These ten avatars of Vishnu, also known as the Dasavatara, include Rama, the hero of the Ramayana, and Krishna, the cowherd and central figure in the Bhagavad Gita.
According to Hindu mythology, Matsya appeared at the beginning of the current Kalpa (a cosmic cycle) to save the world from a great flood.
Kurma appeared during the Sagara Manthan, the churning of the ocean of milk. The gods and demons wanted to obtain Amrita, the nectar of immortality.
Varaha appeared to rescue the earth goddess, Bhudevi, from the demon king, Hiranyaksha. The demon king had taken Bhudevi and hidden her in the depths of the cosmic ocean.
Narasimha appeared to protect his devotee Prahlada, who was being persecuted by his demon king father, Hiranyakashipu.
Vamana appeared in the Treta Yuga to restore the balance of power between the gods and demons.
According to Hindu mythology, Parasurama appeared in the Treta Yuga to avenge the killing of his father, a Brahmin by the warrior class called Kshatriyas.
Rama is the hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana, written by the sage Valmiki. The story of Rama is a classic tale of good versus evil, and is considered one of the greatest stories ever told in India.
Krishna is a central figure in Hinduism and is considered one of the most loved and revered deities in the religion.
It is uncertain whether Buddha was an avatar of Lord Vishnu or not, but most of the time he is considered as the 9th avatar.
Kalki is the final and future avatar of Vishnu in the ten primary avatars known as Dasavatara in Hinduism.