Pardon me for any mistakes in some details, but I am basing my observations also on history,
rather than just reproducing the texts. I am indebted to many people, like the late Sri N.K.Thampan of
the Cochin Devaswam Board for his early guidance on the subject.

While the Ramayana was written before 500 BC and Mahabharatha just after, Bhagavatha in text
form is known to be written after a few more centuries only. This means the complexity of man had
increased and more scientific traits are definitely visible in the Bhagavatha. The sages who
wrote Bhagavatha"(Sage Suka fist narrated this story and Sage Sootha narrated in the ashram of Sage Shaunaka
which was also written down.)" seems to have had an inkling of the Darwin's
Theory of Evolution, much before Darwin, by describing the 10 births of God
as that of the fish(living in water), the tortoise(living in both water and land), the boar
(living in land alone),the Man-Lion(half man-half lion), The dwarf(man,small in size), the
Parasurama(man, with an Axe for cutting wood), Sri Rama(the noble man), the Balarama(man, with a plough
for tilling the land), Krishna(man with thefinal flute), and Kalki(the Destroyer-cum-Regenerator).
Each of these are described in the Bhagavatha. Of course, a story is only a story, but its standing
is very high among books, definitely being influenced by it's contents.

THE FISH

Before the advent of the present cycle of creation and destruction there was a king called
Satyavrata. Satyavrata was one fine morning performing the morning ablutions in the river.
He filled his palms with the river water and was about to pour it down as an offering to the Sun god,
when he noticed a tiny fish within his palms. The fish began to speak "Oh King, do not throw me
into the river which is teeming with my enemies, big fish and crocodiles". Moved with pity the king
put it gently in his own kamandalam (vessel with handle) filled with water, intending to deposit
it in a lake or big pond. Soon the fish increased in size and the king hastily deposited it in
a pond. Here too, it became too big for the pond and then it was arranged that it should be
deposited in the sea.

Now wisdom dawned on the king "You are no ordinary fish. You must be Lord Vishnu,
who has taken this form for some definite purpose" and the fish replied "True! O! King! I
have assumed this form to warn you and all good people. On the seventh day from now, there
will be a great deluge. The seas will over run the land submerging everything. You must build
a big boat . Fill it with provisions for a long time. Take specimens of plants and herbs and
their seeds. Take the seven rishis too. As the billows toss your boat in the high seas against
a strong wind I shall come as a huge fish with a horn protruding from the head. With Vasuki
(serpent) as a rope, attach your boat to my horn. I will guide you safely over the turbulent
waters to a safe haven." That was done and we see that the next cycle of creation has already
occurred.

THE TORTOISE

Again the God incarnated as a tortoise and the killed two demons named Madhu and Kaitabha
who had stolen the Vedas(sacred books) and restored them back to the rishis.

THE BOAR

A pair of rakshasa twins named Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksha were born and they grew up
to gigantic proportions, touching the clouds. As they walked the earth trembled. The seas
swept over the land when they stepped in. As Hiranyaksha the younger brother stepped into the
sea, it was only knee deep, and water all around. The sages and gods, as usual appealed to
Vishnu(one of the trio of Gods) who immediately took the form of a huge boar and plunged into the sea.
And then ensued a fierce battle, which lasted many days with many ups and downs and many an
anxious moment for the sages. At last Vishnu gave a fierce blow and the demon fell dead.

THE MAN-LION

Hiranyakashipu decided to do Tapas to avenge his brother's death. The tapas lasted for
a long time. He was about to cast himself in the fire when Lord Brahma appeared "My son, I am pleased
with your tapas. What do you wish?". "I wish immunity from death". Brahma replied "Nay, that is not
possible. It is not in my power to give that". "Then" said Hiranyakasipu "grant me invulnerability
from all weapons, from beasts and men. I should not be killed either in day time or night". This
was granted.

Hiranyakasipu ruled over the whole world. In his palace halls the walls were smooth
as a mirror; the pillars shone with precious stones, the devas were in humble attendance. The apsaras
(nymphs) were dancing without pause and the monarchs of the world regularly brought their tributes.
Even the offerings poured into the sacrificial fires by the sages were forcibly diverted to him.
It was continuous enjoyment all the time and yet the asura was not satisfied. It was adharma
(unrighteous conduct) all along the line. Nobody should worship Hari. Instead they could worship him.
"Hiranyaya namah" was the manthra he taught.

Hiranyakasipu had four sons of whom Prahlada was the last. One day, the Asura took his
little son on his lap and asked "Dear Fellow! What is the best thing a person can do?" The child
immediately replied "In this troubled world where people are torn with thoughts of mine
and thine, they should leave their houses which are like hidden wells and run to the forests where they
may take refuge in Meditaion of God Vishnu."

The Asura's brows darkened "My enemy or his agents have corrupted my poor son's mind.
I must entrust him to proper teachers for his education". He summoned the two sons of Sukracharya
and commanded them to undertake his education in the proper way. They took the child to their
hermitage and taught him all the usual sastras which he mastered with great ease. But he was
firm in his devotion to Vishnu. He is the cause of everything; He is everything. The child affirmed.
The teachers were in a fix "How did you get this idea? was it imparted to you or is it your own?"

Hiranyakashipu questioned. Those poor fellows shaking with fear moaned "It was not done by
us or by any other. This he has learned by himself. Please wait till your guru, our father, returns.
He will surely find some way". But even their father,Shukracharya, failed to correct Prahalada.

Turning to his son the Asura thundered "How did you get this pernicious idea in your
mind?". Gently Prahlada replied "As a magnet attracts iron Vishnu attracts me."

The Asura threw down the boy and roared "He is an enemy. He has forgotten how my brother
was treacherously killed and does not want to avenge it. If a limb of ones own body is diseased
it should be amputated. Take him away, poison him, and throw him down the cliff." The demoniac
attendants needed no further persuasion. They tried all these tricks and many more. All their
efforts were vain. And the emperor of the three worlds became really anxious. He was afraid.

His co-disciples, all asura boys listened attentively to him and began to sing hymns and
danced round Prahlada to the great consternation of the tutors. On hearing about the strange
turn of events, Hiranyakasipu became blind with fury and grasping a sword rushed towards his
son "You idiot! Where is the source of your strength? I will finish both of you at once!" and
Prahlada replied "Oh! King! Not only mine but yours and of every creature, Vishnu the source
is everywhere." "Is he in this iron pillar also ?" asked the furious asura. "Yes. He is there also.
I see him clearly". The Asura looked at the iron pillar and struck. It split in two. A
deafening sound was heard,and there emerged a huge form, half lion, half man. The Narasimham caught the
Asura, laid him on his lap, dug his claws into the Asura's breast and pulling out the heart
and entrails garlanded himself with it. It was all over. Hiranyakashipu was killed in the twilight
zone(neither daytime nor night by neither man nor beast and using no weapons).

The Narasimham(Man-Lion) had not calmed down. He was still shivering with anger.
Nobody dared approach him. The gods, demi-gods, gandharvas, nagas and sages all tried to come
near singing psalms of praise but the Man-Lion showed no signs of calming down. However he cooled
down when Prahlada came near and sat on his thighs.

VAMANA THE SMALL MAN

Mahabali was a great king who ruled on the shores of river Narmada. He was a great
devotee of Vishnu and yet he was a Rakshasa. Hence Vishnu incarnated as a Dwarf Brahmin and
came to Mahabali. Mahabali asked him what he wanted. He said he wants 3 steps of land with
his own foot. Mahabali granted him the wish, not heeding Shukracharya's advise that he should not.
Vamana measured the whole world and the skies with two steps and asked Mahabali where he
should step now. Mahabali boldly said, "Step on my head". Vishnu was too glad. He asked
Mahabali to go and live comfortably in the Netherlands along with his disciples which he did.

PARASURAMA THE MAN WITH AN AXE

Parasurama was a brahmin and a great sage. During his time the Kings became too arrogant,
selfish and quarrelled with each other for their own interest. They never looked after
their respective citizens. Parasurama became highly anguished and killed hundreds or thousands
of the bad ones. Among his many achievements is also included the creation of a coastline to
the south of the Konkan coast between Gokarna and Kanyakumari.

RAMA THE NOBLE MAN

Sri Rama was responsible not only for his victory over Ravana of Lanka, but also for ruling
Ayodhya as the most ideal king.

BALARAMA THE MAN WITH PLOUGH AND
KRISNA THE MAN WITH THE FLUTE

Balarama and Krishna were brothers who were brought up in beautiful Gokulam as
small children (and shifted again to the most beautiful Vrindavanam). Krishna's uncle Kamsa who
ruled from Mathura tried to kill Krishna by sending demons and demonesses many times but unsuccessfully.
Ever naughty, eating mud in front of his mother and showing the whole world in his mouth, stealing
butter, fighting with multi-hooded serpents, taunting the ladies and hiding their clothes,
saving whole villages from floods, stealing peoples hearts with his haunting music, and so on and on,
he mesmerised the simple villagers(Yadavas) who were basically cowherds.

Later, the two brothers were educated by a Rishi called Sandipini in his ashram during which
time Kuchela was also studying there. After the studies Krishna gives dakshina to the Rishi by bringing
back his son who had died, from Yama's abode.

The gopikas of Vridavanam were enchanted by Krishna's flute music as well as his good
looks, personality, loving nature, his divine adventures and godlike accomplishments. Krishna played
along with gopis and gopikas. However Akroora an admirer of Krishna came to take Krishna back to Mathura.
The gopikas were really too sad by these turn of events. All the women were in weeping condition.
Yasoda, his mother was also sad. But Balarama and Krishna had to go, since higher duties were beckoning
them.

The two brothers set off to Mathura. Kamsa had arranged a rouge elephant and two fierce
wrestlers to kill them when they reached Mathura. Instead the brothers killed the elephant and
the wrestlers. Finally Krishna kills Kamsa, and brings back the real king from prison to rule Mathura.

However the Yadavas could not live in peace in Mathura due to frequent attacks from
all sides. He killed many of his enemies but then shifted to Dwaraka a small island in the
Gujarath coast.

Rukmini was deeply in love with Krishna and decided in her heart that she will marry
only Krishna even as she was a child. When she grew up her brother Rukmi decided to marry her off to
the king of Chedi. Rukmini sends a messenger to Krishna to save her. Since her marriage was decided,
Krishna meets her in front of a temple and carries her off to Dwaraka. Rukmi challenges Krishna
but gets defeated. Then Krishna marries Rukmini in Dwaraka.

Krishna also married Sathyabhama and Jambavathi. It happened as follows. Krishna was
once accused of stealing a grand jewel called Syamanthaka. To prove his innocense he had to bring
the necklace back wherever it was. Searching (keen as Sherlock Holmes) leads him to identify some strange
footsteps which ultimately led to a distant cave.

Leaving the attendants outside, Krishna entered the cave. Inside he saw some light and
on proceeding he saw the area lit up with the lustre of the jewel Syamanthaka which a child
was playing with . Seeing the stranger the child cried loudly and a huge bear Jambhavan came
to her rescue. Then ensued a great fight, between Jambhavan and Krishna. The fight went on for
eighteen days. Jambhavan the hero of Ramayana was now facing defeat from Krishna and then realization
dawned on him. His opponent seemed very much like Sri Rama,his master. He now realised that it was
the same Lord Vishnu in a new avatar. With tears in his eyes he prayed, "Pardon me, Lord, now
I see you are my master Sri Rama in a new avatar. Forgive my ignorance!" The Lord not only
pardoned him but gently stroked him making him happy. Krishna explained that he had come in
search of the jewel to retrieve his reputation. Jambhavan gladly gave him not only the jewel
but also his daughter Jambavati for marriage and escorted them back to Dwaraka.

Meanwhile at Dwaraka the citizens were plunged in grief. They blamed the jewel's owner,
Satrajith and his greed for this misfortune. Devaki, Rukmini and others went to the temple of Mahamaya
praying for Krishna's welfare. And as if in answer to their prayer Krishna entered the gates,
victorious and with a new bride Jambavati. Satrajit too, now entirely repentant, came with the jewel
Syamanthaka and his daughter Satyabhama and requested Krishna to accept both. Krishna smiled
and said "I gladly accept Satyabhama as wife, but not your other present, the jewel. Keep it yourself".
And the marriages of Satyabhama and Jambavathi with Krishna was celebrated with great
pomp and splendour.

In Dwaraka they lived for the rest of their life.

Krishna and his wife Sathayabhama, together killed a great Demon king called Narakasura
who had the habit of stealing or abducting women. After defeating Narakasura, Krishna had to
rehabilitate 16000 women who were kept in the prisons of Narakasura. This he did in style by
bringing them all the way to Dwaraka. Thus Krishna came to be known as having 16008 wives,
the 8 wives including Rukmini and Sathyabhma and Jambavati.

Krishna acted as charioteer to Arjuna and thereby also as advisor to Yudhishtira
in military strategy during the Mahabharatha war.

Later he helped Arjuna with a mystery of child disappearence of a brahmin couple,
who however were found to be residing in Vaikunta (Vishnu's Heaven).
Kuchela, Krishna's classmate at Sandipani's ashram also visits Dwaraka and is duly
rewarded by Krishna. By the time the poor old brahmin returns home he sees that his house has
been transformedd into a wealthy house and his tattered wife looked like a very charming and
happy woman.

KALKI THE DESTROYER AND REGENERATOR

Kalki, the destroyer and regenerator of the world is the tenth and last incarnation of
Vishnu yet to happen. In this incarnation Kalki will destroy all the unscrupulous elements of
society and thereby end the world and the next cycle will begin.

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