Krishna Is The Source Of All Incarnations!

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SRIMAD--BHAGAVATAM [Canto 1, Ch.3]

 

Text 5

 

 

 

Transalation

 

This form [the second manifestation of the Purusa]

is the source and indestructible seed of multifarious

incarnations within the universe. From the particles

and portions of this form, different living entities, like

demigods, men and others are created.

 

Purport

 

The Purusa, after creating innumerable universes in

the Maha--Tattva, entered in each of them as the

second Purusa, Garbhodakasayi Visnu. When He saw

that within the universe there was only darkness and

space, without a resting place, He filled half of the

universe with water from His own perspiration and laid

Himself down on the same water. This water is called

Gardhodaka. Then from His naval the stem of the lotus

flower sprouted, and on the flower petals the birth of

Brahma, or the master engineer of the universal plan,

took place. Brahma became the engineer of the

universe, and the Lord Himself took charge of the

maintenance of the universe as Visnu. Brahma was

generated from rajo guna of prakrti, or the mode of

passion in nature, and Visnu became the Lord of the

mode of goodness. Visnu, being transcedental to all

the modes, is always aloof from materialistic affection.

This has already been explained. From Brahma there

is Rudra (Siva), who is in charge of the mode of

ignornce and darkness. He destroys the whole creation

by the will of the Lord. Therefore all three, namely

Brahma, Visnu and Siva, are incarnations of the

Garbhodakasayi Visnu. From Brahma the other

demigods like Daksa, Marici, Manu and many others

become incarnated to generate living entities within

the universe. This Garbhodakasayi Visnu is glorified

in the Vedas in the hymns of Garbha--Stuti, Which begin

with the description of the Lord as having thousand of

heads, etc. The Garbhodakasayi Visnu is the Lord of the

universe, and although He appears to be lying within the

universe, He is always transcedental. This also has

already been explained. The Visnu who is the plenary

portion of the Garbhodakasayi Visnu is the Supersoul of

the universal life, and He is known as the maintainer of

the universe or Ksirodakasayi Visnu. So the three features

of the original Purusa are thus understood. And all the

incarnations within the universe are emanations from this

Ksirodakasayi Visnu.

 

In different millennia there are different incarnations, and

they are innumerable, although some of them are very

prominent, such as Matsy, Kurma, Varaha, Rama, Nrsimha,

Vamana and many others. These incarnations are called

lila--incarnations, Then there are qualitative incarnations

such as Brahma, Visnu and Siva (or Rudra) who take charge

of the different modes of material nature.

 

Lord Visnu is nondifferent from the Personality Of Godhead.

Lord Siva is in the marginal position between the Personality

Of Godhead and the living entities, or jivas. Brahma is always

a jiva--tattva. The highest pious living being, or the greatest

devotee of the Lord, is empowered with the potency of the

Lord for creation, and he is called Brahma. His power is like

the power of Sun reflected in valuable stones and jewels.

When there is no such living being to take charge of the post

of Brahma, the Lord Himself becomes a Brahma and takes

charge of the post.

 

Lord siva is not an ordinary living being. He is the plenary

portion of the Lord, but because Lord Siva is in direct touch

with material nature, he is not exactly in the same

transcedental position as Lord visnu. The differences is like

that between milk and curd. Curd is nothing but milk, and

yet it cannot be used in place of milk.

 

The next incarnations are the Manus. Within one day's

duration of the life of Brahma (which is calculated by our

solar year as 4,300,000X1,000 years) there are fourteen

Manus. Therefore there are 420 Manus in one month of Brahma

and 5,040 Manus in one year of Brahma. Brahma lives for one

hundred years of his age, and therefore there are 5,040X100 or

504,00 Manus in the duration of Brahma,s life. There are

innumerable universes, with one Brahma in each of them, and

all of them are created and annihilated during the breathing time

of the Purusa. Therefore one can simply imagine how many

millions of Manus there are during one breath of Purusa.

 

The Manus who are prominent within the universe as follows:

yajna as Svayambhuva Manu, Vibhu as Svarocisa Manu,

Satyasena as Uttama Manu, Hari as Tamasa Manu, Vaikuntha as

Raivata Manu, Ajitha as Caksusa Manu, Vamana as Vaivasvata

Manu (the present age is under the Vaivasvata Manu), Sarvabhauma

as Savarni Manu, Rsabha as Daksa--Savarni Manu, Visvaksena as

Brahma--Savarni Manu, Yogesvara as Deva--Savarni Manu and

Brhadbhanu as Indra--Savarni Manu. These are the names of one

set of fourteen Manus covering 4,300,000,000 solar years as described

above.

 

Then there are Yugavataras, or the incarnations of the millennia.

The Yugas are known as Satya--Yuga, Treta--Yuga, Dvapara--Yuga

and Kali--Yuga. The incarnations of each Yuga are of different

color. The colors are white, red, black and yellow. In the

Dvapara--Yuga, Lord Krishna in black color appeared, and in the

Kali--Yuga Lord Chaithanya in yellow color appeared.

 

So all the incarnations of the Lord are mentioned in the revealed

scriptures. There is no scope for an imposter to become an

incarnation, for an incarnation must be mentioned in the sastras.

An incarnation does not declare Himself to be an incarnation of the

Lord, but great sages agree by the symptoms mentioned in the

revealed scriptures. The features of the incarnation and the

particular type of mission He has to execute are mentioned in

the revealed scriptures.

 

Apart from the direct incarnations, there are innumerable

empowered incarnations. They are also mentioned in the

revealed scriptures. Such incarnations are directly as well as

indirectly empowered. When they are directly empowered

they are called incarnations, but when they are indirectly

empowered they are called Vibhutis. Directly empowered

incarnations are the Kumaras, Narada, Prthu, Sesa, Anantha,

etc. As far as Vibhutis are concerned, they are very explicitly

described in the Bhagavad--Gita in the Vibhudi Yoga chapter.

And for all these different type of incarnations, the fountainhead

is the Garbhodakasayi Visnu.

 

 

Transalation and Purport

by

His Divine Grace A.C.Bhakthivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Founder--Acharya of the International Society For Krishna Consciousness

(ISKCON)

 

Please mail: bbtmumbai

http://bhagavata.org

 

 

Hare krishna!!!

 

Dear Devotees,

 

This is only an effort to bring out the ultimate truth that we are part

and parcel of Lord Krishna. Please Refer 'SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM'

for clarification.

 

Hari Bol

 

Your Servant

 

Vinodkrishna