AVATAR

avatar, a sanskrit word meaning "descent," specially used in hindu mythology (and so in english) to express the incarnation of a deity visiting the earth for any purpose. the ten avatars of vishnu are the most famous. the hindus believe he has appeared (1) as a fish, (2) as a tortoise, (3) as a hog, (4) as a monster, half man half lion, to destroy the giant iranian, (5) as a dwarf, (6) as r[=a]ma, (7) again as r[=a]ma for the purpose of killing the thousand-armed giant cartasuciriargunan, (8) as krishna, (9) as buddha. they allege that the tenth avatar has yet to occur and will be in the form of a white-winged horse (kalki) who will destroy the earth.