Vishnu appeared in the world either to correct some great evil or to effect some good on the earth. His incarnations are nine in number or innumerable.
[ Incarnations of Vishnu ]

All the incarnations are only the earthly manifestation of Vishnu, who himself is eternal, unchangeable and immutable. He is blue-skinned and in all pictures, and images he is seen in rich ornaments and regal garments. His wife is Lakshmi the goddess of wealth and fortune.

His place of abode is Vaikuntha (heaven) and his vehicle is Garuda, a giant- sized eagle that often is shown as a winged human-shaped figure having a beak-like nose. Lord Vishnu is the infinite ocean from which the world emerges.

Hence his symbol is water (Nara) and he himself is called "Narayan" – the one who dwells upon the water. He is often pictured with the many-headed snake, as mentioned above, and this denotes Anant Nag (the timeless or ageless snake). From his navel grows the lotus out of which appears Brahma, the god who created the universe.

During the churning of the ocean when all good things came out the last to appear was Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and beauty. Lord Vishnu took her as his wife. This was how Lakshmi was born and became the consort of Vishnu. Sometimes this goddess is shown as being one with Lord Vishnu, where the icons are known by name of Lakshmi Narayan.

This conjoined deity denotes that in this supreme state Vishnu, with his consort, representing his power and energy.