DASHAVATARS OF LORD VISHNU

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Name of story: Dashavatars of Lord Vishnu
Site Name: Ganesh Ghat Mandir, Alwar, Rajasthan
Article by: Shreeya Rawat


DASHAVATARS OF LORD VISHNU

A Kachwaha Rajput ruler, Pratap Singh established the Princely State of Alwar in 1770 C.E on the eastern side of the Aravali range. The Ganesh Ghat Mandir in village Lalpura (Alwar district) is built in the traditional haveli style and houses beautiful wall paintings. The temple showcases Rajput architectural features. A series of steps leads to the entrance of the temple. The structure houses two hexagonal chhatris (dome shaped pavilion) on both the sides of the staircase. The temple is approached through a multi-cusped arched gateway with gokhas (arched sit-outs) on either side. The single-storey structure is crowned with a bangladhar roof (gable roof). The centre of the courtyard houses the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple of Lord Ganesha on the first floor is connected through a projected balcony.


Ganesh Ghat Mandir

The paintings found in the region belong to the Rajasthani Dhundhar School of art. The art form and the themes used in the paintings are influenced by both Rajasthani and Mughal elements. The wall paintings of the temple are made in tempera technique in which the paintings are painted on a dry plaster along with a binding medium. The interiors of the two chhatris have paintings on the dome ceiling, drum and spandrels of the arches.

  


 

What catches the eyes immediately is the dasavatars of Vishnu painted beautifully on the inside of a chattri. The niches carved on the arches of the drum supporting the dome are adorned with mythological scenes based on the ten incarnations or the ‘dashavatars’ of Lord Vishnu. The paintings portray a polychrome variation in colours.

Interior of the second chhatri

“यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्।।
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे।।”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          - Bhagwat Gita, ch 4, verse 7-8

Along with Brahma, the creator and Shiva, the destroyer, Lord Vishnu is one of the three deities who is also known as 'preserver of the universe'. According to Vishnu Purana, Lord Vishnu has taken ten incarnations or the dashavatars, in times of distress and turmoil in the universe. Each of the avatars of Vishnu had a purpose of restoration of Dharma or righteousness and to save the world and its people from the hands of evils or demons.

Matsya avatar

The Matsya avatar, wherein Matsya is depicted as half-fish and half man – a human torso that is connected to the tail of the fish, shows Vishnu pulling Hayagriya by his hair and holding a gada on his right hand. The left of the painting portrays Manu holding the Vedas in his hands. The purpose of this avatar was to forewarn Manu, the first man, about the great flood and to help him preserve all the living beings, the Vedas and seeds of all the plants. 

Kurma avatar

In the painting portraying churning of the ocean of milk, Vishnu is shown in the form of tortoise known as the Kurma avatar (tortoise incarnation). The devtas and the asuras are shown churning the mountain with the help of Vasuki, the serpent, used as a churning rope. Vishnu is also shown standing on the churning rod and holding a flute.

Varaha avatar

In the Varaha (boar) avatar depiction, Lord Varaha, holding a gada in his right hand, is shown standing with one foot on the body of Hiranyaksha. The half man and half boar avatar of Lord Vishnu slays the demon Hiranyaksha to save Bhudevi, the Goddess of Earth, and restores her back to surface by using his tusks.

Narasimha avatar

The fourth painting in the series depicts the Narasimha avatar, the half-lion and half human incarnation of Lord Vishnu, wherein Vishnu is shown tearing apart Hiranyakashyapa with his claws. His purpose to appear was to save his disciple, Prahlada from the demon King Hiranyakashyapa.

Vamana avatar
 

The fifth painting depicts the Vamana avatar of Lord Vishnu along with King Bali. Vishnu is shown in dwarf form and begged for as much land as he could cover in three steps. Without giving much thought, King Bali granted him his wish. Vamana assumed a giant form and measured the entire universe in his two steps. He then placed his third step on the head of Bali in the pretext of breaking his ego and sent him down to rule the underworld.

Parshurama avatar

The sixth painting in the series represents the Parshurama avatar wielding the axe and fighting with Kartavirya Sahastrarjuna.

Rama avatar

The seventh avatar in the painting depicts the trio, Rama, Sita and Lakshamana.

Krishna avatar

Another painting on the niche portrays the eighth avatar, Krishna as a divine lover, playing with Radha and holding a flute in his hand. He is depicted in blue skin, wearing a crown of feather and a loincloth.

Buddha avatar

Unlike in other paintings, Buddha, Vishnu’s ninth avatar, is unusually depicted as a king and is adorned with crown, necklace and embroidered clothes.

Kalki avatar

Kalki, the tenth avatar, which is yet to come, is depicted with Vishnu holding a gada in one hand and standing along with a white horse.


Dome ceiling and drum comprising paintings

The paintings on both the chhatris depict elaborate battle scenes with soldiers riding on horses, holding flags, spears and daggers, fighting with other soldiers.

The richness and a range of diversity shown in these paintings are resplendent. Intricate detailing and exquisite designs in these paintings adds to the beauty and uniqueness of this temple.

 

REFERENCES

Books

1. Vir Piyusha, (2019), ‘Dashavatar: Stories of Lord Vishnu’, published by Readomania Publishing.
2. Chandrakant Kamala, (1971), ‘Dashavatar’ published by Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd.
3.  Krishna Nanditha, (June 2010), ‘The Book of Vishnu’, published by Penguin Books.
4. Vaswani J.P, (2017), ‘Dasavatar’, published by Jaico Publishing House.

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