Dasavatharam - Kondapalli Bommalu


I bought these Kondapalli bommalu at Lepakshi Crafts exhibition the last time I visited India. These represent the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

Matsya: God's first incarnation was Matsya meaning Fish. This is consistent with the modern theory of evolution according to which the earliest multi-cell beings were aquatic.

Koorma: God's second incarnation was Koorma meaning turtle. God wished to create another creature that could live in water and on the land.

Varaha: Vishnu's next incarnation was in the form of a boar. The boar can live on land only suggesting that land based animals evolved next.


Narasimha: This incarnation was half-human (Nara) and half-lion (simha). According to this incarnation, God will protect those who are devoted to him.


Vamana: Vamana means a dwarf. God took this incarnation to show people that they should live a benevolent life.


Parasurama: This was the sixth incarnation of Lord Maha Vishnu. It was to show mankind that their anger and restless as parsurama is always is their own biggest enemy. Even the most powerful man will be destroyed by his own anger.


Sri Rama: Rama avatar is also known as Dharma avatar. He not only overcame the 'adharma' or the evil forces but also taught mankind how to lead a perfect life of truthfulness, kindness, and obeisance to parents.

Balarama / Buddha:
I am confused about this avatar. Some people say this avatar was Balarama while some say it was Buddha.

Sri Krishna: In this avatar, Lord Krishna gave Bhagavat Gita to mankind. It is a sacred Hindu scripture that serves as a guide to attain enlightenment.


Kalki: Avatar yet to come.


5 comments:

Manjusha said...

OMG! They look sooo wonderful. I wanted to buy a set of these too, but somehow totally forgot about it while in India :((

Very nicely written comments for each picture. Never realized that there is some significance in the order of the avatars.. Divine touch to the concept of evolution!!

Lakshmi said...

Thanks Manjusha for your comments.

Lakshmi said...

Thanks to my loving sister Pooja, to share her knowledge about Parasurama Avatar.

CELEBRATING LIFE said...

balarama/buddha avatar i strongly believe is the buddha avatar. And er the parsurama avatar well you dint metion the significance but as far as i can remember it was to show man kind that their anger and restless as parsuram is their own biggest enemy. Even the most powerful man can be destroyed by his own anger

Sangitha Aanand said...

Was searching about dashavataram and that bought me to your blog.well am very happy. Very well written informative and precise