CONCEPT OF AVATHARA

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Posted by shivashankara rao shivashankararao

On Sat, 6/28/08

 

CONCEPT OF AVATHARA

 

An avathara represents the direct descent of God himself to the human level in

order to help the human beings to ascend to the divine level, of which the

liberated soul is a perfect example. A jeeva is forced to take a body due to his

past actions whereas the avathara incarnates of his free will for liberating

mankind. Consequently, he is always conscious of his mission and power. It is

only he who can see both the Absolute (Brahman) and the manifested world

simultaneously and can teach the world about the Absolute.

 

Vedanta admits the God’s manifestation as the world, his omniscience as also

omnipotence and grace. Hence there is nothing unreasonable in the doctrine that

he can also assume a special and unique form as avathara.

 

God incarnates himself in response to the needs of the times. So, there are no

restriction regarding either the number of incarnations or the place. Bhagavatha

gives three lists of 22 names (1.3.6-22), 23 names (2.7.1) and 16 names

(11.4.3.) and goes TO THE EXTENT OF DECLARING THAT THE AVATHARAS ARE

INNUMERABLE. (1.3.26). This for VISHNU. There is a belief that SHIVA MAHADEVA

TOOK 100 AVATHARAS among shaivites.

 

Avatharas are classified into three types. - POORNAAVATHAARA, AMSHAAVATHAARA,

AND AAVESHAAVATHARA. Great sage Vedavyaasa may be considered as amshaavathara.

When there is a temporary entry of the divine as in the case of Nrsimha

manifesting through Padmapaada (a disciple of Sankara) it is called

aaveshaavathara.

 

The fact that Sankara did not forbid us from worshiping God through the various

names and shapes – in fact he was responsible to construct and restore several

temples including the famous Badarinarayana temple and the Srisaila Mallikarjuna

temple etc., his compositions of beautiful poems for prayer offered to almost

all deities of sanatana dharma, - shows that there was a balance in his

teachings. He did not advocate Advaitha for every one and without preparations.

In fact his concept was, “PRATHAMAA PRATIMA POOJA, JAPA STOTRANI MADHYAMA,

UTTAMAA MANASIPOOJA, and SOAHAM POOJOTTHAMOTTHAMA”.