Dasavatara

by V. Ashok

This promise of Lord Vishnu, delivered in the Bhagavad Gita, forms the basis of Dasavatara: The Ten Incarnations of Vishnu--the stories of the descents of the Lord. In days gone by, children would cluster around their grandparents and listen with rapt attention to the tales of angry rishis, evil kings, fearsome asuras and the amazing exploits of the Lord. Today, the growth of nuclear families and the changing pace of life have led to these tales and traditions being forgotten or only partially recollected. This book is an attempt at collating the legends of the various avataras or births of Lord Vishnu and presenting them in an easily readable form for Indians in India and abroad, as well as others with an interest in Indian religions, culture and philosophy.

About the Author:

V. ASHOK joined the Indian Foreign Service and has served in Indian Missions in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing and Vienna, as well as in various capacities in the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. He was Director (External Relations) in the Department of Atomic Energy in Mumbai before representing India as Alternate Governor and Alternate Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. He is currently posted in the Indian High Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka.