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Introduction to Avataar-3
See also
Prophecies
for Buddh and Kalki Avataar
Avataar means incarnation.
Avataar word is used normally in the reference of God. Krishn Himself has said in
Geetaa that whenever Dharm deteriorates I take Avataar to correct the situation.
If god himself comes, it is called His Avataar, but when a person who has already
taken birth once on Prithvi, comes again, it is called Punarjanm, or Janmaantar Janm...
so goes the Kaarmik cycle.
Bhaagvat Puraan, 1/3,
describes 22 Avataar -
|
Avataar |
For |
| 1. Sanakaadi Muni |
Sanak, Sanandan, Sanaatan and Sanak Kumaar |
| 2. Varaah Avataar |
To take out Prithvi from Rasaatal; To kill Hiranyaaksh |
|
3. Naarad |
Devarshi |
|
4. Nar-Naaraayan |
As the son of Dharm and Moorti |
| 5. Kapil Jee |
As the son of Kardam Rishi and Devahooti |
|
6. Dattaatreya |
As the son of Atri Rishi and Anusooyaa |
| 7. Yagya |
As the son of Ruchi Prajaapati and Aakooti |
| 8. Rishabh Dev |
As the son of king Naabhi and Meru Devee |
| 9. King Prithu |
As the son of Vane |
|
10. Matsya Avataar |
In the end of Chaakshush Manvantar to protect Vaivaswat Manu of next Manvantar |
|
11. Kashchap Avataar |
At the time of Saagar Manthan to lift Mandaraachal Parvat on His back |
|
12. Dhanvantari Avataar |
To bring Amrit from the Sea |
|
13. Mohinee Avataar |
To distribute Amrit to Devtaa and Daitya |
|
14. Narasinh Avataar |
To kill Hiranyakashyap |
|
15. Vaaman Avataar |
To give back Swarg to Indra from Bali |
|
16. Parashuraam Avataar |
As
the son of Jamadagni and Renukaa. Killed all Kshatriya 21 times. |
|
17. Ved Vyaas Jee |
As the son of Paraashar and Satyavatee to divide Ved |
|
18. Raam Avataar |
As the son of Dasharath and Kaushalyaa to kill Raavan and Kumbhkarn |
|
19. Balaraam Avataar |
As the son of Vasudev and Rohinee |
|
20. Krishn Avataar |
As the son of Vasudev and Devakee |
|
21. Buddha Avataar |
As the son of Ajan |
| 22. Kalki Avataar |
In the end of the Kali Yug, as the son of Vishnu Yash Braahman. He
will be riding Devdatt horse When the Sun, the Moon and Jupiter are together
in Cancer and all three enter in Pushya Nakshatra then the Sat Yug
will start. |
Here only 22
Avataar are given, but 24 Avataar are popularly known. Some complete the
counting of 24 like this - Besides Raam and Krishn, there are 20 Avataar
are given here; the remaining 4 Avataar are of Krishn only - Kesh, for
Sutapaa and Prishni, Sankarshan, and Parbrahm.
Other learned
people say, that besides the 22 Avataar given above, there are two more
Avataar - Hans and Hayagreev.
10 Most Popular Avataar
The most popularly known 10
Avataar are counted like this. The following references are from Bhaagvat
Puraan, but stories of all these Avataar are given
here also --
(1) Varaah Avataar -
Hiiranyaaksh was so powerful that he always looked for Vishnu to fight
with. When he could not find Him, he took away Prithvi in Paataal Lok and
hid her there. So when As Vishnu asked Brahmaa to create the world, Brahmaa
said that Hianyakashyap had taken Prithvi in Paataal Lok. So Vishnu assumed
Varaah form and brought Prithvi out from the depths of the sea.
When Vishnu was bringing Prithvi back, He fought with Hiranyaaksh, killed
him, and brought Prithvi up.
(2) Matsya Avataar -
This Avataar He took in the end of Chaakshush Manvantar to save Manu for the next
Manvantar.
(3)
Kashchap Avataar - This Avataar He took to support Mandaraachal
Parvat so that it should not shake while Devtaa and Daitya were churning
the sea to extract Amrit.
(4) Mohinee Avataar -
This Avataar He took to distribute Amrit to Devtaa only, so that Daitya should
not get Amrit and should not become immortal.
(5) Nrasinh Avataar -
This Avataar He took to kill Hiranyakashyap and protect His Bhakt Prahlaad from
him. In this Avataar His face was of lion and the rest of the body was of a human
being. The reason for this was the type of Var Hiranyakashyap got from Brahmaa Jee.
(6) Vaaman Avataar -
This Avataar He took to get Swarg back from Raajaa Bali by asking only three
feet land and measured the whole Tri-Lok in two feet and then sending him to
Rasaatal.
(7) Raam Avataar -
This Avataar He took to kill Raavan and Kumbhkarn. You may read
Tulasee's Maanas or
Vaalmeeki Raamaayan.
(8) Krishn Avataar -
This Avataar He took to kill many Raakshas - Shishupaal, Dantvakra, Kans etc.
(9) Buddha Avataar -
(10) Kalki Avataar -
This is a future Avataar - in the end of the Kali Yug. In this Avataar He will
kill all evil people and establish Sat Yug.
Relationship of Avataar With Nava Graha
The unborn Lord has many incarnations.
He has incarnated, as the 9 Graha (0 planets) to bestow on the living beings the
results due to their Karm. He is Janaardan. He assumed the auspicious form of Graha
to destroy the evil forces and sustain the divine beings.
From Soorya He is incarnated as Raam,
From Chandra He is incarnated as Krishn,
From Mangal He has incarnated as Narasinh,
From Budh He is incarnated as Buddha,
From Guru He is incarnated as Vaaman (Dwarf),
From Shukra He has incarnated as Parashuraam,
From Shani He has incarnated as Koorm (Tortoise),
From Raahu He has incarnated as Varaah (Boar); and
From Ketu He has incarnated as Meen (Fish) Avataar.
Out of these 9 Avatar, four incarnations Raam, Krishn, Narasinh and Varaah
are wholly endowed with Paramaatmaa's Ansh while the others have in them
Jeevaansh too. The beings with more Paramaatmaa's Ansh are called Divine
beings. The beings with more Jeevatmaa's Ansh are mortal beings. The high
degree of Paramatmaa's Ansh from the Graha, viz. Soorya etc. did incarnate,
as Raam, Krishn etc. After completing the mission, the Paramaatmaa's Ansh
(of the respective Avataar) Graha again merged in their respective Graha.
The Jeevaatmaa portions from the Graha take births, as human beings and
live their lives according to their Karm and again merge in the Graha. And
at the time of Great Destruction the Graha as well merge in Lord Vishnu.
[From Brihat Paraashar Horaa Shaastra (BPHS), Ch 2-Great
Incarnations]
[From Devee Bhaagvat]
Chaakshush
Manvantar -> Dharm Avataar, his sons were Nar and Naarayan
Vaivaswat Manvantar -> Dattaatreya Avataar
[From Bhavishya Puraan, 3/16]
Bhavishya Kalp -> Vaivaswat
Manvantar -> 28th Dwaapar Yug -> Krishn Avataar
Characteristics of an Avataar
[From Chaitanya Charitaamrit]
Some of the
Divine signs by which one may be able to recognize the Personality of
the Godhead when He is manifest in the material world are described in
the Chaitanya Charitaamrit as follows:--
Panch-deerghah panch-sookshmah sapt-raktah shad-unnatah,
Tri-hriswa prithu-gambheero dwa-trinsh-lakshano Mahaan.
There are 32 specific signs which distinguish the Supreme Being, viz.,
5 long, 5 thin, 7 reddish, 6 raised, 3 short, 3 broad, and 3 deep.
The Panch-deergh signs are: long nose, long arms, long collar-bone long
eyes, and long thighs.
The Panch-sookshm signs are: thin skin, fine hair, slender fingers and
teeth, and fine body hairs.
The Sapt-rakt signs are: reddish eyes, pink feet and palms, reddish throat,
rosy face and pink lips and nails.
The Shad-unnat are: bulging chest, raised shoulders, and prominent nails,
nose, waist and mouth.
The Tri-hriswa are: close neck, short hips and ankles.
The Tri-gambheer signs are: deep navel, deep voice and deep (incomprehensible)
behavior.
All these 32 divine qualities or
signs found existing simultaneously in all their supra-mundane and eternal perfection
signify the blessed person of the Supreme Lord.
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