" For protecting the good, destroying the wicked and for restoring dharma, I am born age after age." This promise of Lord Vishnu, delivered in the Bhagavad Gita, forms the basis of this work - the stories of the descents of the Lord.

In days gone by, children would cluster around their grandparents and listen with rapt attention to the tales of angry rishis, evil kings, fearsome asuras and the amazing exploits of the Lord. Today the growth of nuclear families and the changing pace of life have led to these tales and traditions being forgotten or only partially recollected.

This book is an attempt at collating the legends of the various avataras or births of Lord Vishnu and presenting them in an easily readable form for Indians in India and abroad, as well as others with an interest in Indian religions, culture and philosophy.