In the previous lecture, we discussed Hinduism’s two famous epics, the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyaṇa.
In the epics (= very long narratives) we were introduced to the practice of devotion to some of Hinduism’s gods (mainly Kṛṣṇa and Rāma).
As you may recall, both of those gods are avatārs, or earthly manifestations of God.
The most famous avatāras (or avatars) forms of Viṣṇu, but in Hindu mythology other gods (such as Śiva) may sometimes assume the form of an avatāra too.