tell me about the avatars of Lord Vishnu

Lord Vishnu, one of the principal deities in Hinduism, is often referred to as the preserver or protector within the Hindu trinity (Trimurti) that includes Brahma the creator and Shiva the destroyer. Vishnu is known for his ten primary avatars, collectively referred to as "Dashavatara," which he takes to restore cosmic order (Dharma) whenever there is a decline in righteousness and an increase in evil. Here are the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu:

**Matsya (The Fish)**: In this form, Vishnu saved the ancient sage Manu and his family from a great flood by guiding his boat to safety, ensuring the preservation of life.

**Kurma (The Tortoise)**: Vishnu took the form of a tortoise to support Mount Mandara, which was used as a churning stick during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan) to obtain the nectar of immortality (amrita).

**Varaha (The Boar)**: Vishnu appeared as a boar to rescue the Earth (personified as the goddess Bhudevi) from the demon Hiranyaksha, who had dragged it to the bottom of the cosmic ocean.

**Narasimha (The Man-Lion)**: To protect his devotee Prahlada and to defeat the demon king Hiranyakashipu, who was immune to being killed by man or beast, Vishnu manifested as a half-man, half-lion.

**Vamana (The Dwarf)**: Vishnu descended as a Brahmin dwarf to subdue the demon king Bali, who had gained control over the three worlds, by asking for three paces of land and then expanding to cover the entire universe in those three steps.

**Parashurama (The Warrior with an Axe)**: Vishnu incarnated as Parashurama, a Brahmin warrior, to rid the world of corrupt Kshatriya rulers. He wields an axe and is known for his fierce commitment to justice.

**Rama (The Prince of Ayodhya)**: As the hero of the epic Ramayana, Rama incarnated to defeat the demon king Ravana, rescue his wife Sita, and restore dharma. He is considered the ideal man and a symbol of virtue.

**Krishna (The Supreme God)**: Krishna, one of the most beloved deities in Hinduism, plays many roles, including that of a divine lover, a wise statesman, and the charioteer who delivered the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. His life and teachings are central to Hindu belief.

**Buddha (The Enlightened One)**: Some traditions include the historical figure of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) as an avatar of Vishnu, embodying compassion and promoting non-violence and self-realization.

**Kalki (The Future Warrior)**: The prophesied future incarnation of Vishnu, who is expected to appear at the end of the current age (Kali Yuga) to rid the world of evil and restore dharma.

These avatars illustrate Vishnu's role as a protector and sustainer of the universe, embodying various aspects of divine intervention in response to the changing moral and social order of the world.