Avatars mean the descent, manifestation, appearance or the coming down of deities on earth. Translation of this concept called Avatar is ‘incarnation’. The Avatar concept has been strongly nurtured in the Hindu mythology. Vishnu has ten avatars namely, Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Vamana, Krishna, Kalki, Buddha, Parshurama, Rama and Narasimha. In Vaishnavite tradition, it has been seen that the most developed concept is that of the Avatar and is associated with Krishna and Rama but mainly with Vishnu. He took the form of Mohini a female, during Samudra Manthan to settle the quarrel between the Asuras and Devas.
The Vaishnavite tradition has well developed the Avatar concept which is associated especially with Krishna and Rama as well as Vishnu. The Bhagvad Gita and many other texts describe Vishnu’s Avatar appearing to bring back the cosmic balance whenever evil power increases limitlessly and leads to tyranny in the world continuously.
The concept reflects in Shaktism traditions and legends as different manifestations of the Divine Mother or the Devi in Hinduism. Kali and Durga are the avatars of Parvati or Devi. Shaivism texts also describe Shiva in 21 avatars. Main focus of Shaiva traditions is on Shiva directly instead of the Avatar concept, unlike the Vaishnava traditions. In Hinduism, the goddesses and gods are the Hindu deities which have evolved right from the Vedic era, through the medieval era and across diverse traditions in Hinduism. Different anicons and icons are used to represent Hindu deities in sculptures and paintings called Pratimas and Murtis.
