The word Dashavatara is made up of daśa, meaning ‘ten’, and avatar (avatāra), means ‘incarnation’. The Dashavatara refers to the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Vishnu is said to descend in the form of an avatar to restore cosmic order.
The Dashavatara Stotram is a hymn composed by the celebrated 13th-century poet-saint Jayadev in his epic work, the Gita Govinda. This stotram (hymn) praises the ten principal avatars (incarnations) of Lord Vishnu, who is one of the principal deities in Hinduism and part of the Holy Trinity, along with Brahma and Shiv.
The order of the ancient concept of Dashavataras has been interpreted to be reflective of modern Darwinian evolution – it is the theory of evolution told as a story, written between 12,000 and 14,000 years ago. It describes the cycle of human evolution beginning in water as Matsya the fish, on to the amphibious phase (half land and water) as Koorma, the tortoise, on to begin firmly established on land as the wild boar Varah, then Narsimha (half man–half animal), followed by Vaman, the Dwarf man, on to Parashuram, the emotionally volatile man, on to Ram, king of Ayodhya, then Krushna, a loving man, followed by Buddha, the meditative man, who is said to be succeeded by the final incarnation of Vishnu till now, and the last stage of evolution as Kalki, the Destroyer of Adharma (Kali). This is thus also a description of the evolution of consciousness. [source: wikipedia]
The Dashavatara Stotram is significant because it encapsulates the cyclical nature of time in Hindu cosmology, illustrating how Vishnu incarnates in different forms to protect the world and uphold Dharm across different ages (Yugas). Each avatar carries a specific message and purpose, highlighting the divine qualities of protection, wisdom, justice, and compassion. Through this stotram, devotees are reminded of the eternal presence and intervention of the divine in the cosmic order.
This stotram consists of 10 stanzas and this one repeats with each Avatar:
Ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane,
Rama Hare, Krishna Hare , thava nama vadami sada nruhare।।
Meaning:
Hare Rama ! Hare Krishna! Lord of universe! The chanting of your name alone other than anything in this world, gives me a sense of fulfilment ,helps me cross the sea of rebirth towards salvation . I would chant your names always.
Dashavatara Stotram
Ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane,
Rama Hare, Krishna Hare , thava nama vadami sada nruhare।।
Ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane,
Rama Hare, Krishna Hare , thava nama vadami sada nruhare।।
Matsya Avtara
Vedodhara vicharamathe , somakadanava samharane
Meenakara sareera namo , bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
Ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane,
Rama Hare, Krishna Hare , thava nama vadami sada nruhare।।1।।
Meaning: I offer my prayers to you, who with the intention to save Vedas, took the shape of a fish and killed Somaka the asura.I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!)
Koorm Avatara
Mandhanachala dharanahetho , devasura paripala vibho
Koormakara sareera namo , bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
Ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane,
Rama Hare, Krishna Hare , thava nama vadami sada nruhare।।2।।
Meaning: I offer my prayers to you, who the care taker of Devas and Asuras, supported the huge mountain called mandhana in the form of a tortoise on your back /the carapace to churn the ocean. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!)
Varah Avatara
Bhoochorakahara punyamathe, krodhodhrutha bhoodhevahare
Krodakara sareera namo, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
Ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane,
Rama Hare, Krishna Hare , thava nama vadami sada nruhare।।3।।
Meaning: I offer my prayers to you, who in the form of a hog killed the snatcher of the earth. You are angered yet a merciful God. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!)
Narasimah Avatara
Hiranyakasipuchednatho, prahlada bhayadhayakahetho
Naarasimhachutyaroopa namo, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
Ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane,
Rama Hare, Krishna Hare , thava nama vadami sada nruhare।।4।।
Meaning: I offer my prayers to you, who in the form of Narasimha and Achyuta together, killed Hiranyakashyap with a reason to contain him and save Prahlada, the asura. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!)
Vaaman Avatara
Bhava bandhannaa vithatamate, padodaka vihataghataten
vatupatuvesha manojyna namo, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
Ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane,
Rama Hare, Krishna Hare , thava nama vadami sada nruhare।।5।।
Meaning: I offer my prayers to you, who in the form of an enchanting young lad with a thought to stop Bali perform a sacrifice, occupied the universe in a measure of two feet. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!)
Parusaram Avatara
Kshitipativamsa kshyakaramurthe, khshtipati kartha hara murthe
bhrugukularama paresa namo, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
Ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane,
Rama Hare, Krishna Hare , thava nama vadami sada nruhare।।6।।
Meaning: I offer my prayers to you, who was born as Rama in a dynasty of kings and rescued the clan of kings standing unruffled. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!)
Ram Avatara
Sita vallabha dasaradhe, dasarathanandana loka guro ,
ravanamardhana rama namo, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
Ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane,
Rama Hare, Krishna Hare , thava nama vadami sada nruhare।।7।।
Meaning: I offer my prayers to you, who killed Ravana, the Rama, the beloved of mother Sita, son of Dasaradha and mentor of the universe . I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!)
Krishana Avatara
Krishnananta krupajaladhe, kamsare kamalesa hare,
kaaliyamardhana lokaguro, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
Ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane,
Rama Hare, Krishna Hare , thava nama vadami sada nruhare।।8।।
Meaning: I offer my prayers to you, who killed Kans, the Krushna, the everlasting source of happiness, an ocean of mercy, the dearest of goddess Lakshmi and trampled on the hoods of Kaliya the serpant. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu.
Budha Avatara
Danavapati manapahara, tripuravijaya mardana roopa,
Buddhagynayacha boudha namo, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
Ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane,
Rama Hare, Krishna Hare , thava nama vadami sada nruhare।।9।।
Meaning: I offer my prayers to you who left the town and the virtuous wife to end the sorrow of humans. You won over the cities by the form of speech with great wisdom. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!)
Kalki Avatara
Shistajanavana dushtahara, khagaturagothama vaahanathe
kalkiroopaparipala namo, bhakthamthey paripalaya maam!!
Ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane,
Rama Hare, Krishna Hare , thava nama vadami sada nruhare।।10।।
Meaning: I offer my prayers to you, who comes riding on a horse holding a sword to punish the wicked and save the innocent. I request you to take care of me a devotee of Vishnu. (Rama Hare Krishna Hare!!)
Ramasmarana danyopayam nahipasyamo bhavatarane।।
Another Version of Shri Dasavatara Stotra:
श्री दसावतार स्तोत्र
प्रलयपयोधिजले धृतवानसि वेदम् ।
विहितवहित्रचरित्रमखेदम् ।।
केशव धृतमीनशरीर जय जगदीश हरे ।।१।।
क्षितिरतिविपुलतरे तव तिष्ठति पृष्ठे ।
धरणिधरणकिणचक्रगरिष्ठे ।।
केशव धृतकच्छपरूप जय जगदीश हरे ।।२।।
वसति दशनशिखरे धरणी तव लग्ना ।
शशिनि कलंकलेव निमग्ना ।।
केशव धृतसूकररूप जय जगदीश हरे ।।३।।
तव करकमलवरे नखमद्भुतश्रृंगम् ।
दलितहिरण्यकशिपुतनुभृंगम् ।।
केशव धृतनरहरिरूप जय जगदीश हरे ।।४।।
छलयसि विक्रमणे बलिमद्भुतवामन ।
पदनखनीरजनितजनपावन ।।
केशव धृतवामनरूप जय जगदीश हरे ।।५।।
क्षत्रियरुधिरमये जगदपगतपापम् ।
स्नपयसि पयसि शमितभवतापम् ।।
केशव धृतभृगुपतिरूप जय जगदीश हरे ।।६।।
वितरसि दिक्षु रणे दिक्पतिकमनीयम् ।
दशमुखमौलिबलिं रमणीयम् ।।
केशव धृतरघुपतिवेष जय जगदीश हरे ।।७।।
वहसि वपुषि विशदे वसनं जलदाभम् ।
हलहतिभीतिमिलितयमुनाभम् ।।
केशव धृतहलधररूप जय जगदीश हरे ।।८।।
निन्दसि यज्ञविधेरहह श्रुतिजातम् ।
सदयह्रदयदर्शितपशुधातम् ।।
केशव धृतबुद्धशरीर जय जगदीश हरे ।।९।।
म्लेच्छनिवहनिधने कलयसि करवालम् ।
धूमकेतुमिव किमपि करालम् ।।
केशव धृतकल्किशरीर जय जगदीश हरे ।।१॰।।
श्रीजयदेवकवेरिदमुदितमुदारम् ।
श्रृणु सुखदं शुभदं भवसारम् ।।
केशव धृतदशविधरूप जय जगदीश हरे ।।११।।
