Dashavatar Trivia Quiz

Answer: Matsya

In Matsya Avatar, Vishnu incarnated as a fish. His duty was to transfer all the species of plants and animals to the new world and protect them from a great deluge. He pulled a boat that carried all the plants and animals and transferred them to the new world.

Answer: Tortoise

The tortoise incarnation is the second avatar of Lord Vishnu. When the devas (Gods) and asuras (demons) were churning the sea for Amrita (the nectar of immortality), the mountain Mandarachala started to sink. Vishnu, as Kurma, bore the weight of the mountain.

Answer: Varaha

It is believed that the battle between Hiranyaksha and Varaha (boar) lasted for a thousand years, which Varaha won in the end. Varaha carried the Earth with his tusks and restored it in its place in the universe.

Answer: Narasimha

Hiranyakashipu was the brother of Hiranyaksha. He had acquired a special boon that no man, or god, could kill him; he could neither be killed at day nor at night; neither indoors nor outdoors, neither on space nor on earth and not by any weapons. Narasimha was half man/half lion (no man, no god).

He comes upon him at twilight (neither day nor night), in his courtyard (neither indoors nor outdoors), put him on his lap (neither space nor earth) and with his nails (no weapons) killed him.

Answer: dwarf

Lord Vishnu incarnated as a dwarf called Vamana in the Treta Yuga. An asura king, Bali, had defeated Indra and became the king of the three worlds. When the Gods pleaded Vishnu, he incarnated as Vamana. When Bali was organizing an yagna for the prosperity of his kingdom, Vamana came. Bali promised him to give whatever he asked for. Vamana asked him for the place that will fit his three steps and then he started to grow taller and taller. With his two steps he covered the earth and Swarga (heaven).

Then he asked Bali where to keep his third step. Bali was amazed. He thought and said Vamana to keep his foot on his head. Vamana did so and blessed him for keeping his promise.

Answer: axe

Parashurama was born in the Brahmin family of Jamadagni and Renuka. He received his axe from a difficult penance to Lord Shiva. Once, a Kshatriya king named Kartavirya Arjuna came to the hut of Jamadagni. Jamadagni had the divine cow, Kamadhenu. She gave whatever was asked to him. With its help, Jamadagni was able to serve the king well.

When Kartavirya Arjuna came to know about the cow, he asked Jamadagni to give him the cow at any price. Jamadagni refused. So, the king forcefully took the cow. When Parashurama came to know about this, he set out to fight against Kartavirya Arjuna.

He alone fought with the king and his huge army and defeated them. Parashurama then started punishing every cruel and evil Kshatriya king and saved the poor from their cruelty. Parashurama was said to be immortal and is believed that he still lives in some part of the world.

Answer: Rama

Rama was born to King Dasharatha and Kausalya. He is remembered for his respect to his parents. He was an ideal ruler. he defeated the asura King Ravana, king of Lanka for having captured Rama's wife Sita.

Answer: Krishna

Krishna was the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was the eighth son Devaki and Vasudeva. But he was brought up by Yasoda, his foster mother. Krishna killed his own uncle, asura King Kansa. Later he acted as an advisor to the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra war. He was the charioteer of Arjuna. He did much for the betterment of humans.

Answer: Buddhism

Gautama Sidhartha, or Buddha, is hailed to be the ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu. He was born to the Sakhya king, Sudhodhana, in Lumbini, Nepal around 540 BC. He was brought up amidst luxury. But once, he saw a sick man, an old man, a dead man and an ascetic while exploring his kingdom.

He wanted to know what is the truth. So, leaving his wife, son and palace, he went out in search of truth. During a meditation under Bodhi tree, in Bodh gaya, he attained enlightenment. He had many disciples and today people follow his teachings in Buddhism.

Answer: Kalki

Kalki avatar is believed to come at the end of Kali Yuga. Lord Vishnu will incarnate as the Kalki avatar, riding on a white horse and with a sword with his hand. He will kill any evil person, he sees. After Kali Yuga, again truth and peace will prevail in the world.