was Rahu. He adopted the form of Chandra, the moon-god, and succeeded in drinking some of the amrita. The sun-god and the moon-god noticed what was happening and reported it to Vishnu. Vishnu there upon cut off Rahu’s head with a sword. 

But Rahu had drunk the amrita, so he could not die. He prayed to Vishnu and Vishnu granted him a boon. The boon was that occasionally Rahu would be permitted to swallow up the sun .You can see this happening at the time of the solar and the lunar eclipses. People who give alms during such eclipses are blessed. The gods obtained the amrita and the demons did not. Thus, the gods became more powerful than the demons. They defeated the demons and regained heaven.

Varaha Avathar

Vishnu’s next incarnation was in the form of a boar .GOD decided to create a creature that could live on the land alone. The boar lives on land only. This means in the order of evolution land based animals evolved. It is called Varaha Avatharam.
 
The mythological story behind this avathar is as follows: Once sage Doorwasa went to vishnu -lokha to worship Lord Vishnu .But the guards at the gate - Jayan and Vijayan didn't allow the saint inside to see the lord. The sage got very angry and cast acurse that the two should leave the heavens and be born in the earth as rakshasa- cruel and violent human beings and went away .

The two guards were very sad and worried. After thinking for along time they went inside and saw Lord Vishnu. They told him about the curse cast by the sage Doorvasa. However even Lord Vishnu could not reverse the curse. 


The guards should not have stopped sage Doorvasa at the gate. Vishnu said You both should not have stoped that sage and I can do nothing about the sage's curse but I can give a new boon that is: you both can come back to me as my enemy after 3 births or you can come back to me as my devotee after 30 births. Take your choice. They said 'O lord we don't want 30 births. Please we want to come back to you soon in 3 births even though the three births would be as your enemies'. Lord Vishnu agreed to this. So in that order their first birth is: The sage Kashyapa and his wife Diti had two son's named Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasibu brothers. they became the kings of the demans. These brothers were very cruel. 

Hiranyakasibu was the worst of the two. Hiranyaksha’s meditation pleased LORD Brahma and lord Brahma appeared before him and granted him the boon that he would be invincible in battle. Thus armed. Hiranyaksha went out to fight with the devas. He comprehensively defeated the gods and conquered heaven. He also defeated Varuna, the god of the ocean .Thus, Hiranyaksha became the king of the heaven, the earth and the underworld. But the demons was not particularly fond of the earth. He himself had begun to live in Varuna’s palace under the ocean. 

So he hurled the earth into the depths of the ocean. The gods went to Vishnu and prayed that something might be done about Hiranyaksha. They wished to be restored to heaven and they wished that the earth might be brought back from the depths of the ocean. In response to these prayers, Vishnu adopted the form of a boar and entered the ocean. Who should he meet there but Hiranyaksha himself? Hiranyaksha of course did not know that this boar was none other than Vishnu. He thought that it was anordinary boar and attacked it. The two fought for many years .But finally, Hiranyaksha was gored to death by the boar’s tusks .The boar raised the earth up once again with its tusks. Vishnu thus saved the gods and the principles of dharma.