Religious Ceremonies and Customs of the People of the World: Incarnations (Avatars) Five through Eight of Vishnu
Bernard Picart
Description
These images illustrate incarnations of the Hindu deity Vishnu, one of the three most powerful Hindu deities. Vishnu, the preserver or sustainer, is thought to take material form whenever a crisis of evil threatens to throw o the balance of the cosmos—by subduing evil and its sources, he restores cosmic balance. Vishnu can take many forms, called avatars or incarnations. The top left image is his fifth incarnation—Vamana. In the top right, Vishnu appears as Parashurama, wielding an axe. In the bottom left, Vishnu appears in form of Rama and in the bottom right he appears in his eighth and most beloved incarnation, Krishna.
Subject Matter:
These images illustrate incarnations of the Hindu deity Vishnu, one of the three most powerful Hindu deities: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Vishnu, the preserver or sustainer, is thought to take material form whenever a crisis of evil threatens to throw off the balance of the cosmos—by subduing evil and its sources, he restores cosmic balance. Vishnu can take many forms, called avatars or incarnations. The top left image is his fifth incarnation—Vamana. In the top right, Vishnu appears as Parashurama, wielding an axe. In the bottom left, Vishnu appears in form of Rama and in the bottom right he appears in his eighth and most beloved incarnation, Krishna.
Physical Description:
This print contains four distinct scenes demarcated by boxes which depict four different incarnations of a deity.
Usage Rights:
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