Avatar - Comes from the Sanskrit Word [ava- 'down'] and the root [tṛ- 'to cross over']. In local dialects it is understood as अवतारित होना meaning taking a materialistic appearance or incarnation of a Hindu God. An Avatar signifies a deity coming down from Swarga Lok to Prithvi Lok. An avatar always takes place for a specific reason like:

1) Restoring Dharma.

2) Empowering the Good to Eliminate the Evil.

3) To create new Social Order (by Parshuram)

4) Bring oneness in a family (by Krishna)

5) Restore peace and remove hatred (by Gautam Buddha)

6) Re-establish righteousness in the world (by Krishna)

7) Helping other Avatar to ensure Dharma is followed as in Hanuman assisting Ram to defeat Ravana.

Types of Avatar - An Avatar types can be categorized into different classifications:-

According to Ancient Hindu Text -

(1) Purna Avatar like:- Rama,Krishna & VeerBhadra

(2) Ansh Avatar(Partial) - like:- Matsya,Varaha & Hanuman.

According to the Panchatantra text of Vaishnavism -

It declares that Vishnu's avatars include those that are direct and complete (sakshad), indirect and endowed (avesha), cosmic and salvific (vyuha), inner and inspirational (antaryamin), consecrated and in the form of image (archa).

According to the Bhagwat Purana -

(1) Purush Avatar (2) Lila Avatar (3) Guna Avataras (4) Manvantara Avataras (5) Yuga Avataras (6) Shaktyavesha Avataras.