The First to Fourth Incarnations of the Hindu God Vishnu

The engraving shows the first four incarnations (avatars) of the Hindu god Vishnu. According to the Bhagavad Gita, each of Vishnu’s ten avatars saved the world. The first avatar was a fish that lifted the vedas from the ocean. The second was a turtle that carried the world on its back to ensure its stability. The third was a boar that rescued the Earth, which had been thrown into the ocean by demons. The fourth was a half-lion, half-human creature that tore the demon Hiranyakashapu to pieces.