Avatars in Every Species

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Avatars in Every Species

Question: I have a question, the answer to which should help me frame

a

paper I will write later this summer for an interfaith presentation on

the

topic of God among us: A Catholic-Vaishnava Dialog, the Incarnation

and

Avatar.

 

Sri Krishna appears in innumerable forms throughout the universes.

Some

forms appear to be human-like while others resemble lower species,

such

as the boar, fish, tortoise, etc. Srila Prabhupada writes: (SB 1.2.34

purport), "In each and every universe there are innumerable planets

inhabited by different grades of living entities in different modes of

nature.

The Lord (Vishnu) incarnates Himself in each and every one of them and

in

each and every type of living society. He manifests His transcendental

pastimes amongst them just to create the desire to go back to Godhead.

The Lord does not change His original transcendental position, but He

appears to be differently manifested according to the particular time,

circumstances and society."

 

The human form of life is the best for achieving self-realization. The

activities of the animals are eating, mating, sleeping and defending.

The

animals cannot understand God. Yet, Srila Prabhupada says that Krishna

is

the friend of both human and animal society. I suppose if He appears

among humans to deliver us, it would only be sensible that He appears

among the animals to deliver them. I'm wondering if the dynamic is

different among other species. When He appears among the humans or

higher species, He can deliver those in His immediate association, and

then

His teachings are recorded to inspire posterity. When the Lord appears

among the lower species, how does He deliver them? They cannot

practice

religion as humans do (though Lord Caitanya made deer, tigers and

elephants chant Hare Krishna and liberated the dog under Sivananda

Sena's care). Does He deliver only the current generation among that

species (after all, animals don't maintain written historical

records)?

 

This may seem to be an obscure inquiry, and I'm probably not mature

enough to understand the answer, but it came to mind, so I was

wondering

if the acaryas offer us any insight into this matter.

Answer: The conception that God incarnates in the species of those

living

entities who are lower than human beings has always troubled the mind

of

the western theologian. Knowing this Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura has

dealt

with the topic of the Lords incarnations in lower species in his book

'Sri

Krsna-samhita.' I suggest that you consult that book in detail before

writing your proposed essay.

 

When the Lord appears in lower species He delivers those species by

giving

them auspiciousness due to His association. The living entities are

then

promoted to human life and there they are given a chance to come to

God

consciousness and love of God. That is my understanding. By the Lord's

association the living entity awakens a desire for God consciousness.

This

desire for God consciousness is also awakened by the association of

pure

devotees of the Lord and sometimes by ajnata-sukriti.

 

Categorically the Lord appears in every species.

 

jalaja-nava-laksani, sthavara laksa-vimsati

krmmayo rudra sankhyakah, paksinam dasa-laksanam

trisal-laksani pasavah, catur-laksani manusah

 

"There are 900,000 species living in the water. There are 2,000,000

non-moving living entities such as trees and plants. There are

1,100,000

species of insects and reptiles, and 1,000,000 species of birds. As

far as

quadrupeds are concerned there are 3,000,000 varieties, and there are

400,000 human species."

 

That the Lord appears in all species of life, means that He appears in

each

category, not that He appears as each and every individual form like

each

and every type of fish, each kind of reptile, every type of quadruped

(animal) etc. But in each category the Lord appears.

 

Among the aquatics in the water the Lord appears as Matsya-avatar.

Among the trees and plants He appears as Dharu-brahman (the trees

bearing the signs of Vishnu from which the Jagannatha Deities are then

manifested) (banyan trees and others may also be considered as the

Lord's

incarnation). Among the insects and reptiles He appears as the

Vajrakita

(the worm from Vaikuntha) that carves the signs on the Saligram-silas

and

also as Ananta-sesa and Kurma-avatar, the tortoise. Among the birds He

appears as Hamsa-avatar. Among the animals with four feet He appears

as

Varaha-avatar. And among the humans He appears as Krsna, Rama, and

Sri Caitanya.

 

As stated above the Lord creates auspiciousness for the living

entities in

the lower species of life by appearing among them. This would benefit

those living entities who directly associated with the particular

incarnation

and it would also benefit all future living entities appearing in that

species.

That is my understanding. If any species comes in contact with any

avatar

then there is certainly benefit for those living entities, without

doubt. What

to speak of the particular species - each and every time the Supreme

Lord

appears in this universe all the living beings present in the universe

are

benefited. Some are liberated directly and others are elevated and

liberated after some time. The ways of the Supreme Lord are wonderful

and sometimes difficult for the tiny brain to understand. Nonetheless,

sraddha (faith) tells us that the Lord is all-merciful, the friend of

all living

beings, and the knower of everything. How He is doing everything may

be

known to Him alone, but faith tells us that He is the doer of

everything and

whatever He does is for our benefit.