AVATAR, an "incarnation," especially the "descent" of a deity to save the world. Thus, the 1 o avatars of Vishnu were in the later epics, as (I) a fish, (2) a tortoise, (3) a boar, (4) a monster, half man, half lion, to destroy Hiranyakasipu, the infidel worshipper of Siva, (5) a dwarf, (6) Rama, (7) Rama, son of Jamadagni, (8) Krishna, (9) Buddha, and the loth, yet to appear, will be, the Hindus believe, Kalki, in the form of a white-winged horse destined to destroy the earth.
See E. W. Hopkins, Epic Mythology, Strasbourg, 1915.