Avatar

Short description: Material appearance or incarnation of a deity on Earth in Hinduism

Hindu god Vishnu (centre) surrounded by his ten major avatars, namely Matsya; Kurma; Varaha; Narasimha; Vamana; Parashurama; Rama; Krishna; Buddha, and Kalki

Avatar (Sanskrit: अवतार, avatāra; pronounced [ɐʋɐtaːrɐ]), is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means "descent". It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a deity on Earth.[1][2] The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearance" is sometimes used to refer to any guru or revered human being.[3][4]

The word avatar does not appear in the Vedic literature;[5] however, it appears in developed forms in post-Vedic literature, and as a noun particularly in the Puranic literature after the 6th century CE.[6] Despite that, the concept of an avatar is compatible with the content of the Vedic literature like the Upanishads as it is symbolic imagery of the Saguna Brahman concept in the philosophy of Hinduism. The Rigveda describes Indra as endowed with a mysterious power of assuming any form at will.[7][8] The Bhagavad Gita expounds the doctrine of Avatara but with terms other than avatar.[6][9]

Theologically, the term is most often associated with the Hindu god Vishnu, though the idea has been applied to other deities.[10] Varying lists of avatars of Vishnu appear in Hindu scriptures, including the ten Dashavatara of the Garuda Purana and the twenty-two avatars in the Bhagavata Purana, though the latter adds that the incarnations of Vishnu are innumerable.[11] The avatars of Vishnu are important in Vaishnavism theology. In the goddess-based Shaktism tradition of Hinduism, avatars of the Devi in different appearances such as Tripura Sundari, Durga and Kali are commonly found.[12][13][14] While avatars of other deities such as Ganesha and Shiva are also mentioned in medieval Hindu texts, this is minor and occasional.[15] The incarnation doctrine is one of the important differences between Vaishnavism and Shaivism traditions of Hinduism.[16][17]

Incarnation concepts that are in some aspects similar to avatar are also found in Buddhism,[18] Christianity,[5] and other religions.[18]

The scriptures of Sikhism include the names of numerous Hindu gods and goddesses, but it rejected the doctrine of savior incarnation and endorsed the view of Hindu Bhakti movement saints such as Namdev that formless eternal god is within the human heart and man is his own savior.[19][20]

## Contents

* 1 Etymology and meaning
* 1.1 Avatar versus incarnation
* 2 Avatars of Vishnu
* 2.1 Dashavatara
* 2.1.1 Longer alternatives
* 2.2 Types
* 2.3 In Sikhism
* 2.4 In Isma'ilism
* 3 Avatars of Shiva
* 4 Avatars of Devi / Shakti
* 4.1 Avatars of Parvati
* 4.2 Avatars of Lakshmi
* 5 Avatars of Brahma
* 6 Avatars of Ganesha
* 7 Avatars of Varuna
* 8 See also
* 9 Explanatory notes
* 10 References
* 10.1 Citations
* 10.2 General bibliography
* 11 External links

## Etymology and meaning

The Sanskrit noun (avatāra /ˈævətɑːr, ˌævəˈtɑːr/;[21] Hindustani: [əʋˈtaːr]) is derived from the Sanskrit prefix ava- (down) and the root tṛ (to cross over).[22] These roots trace back, states Monier-Williams, to -taritum, -tarati, -rītum.[3] It's cognate to "away" in English, which is root from PIE *au- means "off, away".[23]

Avatar means "descent, alight, to make one's appearance",[3] and refers to the embodiment of the essence of a superhuman being or a deity in another form.[22] The word also implies "to overcome, to remove, to bring down, to cross something".[3] In Hindu traditions, the "crossing or coming down" is symbolism, states Daniel Bassuk, of the divine descent from "eternity into the temporal realm, from unconditioned to the conditioned, from infinitude to finitude".[5] An avatar, states Justin Edwards Abbott, is a saguna (with form, attributes) embodiment of the nirguna Brahman or Atman (soul).[24] Avatar, according to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati actually means 'Divine Descent' in his commentaries of The Shrimad Bhagavatam and The Bramha Samhita (mentioned in Brahmavaivarta Purana).

Neither the Vedas nor the Principal Upanishads ever mention the word avatar as a noun.[5] The verb roots and form, such as avatarana, appear in ancient post-Vedic Hindu texts, but as "action of descending", but not as an incarnated person (avatara).[25] The related verb avatarana is, states Paul Hacker, used with double meaning, one as action of the divine descending, another as "laying down the burden of man" suffering from the forces of evil.[25]

The term is most commonly found in the context of the Hindu god Vishnu.[1][3] The earliest mention of Vishnu manifested in a human form to establish Dharma on Earth, uses other terms such as the word sambhavāmi in verse 4.6 and the word tanu in verse 9.11 of the Bhagavad Gita,[9] as well as other words such as akriti and rupa elsewhere.[26] It is in medieval era texts, those composed after the sixth century CE, that the noun version of avatar appears, where it means embodiment of a deity.[6] The idea proliferates thereafter, in the Puranic stories for many deities, and with ideas such as ansha-avatar or partial embodiments.[9][1]

The term avatar, in colloquial use, is also an epithet or a word of reverence for any extraordinary human being who is revered for his or her ideas.[22] In some contexts, the term avatara just means a "landing place, site of sacred pilgrimage", or just "achieve one's goals after effort", or retranslation of a text in another language.[3] The term avatar is not unique to Hinduism even though the term originated with Hinduism. It is found in the Trikaya doctrine of Mahayana Buddhism, in descriptions for the Dalai Lama in Tibetan Buddhism, and many ancient cultures.[18]

### Avatar versus incarnation

The manifest embodiment is sometimes referred to as an incarnation.[27] The translation of avatar as "incarnation" has been questioned by Christian theologians, who state that an incarnation is in flesh and imperfect, while avatar is mythical and perfect.[28][29] The theological concept of Christ as an incarnation, as found in Christology, presents the Christian concept of incarnation. The term avatar in Hinduism refers to act of various gods taking form to perform a particular task which in most of the times is bringing dharma back. The concept of avatar is totally real and is widely accepted all over the India.[30] Sheth disagrees and states that this claim is an incorrect understanding of the Hindu concept of avatar.[31][note 1] Avatars are true embodiments of spiritual perfection, one driven by noble goals, in Hindu traditions such as Vaishnavism.[31] The concept of the avatar in Hinduism is not incompatible with natural conception through a sexual act, which is again different from the Christian concept of the Virgin Birth.

## Avatars of Vishnu

Main page: Unsolved:Vishnu

The concept of avatar within Hinduism is most often associated with Vishnu, the preserver or sustainer aspect of God within the Hindu Trinity or Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Vishnu's avatars descend to empower the good and fight evil, thereby restoring Dharma. Traditional Hindus see themselves not as "Hindu", but as Vaishnava (Worshippers of Vishnu), Shaiva (Worshippers of Shiva), or Shakta (Worshipper of the Shakti). Each of the deities has its own iconography and mythology, but common to all is the fact that the divine reality has an explicit form, a form that the worshipper can behold.[33] An oft-quoted passage from the Bhagavad Gita describes the typical role of an avatar of Vishnu:[10][29]

> Whenever righteousness wanes and unrighteousness increases I send myself forth.
>  For the protection of the good and for the destruction of evil,
>  and for the establishment of righteousness,
>  I come into being age after age.

The Vishnu avatars appear in Hindu mythology whenever the cosmos is in crisis, typically because the evil has grown stronger and has thrown the cosmos out of its balance.[34] The avatar then appears in a material form, to destroy evil and its sources, and restore the cosmic balance between the ever-present forces of good and evil.[34]

The most known and celebrated avatars of Vishnu, within the Vaishnavism traditions of Hinduism, are Krishna, Rama, Narayana and Vasudeva. These names have extensive literature associated with them, each has its own characteristics, legends and associated arts.[29] The Mahabharata, for example, includes Krishna, while the Ramayana includes Rama.[35]

### Dashavatara

Main page: Unsolved:Dashavatara

The Bhagavata Purana describes Vishnu's avatars as innumerable, though ten of his incarnations Dashavatara are celebrated therein as his major appearances.[11][29] The ten major Vishnu avatars are mentioned in the Agni Purana, the Garuda Purana and the Bhagavata Purana;[36][37]

The ten best known avatars of Vishnu are collectively known as the Dasavatara (a Sanskrit compound meaning "ten avatars"). Five different lists are included in the Bhagavata Purana, where the difference is in the sequence of the names. Freda Matchett states that this re-sequencing by the composers may be intentional, so as to avoid implying priority or placing something definitive and limited to the abstract.[38]

The Avatars of Vishnu  Name  | Description

|

Matsya  | Half fish/half man avatar. He saves the world from a cosmic deluge, with the help of a boat. Some versions adds that he also saved the Vedas from a demon called Hayagriva.
Kurma[note 2] | Tortoise avatar. He supports the cosmos, while the gods and demons churn the cosmic ocean with the help of serpent Vasuki to produce the nectar of immortality (just like churning milk to produce butter). The churning produces both the good and the bad, including poison and immortality nectar. Nobody wants the poison, everyone wants the immortality nectar.
Varaha  | Boar avatar. He rescues goddess earth when the demon Hiranyaksha kidnaps her and hides her in the depths of cosmic ocean. The boar finds her and kills the demon, and the goddess holds onto the tusk of the boar as he lifts her back to the surface.
Narasimha | Half lion-half man avatar. Demon king Hiranyakashipu becomes enormously powerful, gains special powers by which no man or animal could kill him, then bullies and persecutes people who disagree with him, including his own son. The Man-Lion avatar creatively defeats those special powers, kills Hiranyakashipu, and rescues demon's son Prahlad who opposes his own father. The legend is a part of the Hindu festival Holi folklore.
Vamana  | Demon king Mahabali fought against the Devas and won heaven, and thus became the ruler of heaven, earth, and the underworlds. Though he was a benevolent king, he was a demon, and the devas led by Indra went to Lord Vishnu to help them get heaven back. Lord Vishnu, although didn't want to punish Bali because he was a good king, instead decided to test him. While the king was distributing alms amongst his people, Vishnu in his Vaman avatar approaches Bali in the form of a monk who offers him food, land, money, jewels, and all the riches. However, the monk refuses and asks only for three steps of land. Bali grants it to him. The dwarf grows, in his first step takes the earth and the netherworld, and in the second all of the heavens. Bali, now understanding who it is in front of him, offers his head to the Lord to put his foot on as the third pace. Lord Vishnu gave him the boon of immortality and allowed him to return to his people every year on the occasion of Onam.
Parshurama  | Sage with an axe avatar. The warrior class gets too powerful, and seizes other people's property for their own pleasure. The avatar appears as a sage with an axe, kills all the adharmi kings and all his warrior companions, Parshurama seizes their properties and transfer them to Brahmins.
Rama | The form of Prabhu Narayan who defeated a cruel and adharmi rakshas Ravan. He is a statue of forgiveness,subservient and is considered the Purushuttam Or the perfect man. Words fall short while describing him.
Krishna | The Liladhar Manmohan who came in Dwayapar Yug to restablish dharma. In this avatar Shree Krishna gave the most important knowledge needed by anyone in the form of "Geeta". He does everything for his devotees. Radha, her consort in Vrindavan is the avatar of Mahalakshmi. He had 16108 wives in which 8 are considered his " Patrani" and thus is called Ashtbharya collectively. They are the avatars of Mahalakshmi and it includes- Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Nagnajiti, Bhadra and Lakshmana.

Gautama Buddha  | Gautama Buddha, is the ninth avatar among the ten major avatars of the god Vishnu.
Kalki  | Kalki is the prophesied tenth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. He prominently features in Hindu eschatology. He will bring an end to the Kali Yuga, the final epoch and harbinger in the new epoch of Satya Yuga in the endless cycle of existence within Hinduism.

#### Longer alternatives

The Bhagavata Purana also goes on to give an alternate list, wherein it numerically lists out 23 Vishnu avatars in chapter 1.3.[40]

1. Four Kumaras (Catursana): the four Sons of god Brahma and exemplified the path of devotion
2. Varaha: The divine boar who lifts earth from cosmic waters
3. Narada: the divine-sage who travels the worlds as a devotee of Vishnu
4. Nara-Narayana: the twin-sages
5. Kapila: a renowned sage spoken of in the Mahabharata, son of Kardama Muni and Devahuti and sometimes identified with the founder of the Samkhya school of philosophy
6. Dattatreya: the combined avatar of the Hindu trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He was born to the sage Atri became a great seer himself
7. Yajna: the lord of fire-sacrifice, who was also a previous Indra : the lord of heaven
8. Rishabha: the father of Bharata Chakravartin and Bahubali
9. Prithu: the sovereign-king who milked the earth as a cow to get the world's grain and vegetation and also invented agriculture
10. Matsya: A narwhal who guided Manu's ark during the pralaya (deluge) and also killed demon Hayagriva
11. Kurma: A giant tortoise who balances Mount Mandara atop his carapace during the churning of cosmic ocean of milk
12. Dhanvantari: the father of Ayurvedic medicine and a physician to the Devas
13. Mohini: the enchantress
14. Narasimha: The man-lion who kills demon Hiranyakashpu
15. Vamana: The dwarf-brahmana who takes the three worlds from Bali Maharaj and purifies Him
16. Parashurama: The Brahmin warrior with an axe who kills Kartyavira Arjuna and his Kshatriya allies
17. Sri Rama: 'Perfect King' from Suryavansha, Subject of Ramayana
18. Vyasa: the compiler of the scriptures – Vedas and writer of the scriptures (Puranas) and the epic Mahabharata
19. Balarama: Elder brother of Krishna.
20. Krishna: Subject of the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Geethai
21. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu:Chaitanya Charitramrita
22. Garuda: Garuda purana
23. Kalki: The Divine Lawgiver

Avatars like Hayagriva, Hamsa and Garuda are also mentioned in the Pancharatra making the total of fourthy-six avatars.[41] However, despite these lists, the commonly accepted number of ten avatars for Vishnu was fixed well before the 10th century CE.[36] Madhvacharya also regards Gautama Buddha as an avatar of Vishnu.[42]

Manava Purana

Manava Purana is one of Upa puranas. It narrated, the 40 avatars of Vishnu.

1. Adipurusha
2. Jagannath
3. Four Kumaras (Chatursanas)
4. Narada
5. Dattatreya
6. Kapila
7. Nara- Narayana
8. Yajna
9. Vibhu
10. Satyasena
11. Hari
12. Vaikunta
13. Ajita
14. Sharvabhouma
15. Vrishbha
16. Vivaksena
17. Dharmasetu
18. Sudhama
19. Yogeshwara
20. Brihadbhanu
21. Shaligram
22. Hayagriva
23. Hamsa
24. Vyasa
25. Matsya
26. Kurma
27. Dhanvantri
28. Mohini
29. Prithu
30. Vrishbha deva
31. Varaha
32. Narasimha
33. Vamana
34. Parashurama
35. Rama
36. Krishna
37. Gautama Buddha
38. Venkateswara
39. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
40. Kalki

### Types

Mohini, the female avatar of Vishnu (statue at Belur temple, Karnataka.)

The avatar concept was further developed and refined in later Hindu texts. One approach was to identify full avatar and partial avatars. Krishna, Rama, and Narasimha were full avatars (purna avatars), while others were partial avatars (ansha avatars).[32] Some declared, states Noel Sheth, that every living creature is an avatar of Vishnu.[32] The Pancharatra text of Vaishnavism declares that Vishnu's avatar 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).[32]

Yet another classification, developed in Krishna schools, centers around Guna-avatars, Purusha-avatars and Lila-avatars, with their subtypes.[43][44] The Guna-avatar classification of avatars is based on the Guṇas concept of the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy, that is Rajas (Brahma), Sattva (Vishnu), and Tamas (Shiva).[43][44] These personalities of the Trimurti are referred to as Guna avatars.[43] The Purushavatara are three. The first evolves the matter (Prakriti), the second is the soul present in each individual creature, the third is the interconnected oneness or Brahman that connects all souls.[43][45] The Lilavataras are partial or full manifestations of Vishnu, where either some powers (Shakti) or material parts of him exist.[43][44]

Vishnu is Purushavatara.[46][47] The Matsya, Kurma, and Vamana avatars of Vishnu are Lilavataras.[44][46] A Purnarupa in this classification, is when Vishnu manifests completely along with his qualities and powers. In Bengal Vaishnavism, Krishna is the Purnarupa.[43] In Shaivism, Bhairava is the purnarupa of Shiva.[48]

### In Sikhism

24 avatars of Vishnu are mentioned in Bachitar Natak's composition in Dasam Granth, the second scripture of Sikhs written by Guru Gobind Singh:[49]

The Guru Granth Sahib reverentially includes the names of numerous Hindu deities, including Vishnu avatars such as Krishna, Hari, and Rama, as well those of Devi as Durga.[50][51][52]

Dasam Granth has three major compositions, one each dedicated to avatars of Vishnu (Chaubis avatar) and Brahma.[49][53] However, Sikhism rejects the doctrine of savior incarnation, and only accepts the abstract nirguna formless god.[19][54] The Sikh Gurus endorsed the view of Hindu Bhakti movement saints such as Namdev (≈1270 – 1350 CE) that formless eternal god is within human heart and man is his own savior.[19][55]

### In Isma'ilism

The Gupti Ismailis, who observe pious circumspection as Hindus, uphold that the first Shi‘i Imam, ‘Ali b. Abi Talib, as well as his descendants though the line of Isma‘il, are collectively Kalki, the tenth and final avatāra of Vishnu. According to this interpretation, these figures represent the continuity of divine guidance to humankind. In the view of some Guptis, this is corroborated by the Quranic verse 14:4 which mentions the idea that God had sent a messenger to every land. They understand the avatāras to be these messengers sent by God to their people in the Indian subcontinent.[56]

## Avatars of Shiva

Sharabha (right) with Narasimha (18th-century painting, Pahari/Kangra School)

Although Puranic scriptures contain occasional references to avatars of Shiva, the avatar doctrine is neither universally accepted nor commonly adopted in Shaivism.[57] The views on the doctrine of incarnation has been one of the significant doctrinal differences between Vaishnavism and Shaivism, in addition to their differences on the role of householder life versus monastic life for spiritual release.[16][17][58] Shaivism is a transcendental theology, where man, with the help of his Guru, is his own savior.[58]

The Linga Purana lists twenty-eight avatars of Shiva.[59] In the Shiva Purana there is a distinctly Saivite version of a traditional avatar myth: Shiva brings forth Virabhadra, one of his terrifying forms, in order to calm Narasimha, an avatar of Vishnu. When that fails, Shiva manifests as the human-lion-bird Sharabha which calms down lion-man Narasimha avatar of Vishnu, and Shiva then gives Vishnu a chakra (not to be confused with Sudarshan Chakra) as gift. A similar story is told in the late medieval era Sharabha Upanishad.[60] However, Vaishnava Dvaita school refutes this Shaivite view of Narasimha.[61] According to some other puranas, Lord Shiva had 24 avatars, just like Lord Vishnu.

The vanara god Hanuman who helped Rama (the Vishnu avatar) is considered by some to be the eleventh avatar of Rudra (Shiva).[62][63] Some regional deities like Khandoba are also believed by some to be avatars of Shiva.[64][65] Ashwatthama, the son of Drona is also considered to an Avatar of Lord Shiva.

Shesha and his avatars (Balarama and Lakshmana) are occasionally linked to Shiva.[66][67][68][69] Adi Shankara, the formulator of Advaita Vedanta, is also occasionally regarded as an avatar of Shiva.[70]

In Dasam Granth, Guru Gobind Singh mentioned two avatars of Rudra: Dattatreya Avatar and Parasnath Avatar.[71]

## Avatars of Devi / Shakti

Avatars of Devi. From up to down: Durga, Kali, Sita, Parvati.

Avatars are also observed in Shaktism, the sect dedicated to the worship of the Goddess (Devi), but they do not have universal acceptance in the sect. The Devi Bhagavata Purana describes the descent of Devi avatars to punish the wicked and defend the righteous as – much as the Bhagavata Purana does with the avatars of Vishnu.[72]

Nilakantha, an 18th-century commentator on the Devi Bhagavata Purana – which includes the Devi Gita – says that various avatars of the Goddess includes Shakambhari and even the masculine Krishna and Rama – generally thought to be Vishnu's avatars.[73] Parvati, Lakshmi and Saraswati are main goddesses worshipped as Devi avatars.[74]

### Avatars of Parvati

Devi is popular in her form as Parvati. In Devi Mahatmya she is seen as the Goddess Mahakali, and in Uma Samhita, she is seen as Devi herself. Regarding her incarnations, it varies per sect in Hinduism. She could be all Goddesses as said in Shaivism and some main Shatism interpretations like the Sri kula and Kali Kula families, or just a form of Devi in some other Shaktism interpretations and many Vaishnava interpretations. With this in mind, Parvati's forms include:

* Mahakali
* Sati
* Mahavidyas- Kali, Tara, Tripurasundari, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi, Kamala
* The 64 Shakti Peethas
* Navadurgas - Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri, Siddhidhatri
* Annapurna
* Bhramari
* Kaushiki
* Shakambhari
* Durga
* Shitala
* Maheshwari, Ishani
* In north India- Khodiyar, Bahuchara Mata, Naina Devi,Jwala etc.
* In western India- Bhavani,Mahalaxmi, Saptashrungi, Ekvira, Amba etc.
* In East India-Dakshina Kali, Kamakhya,Jagadhatri etc.
* In South India- Meenakshi, Vishalakshi, Kamakshi, Abhirami, Mookambika, Akilandeswari ,etc.

All of these incarnations helped provide security to the world and even brought Shiva into the participation of wordly affairs.[75]

### Avatars of Lakshmi

Like Vishnu, his consort Lakshmi incarnates as in many forms to help provide order and to enlighten the world with her consort. She has many forms, and just like Parvati, some of her forms are not consistent throughout all sects and interpretations of Hinduism. In Vaishnavism and some interpretations of Shaktism, Lakshmi is seen as Devi herself. She could be every Goddess as said in Vaishnavism and some interpretations of Shaktism, or just another form of Devi as seen in other interpretations of Shaktism and in Shaivism. With this in mind, Lakshmi's forms include:

* Mahalakshmi
* Ashtalakshmi - Adi Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Dhana Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi, Santana Lakshmi, Vidya Lakshmi, Veera Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi
* with avatars of Vishnu - Padma, Prithvi, Sita, Radha, Ashtabharya, Yashodhara (for those who believe Buddha is an incarnation of Vishnu), Padmavati, Lakshmi Narayana, Andal
* Singular forms - Vedavati,Chottanikkara Bhagavathy, Mookambika devi
* Matrikas - Vaishnavi, Varahi, Narasimhi
* Wives of Vishnu \- Sri, Bhumi, Nila

## Avatars of Brahma

In Dasam Granth, second scriptures of Sikhs written by Guru Gobind Singh, mentioned seven Brahma Avatars.[76]

1. Valmiki
2. Kashyapa
3. Sukra
4. Baches
5. Vyasa
6. Khat
7. Khalidas

According to the Skanda Purana, Brahma incarnated himself as Yajnavalkya in response to a curse from Shiva.[77]

## Avatars of Ganesha

The Linga Purana declares that Ganesha incarnates to destroy demons and to help the gods and pious people.[78] The two Upapuranas – Ganesha Purana and Mudgala Purana – detail the avatars of Ganesha. Both these upapuranas are core scriptures of the Ganapatya sect – exclusively dedicated to Ganesha worship.

Four avatars of Ganesha are listed in the Ganesha Purana: Mohotkata, Mayūreśvara, Gajanana and Dhumraketu. Each avatar corresponds to a different yuga, has a different mount and different skin complexion, but all the avatars have a common purpose – to slay demons.[79]

The Mudgala Puranam describes eight avatars of Ganesha:[80]

1. Vakratunda (Vakratuṇḍa) ("twisting trunk"), his mount is a lion.
2. Ekadanta ("single tusk"), his mount is a mouse.
3. Mahodara ("big belly"), his mount is a mouse.
4. Gajavaktra (or Gajānana) ("elephant face"), his mount is a mouse.
5. Lambodara ("pendulous belly"), his mount is a mouse.
6. Vikata (Vikaṭa) ("unusual form", "misshapen"), his mount is a peacock.
7. Vighnaraja (Vighnarāja) ("king of obstacles"), his mount is the celestial serpent Śeṣa.
8. Dhumravarna (Dhūmravarṇa) ("grey color") corresponds to Śiva, his mount is a horse.

## Avatars of Varuna

Jhulelal, incarnation of Varuna

Jhulelal, the Iṣṭa-devatā (most-revered deity) of Sindhi Hindus, is considered the incarnation of the Varuna.[81]

## See also

* Avatars in the Mahabharata
* Dashavatara
* Gautama Buddha in Hinduism
* Incarnation
* List of avatar claimants
* Hindu eschatology

## Explanatory notes

1. ↑ Buddha, a real person, is included as an avatar of Vishnu in many Hindu texts.[32]
2. ↑ Mohini, the female avatar of Vishnu, appears in stories about the Kurm avatar.[39]

## References

### Citations

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 James Lochtefeld (2002), "Avatar" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A-M, Rosen Publishing, ISBN:0-8239-2287-1, pages 72–73
2. ↑ Geoffrey Parrinder (1997). Avatar and Incarnation: The Divine in Human Form in the World's Religions. Oneworld. pp. 19–20. ISBN 978-1-85168-130-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=VkV5AAAAMAAJ.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Monier Monier-Williams (1923). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. p. 90. https://books.google.com/books?id=_3NWAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA90.
4. ↑ Sheth 2002, pp. 98-99.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Daniel E Bassuk (1987). Incarnation in Hinduism and Christianity: The Myth of the God-Man. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 2–4. ISBN 978-1-349-08642-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=k3iwCwAAQBAJ.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Hacker 1978, pp. 424, also 405–409, 414–417.
7. ↑ Rig Veda 3.53.8 (Maghavan); 6.47.18 (Indra)
8. ↑ Swami Harshananda, A Concise Encyclopaedia of Hinduism, Ramakrishna Math, Bangalore (2008) Vol.1, page 221
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Sheth 2002, pp. 98–99.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Kinsley, David (2005). Lindsay Jones. ed. Gale's Encyclopedia of Religion. 2 (Second ed.). Thomson Gale. pp. 707–708. ISBN 978-0-02-865735-6.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Bryant, Edwin Francis (2007). Krishna: A Sourcebook. Oxford University Press US. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-19-514891-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=0z02cZe8PU8C&pg=PT32.
12. ↑ Sheth 2002, pp. 98–125.
13. ↑ Hawley, John Stratton; Vasudha Narayanan (2006). The life of Hinduism. University of California Press. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-520-24914-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=7DLj1tYmoTQC&pg=PA174.
14. ↑ David R. Kinsley (1998). Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine: The Ten Mahāvidyās. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 115–119. ISBN 978-81-208-1522-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=gkCsrfghkZ4C.
15. ↑ James Lochtefeld (2002), "Shiva" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 2: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, ISBN:0-8239-2287-1, page 635
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lai Ah Eng (2008). Religious Diversity in Singapore. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore. pp. 221. ISBN 978-981-230-754-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=9MmNaNebFD8C.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Constance Jones; James D. Ryan (2006). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Infobase. pp. 474. ISBN 978-0-8160-7564-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Sheth 2002, pp. 115–116 with note 2.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Eleanor Nesbitt (2005). Sikhism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. pp. 16, 24–25. ISBN 978-0-19-157806-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=Ai-rpcY-rrgC.
20. ↑ Christopher Shackle and Arvind Mandair (2005), Teachings of the Sikh Gurus, Routledge, ISBN:978-0415266048, pp. xxxiv–xli
21. ↑ "avatar". Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Sheth 2002, p. 98.
23. ↑ "Avatar | Origin and meaning of avatar by Online Etymology Dictionary". https://www.etymonline.com/word/avatar.
24. ↑ Justin Edwards Abbott (1980). Life of Tukaram: Translation from Mahipati's Bhaktalilamrita. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 335–336. ISBN 978-81-208-0170-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=E-UmxAoX2wYC.
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Hacker 1978, pp. 415–417.
26. ↑ Hacker 1978, pp. 405–409.
27. ↑ Sebastian C. H. Kim (2008). Christian Theology in Asia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 169–176. ISBN 978-1-139-47206-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=hXh3iq94MWIC.
28. ↑ Sheth 2002, pp. 107-109.
29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 Matchett 2001, p. 4.
30. ↑ Mercy Amba Oduyoye, H. M. Vroom, One gospel – many cultures: case studies and reflections on cross-cultural theology, Rodopi, 2003, ISBN:978-90-420-0897-7, p. 111.
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Sheth 2002, p. 108.
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Sheth 2002, p. 99.
33. ↑ Woodhead, Linda; Partridge, Christopher; Kawanami, Hiroko (2016). Religions in the Modern World: Traditions and Transformations (3rd ed.). Routeledge. pp. 44. ISBN 978-0-415-85881-6.
34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Lochtefeld 2002, p. 228.
35. ↑ King, Anna S. (2005). The intimate other: love divine in Indic religions. Orient Blackswan. pp. 32–33. ISBN 978-81-250-2801-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=0FvH1aCXETwC&pg=PA32.
36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Mishra, Vibhuti Bhushan (1973). Religious beliefs and practices of North India during the early mediaeval period, Volume 1. BRILL. pp. 4–5. ISBN 978-90-04-03610-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=nAQ4AAAAIAAJ.
37. ↑ Rukmani, T. S. (1970). A critical study of the Bhagavata Purana, with special reference to bhakti. Chowkhamba Sanskrit studies. 77. Varanasi: Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series. p. 4.
38. ↑ Matchett 2001, p. 160.
39. ↑ Lochtefeld 2002, p. 705.
40. ↑ "CHAPTER THREE" (in en). https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/1/3/.
41. ↑ Schrader, Friedrich Otto (1916). Introduction to the Pāñcarātra and the Ahirbudhnya saṃhitā. Adyar Library. p. 42. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.280365.
42. ↑ Helmuth von Glasenapp: Madhva's Philosophie des Vishnu-Glaubens, Geistesströmungen des Ostens vol. 2, Bonn 1923, ch. Einleitung (p. *1-2).
43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 43.4 43.5 Sheth 2002, p. 100.
44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 Barbara A. Holdrege (2015). Bhakti and Embodiment: Fashioning Divine Bodies and Devotional Bodies in Krsna Bhakti. Routledge. pp. 50–67. ISBN 978-1-317-66910-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=R9FgCgAAQBAJ.
45. ↑ Janmajit Roy (2002). Theory of Avatāra and Divinity of Chaitanya. Atlantic Publishers. pp. 190–191. ISBN 978-81-269-0169-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=lr9pFQPwhXYC.
46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 Daniel E Bassuk (1987). Incarnation in Hinduism and Christianity: The Myth of the God-Man. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 143–144. ISBN 978-1-349-08642-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=k3iwCwAAQBAJ.
47. ↑ Mittal, Sushil (2004). The Hindu World. New York: Routledge. pp. 164. ISBN 978-0-203-67414-7.
48. ↑ David Smith (2003). The Dance of Siva: Religion, Art and Poetry in South India. Cambridge University Press. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-521-52865-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=fTLlcGlkdjkC.
49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 SS Kapoor and MK Kapoor (2009), Composition 8, 9 and 10, Dasam Granth, Hemkunt, ISBN:9788170103257, pages 16–17
50. ↑ Torkel Brekke (2014), Religion, War, and Ethics: A Sourcebook of Textual Traditions (Editors: Gregory M. Reichberg and Henrik Syse), Cambridge University Press, ISBN:978-0521450386, pages 673, 675, 672–686;
Christopher Shackle and Arvind Mandair (2005), Teachings of the Sikh Gurus, Routledge, ISBN:978-0415266048, pages xxxiv–xli
51. ↑ SS Kapoor and MK Kapoor (2009), Composition 8, 9 and 10, Dasam Granth, Hemkunt, ISBN:9788170103257, pages 15–16
52. ↑ Pashaura Singh; Norman Gerald Barrier; W. H. McLeod (2004). Sikhism and History. Oxford University Press. pp. 136–147. ISBN 978-0-19-566708-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=xY_XAAAAMAAJ.
53. ↑ J Deol (2000), Sikh Religion, Culture and Ethnicity (Editors: AS Mandair, C Shackle, G Singh), Routledge, ISBN:978-0700713899, pages 31–33
54. ↑ William Owen Cole (2004). Understanding Sikhism. Dunedin Academic. pp. 47–49. ISBN 978-1-903765-15-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=OJnXAAAAMAAJ.
55. ↑ Pashaura Singh (2011). Mark Juergensmeyer and Wade Clark Roof. ed. Encyclopedia of Global Religion. SAGE Publications. pp. 138. ISBN 978-1-4522-6656-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=WwJzAwAAQBAJ.
56. ↑ Virani, Shafique N. (February 2011). "Taqiyya and Identity in a South Asian Community" (in en). The Journal of Asian Studies 70 (1): 99–139. doi:10.1017/S0021911810002974. ISSN 0021-9118. https://www.academia.edu/36996009.
57. ↑ Parrinder, Edward Geoffrey (1982). Avatar and incarnation. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 87–88. ISBN 978-0-19-520361-5.
58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 Mariasusai Dhavamony (2002). Hindu-Christian Dialogue: Theological Soundings and Perspectives. Rodopi. pp. 63. ISBN 978-90-420-1510-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=poUxxH4fPwwC.
59. ↑ Winternitz, Moriz; V. Srinivasa Sarma (1981). A History of Indian Literature, Volume 1. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 543–544. ISBN 978-81-208-0264-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=JRfuJFRV_O8C&pg=PA543.
60. ↑ SG Desai (1996), A critical study of the later Upanishads, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, pages 109–110
61. ↑ Sharma, B. N. Krishnamurti (2000). A history of the Dvaita school of Vedānta and its literature: from the earliest beginnings to our own times. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 412. ISBN 978-81-208-1575-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=FVtpFMPMulcC&pg=PA412.
62. ↑ Lutgendorf, Philip (2007). Hanuman's tale: the messages of a divine monkey. Oxford University Press US. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-19-530921-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=fVFC2Nx-LP8C&q=avatara++Shiva&pg=PT333.
63. ↑ Catherine Ludvík (1994). Hanumān in the Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki and the Rāmacaritamānasa of Tulasī Dāsa. Motilal Banarsidass Publ.. pp. 10–11. ISBN 978-81-208-1122-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=KCXQN0qoAe0C&q=Hanuman+Rudra&pg=PA10.
64. ↑ Sontheimer, Gunther-Dietz (1990). "God as King for All: The Sanskrit Malhari Mahatmya and its context". in Hans Bakker. The History of Sacred Places in India as Reflected in Traditional Literature. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-09318-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=McwUAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA129. p.118
65. ↑ Sontheimer, Gunther-Dietz (1989). "Between Ghost and God: Folk Deity of the Deccan". in Hiltebeitel, Alf. Criminal Gods and Demon Devotees: Essays on the Guardians of Popular Hinduism. State University of New York Press. p. 332. ISBN 978-0-88706-981-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=CLmuJhU3wC8C&pg=PA332.
66. ↑ Matchett 2001, p. 63: "There are strong links between Samkarsana/Sesa and Siva, so that it is not difficult to see in this pale companion of the dark Krsna a reminder of Siva's parity with Visnu, even though Visnu still has the lead."
67. ↑ The Padma-Purana: Part IX. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. 1956. pp. 3164–3165. "The Lord, Visnu, took his place in the egg. Then with his mind devoted to the supreme spirit, Brahma meditated upon Visnu. At the end of the meditation a drop of perspiration was produced from his forehead. That drop, of the shape of a bubble, in a moment fell on the earth. O you of an excellent face, I, having three eyes, a trident, and adorned with the crown of the matted hair, was born from that bubble. With modesty I asked the lord of gods: "What shall I do?" Then God Visnu, with delight, thus spoke to me: "O Rudra, you will bring about a fierce-looking destruction of the world, (after) actually being (my) portion, viz. Samkarsana, O you of an excellent face.""
68. ↑ Mahalik, Er. Nirakar (2010). "Lord Balarama". Orissa Review. http://magazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/2010/July/engpdf/87-90.pdf. "So Balarama became (Bala+Deva) Baladeva. Krishna and Balarama are regarded as Hari and Hara. Here Balarama is regarded as Lord Siva. Siva is helping Vishnu in every incarnation like Rama-Laxman in Treta Yuga. In Dvapara Yuga as Krishna-Balarama and in Kali Yuga they are Jagannath and Balabhadra."
69. ↑ Pattanaik, Devdutt (2010). "Elder Brother of God". http://devdutt.com/articles/indian-mythology/mahabharata/elder-brother-of-god.html. "Some say that Krishna is Vishnu, Balarama is Shiva and Subhadra is Devi, thus the three siblings represent the three main schools of Hindu theism: Vaishnava, Shaiva and Shakta."
70. ↑ Doniger, Wendy (2010). The Hindus: An Alternative History. Oxford University Press. pp. 508. "The gods complained to Shiva that Vishnu had entered the body of the Buddha on earth for their sake, but now the haters of religion, despising Brahmins and the dharma of class and stage of life, filled the earth. “Not a single man performs a ritual, for all have become heretics—Buddhists, Kapalikas, and so forth—and so we eat no offerings.” Shiva consented to become incarnate as Shankara, to reestablish Vedic dharma, which keeps the universe happy, and to destroy evil behavior."
71. ↑ SS Kapoor and MK Kapoor (2009), Composition 10, Rudra Avtar, Dasam Granth, Hemkunt, ISBN:9788170103257, page 17
72. ↑ Brown, Cheever Mackenzie (1990). The triumph of the goddess: the canonical models and theological visions of the Devī-Bhāgavata Purāṇa. SUNY Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-7914-0363-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=erENsMcblGAC&pg=PA32.
73. ↑ Brown, Cheever Mackenzie (1998). The Devī Gītā: the song of the Goddess. SUNY Press. p. 272. ISBN 978-0-7914-3940-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=OxayHczql9EC&q=Devi+avatara. verses 9.22cd-23ab
74. ↑ Brown, p. 270.
75. ↑ Kinsley, David (1987, reprint 2005). Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN:81-208-0394-9, p.35
76. ↑ Kapoor, S.S.. Dasam Granth. Hemkunt Press. p. 16. ISBN 9788170103257. https://books.google.com/books?id=8-h8ptzp0lUC&pg=PA16. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
77. ↑ The Skanda-Purana: Part XVII. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. 2002. pp. 130. "After seeing his (of Brahma) aberration on the altar at the time of marriage, Sambhu cursed him. He was then born as Yajnavalkya. Sakalya engaged Yajnavalkya in the royal palace for the performance of the Santi rites."
78. ↑ Grimes, John A. (1995). Gaṇapati: song of the self. SUNY Press. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-7914-2439-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=aoqB4n95pSoC&pg=PT105.
79. ↑ Grimes, pp. 100–105.
80. ↑ Phyllis Granoff, "Gaṇeśa as Metaphor," in Robert L. Brown (ed.) Ganesh: Studies of an Asian God, pp. 94–5, note 2. ISBN:0-7914-0657-1
81. ↑ "Exploring Jhulelal – a symbol of interfaith harmony in Sindh". The Express Tribune (Karachi). 8 November 2018. https://tribune.com.pk/story/1842760/1-exploring-jhulelal-symbol-interfaith-harmony-sindh.

### General bibliography

* Coleman, T. (2011). "Avatāra". Oxford Bibliographies Online: Hinduism. doi:10.1093/obo/9780195399318-0009. https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195399318/obo-9780195399318-0009.xml. Short introduction and bibliography of sources about Avatāra.
* Daniélou, Alain (1991). The Myths and Gods of India. Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions. pp. 164–187. ISBN 0-89281-354-7. https://archive.org/details/mythsgodsofindia00dani.
* Schmithausen, Lambert, ed (1978). "Zur Entwicklung der Avataralehre" (in de). Kleine schriften. Veroffentlichungen Der Glasenapp-Stiftung (Book 15). Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz. ISBN 978-3447048606.
* Lochtefeld, James (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1 & 2. Rosen Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8239-2287-1. https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch.
* Matchett, Freda (2001). Krishna, Lord or Avatara?: The Relationship Between Krishna and Vishnu. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-7007-1281-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=6znEVPmI8UsC.
* Sheth, Noel (January 2002). "Hindu Avatāra and Christian Incarnation: A Comparison". Philosophy East and West 52 (1): 98–125. doi:10.1353/pew.2002.0005.

## External links

* Avatars (Incarnations or Descents) of Vishnu
* Meher Baba's interpretation of the Avatar's origin

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