This set of ten artworks depicts the Dashavatara — the ten principal avatars of Lord Vishnu, each appearing at a different moment to restore balance and protect dharma.
The series traditionally begins with Matsya, the fish, followed by Kurma, the tortoise; Varaha, the boar; Narasimha, the half-man, half-lion; Vamana, the dwarf; Parashurama, the warrior sage; Rama; Krishna; Buddha; and finally Kalki, the avatar yet to appear.
What makes the Dashavatara fascinating is the progression of Vishnu’s forms. He moves from aquatic and animal forms to increasingly human manifestations, with each avatar taking the form required for the particular challenge of that age.
Every painting in the set has its own iconography, attributes and story, so each can be studied individually. Together, however, the ten works tell a much larger story of Vishnu as the preserver — returning again and again whenever cosmic order is threatened.
Displayed as a complete set, the Dashavatara becomes almost a visual timeline of Vishnu’s manifestations, moving from Matsya at the beginning to the future arrival of Kalki.