Vishnu with Avatars

Vishnu is said to have 10 avatars or incarnation of himself. The last one is yet to come. His name is Kalki and he is to arrive on earth riding a white stallion. His most famous incarnations or avatars, are Krishna and Rama who are heroes of the epics of the Mahabarata and the Ramayana. The first four avatars Vishnu came to earth as animals.

Vishnu as Fish

In his first incarnation Vishnu appeared as a fish. In this carving the fish has a shrine on his back. He rescued man from the flood waters which covered the earth. He was like Noah in the Hindu versions of the great flood.