Avatar

Avatar (. Sanskrit, m, अवतार, avatar, literally, "descent", from ava- " down " and tr " cross " ) called in Hinduism the manifestation of the highest principle (Brahman ) or a divine aspect, the shape of the accepting human or animal. Avatar always refers to God himself or his power ( Chit - Shakti ) which manifests itself in a special consecrated soul ( Atman ) or descend to this soul. In Theosophy avatar generally referred to the incarnation of the divine.

Use

In the writings of the concept of avatar in the Ramayana, the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavata and in many other, partly derived from this text appears. The role of the Avatar or Avatar is the human being in their quest for Brahman towards pioneer, role model and teacher. Krishna says this clearly in the Bhagavad Gita:

" Because whenever the piety wants to waste away, O Bharata, Profanity rears its head, then I create myself again. Here to protect good people and the evil doom. The devotion to fest'gen new, entsteh ' at any age I am. ( "Age " means " world age " ) "

Rama is doing as an avatar at the transition from Tretayuga (silver age ) for Dvaparayuga ( bronze age ), Krishna understood as an avatar at the transition from Dvaparayuga the Kaliyuga ( iron age, Present Time ). So the great avatars can be seen not only as a protector of the Muslims and of virtue, but also with respect to the energy of creation as transformers of awareness of the nature and essence of an entire age. There are two kinds of avatars: those born by a woman and the parentless Anupadaka. The seen by Hindus as a sustaining aspect of God Vishnu has ten times incarnated through the ages as an avatar. The Ten Avatars are described in different chapters of the Bhagavata, Agni Purana of, and the Ramayana ( Valmiki ), of which Rama and Krishna are the best known. On the identity of the ninth avatar is confusion. Most here Buddha is specified, the teaching should lead the demons astray. Other name Balarama, the brother of Krishna. The list of ten avatars has become the popular, although some Puranas 25 ( Bhagavata ) or 26 ( Devi Bhagavatam ) call. However, these are not all as Full ( Purna ) avatars, but represent part ( Amsa ) Avatars dar.

A large number of Indian gurus are worshiped in India as avatars. Among the most famous gurus outside India include Sri Sathya Sai Baba and Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi.

In the former Kingdom of Nepal and the respective king was regarded as an incarnation of Vishnu.

Types of avatars

• In the Purna avatars, these include Narasimha, Rama and Krishna, all the powers and qualities are incarnate of Vishnu.
• In the Amsarupa avatars to Mahavishnu manifested only in part. These include Matsya, Kurma, Varaha and Vamana.

• Both Purna and Amsa avatars are among the primary group of Svarupa avatars.
• There is also the Shakti Avesha Avatars (also Avesha - avatar just called ). Here Vishnu does not increase down himself, but sends its force or power ( Chit - Shakti ) as in the case Parashuramas or Buddhas to an upstanding Rishi so that it can fulfill a certain mission in his service. But if Vishnu himself in one of its forms of being immediately enters into a Bhakta or Rishi and have identified with this, it is called Bhagavad- Avesha - avatar (also Amsa - Avesha - Avatar).

Criticism

The philosopher Madhva contradicts this gradation and includes all avatars in strength and quality to be equivalent. Both he and Ramanuja see in Krishna an avatar of Vishnu, while Chaitanya, Nimbarka and Vallabhacharya Krishna regarded as supreme deity himself, who was directly from the supreme abode Goloka avatar, but at the same time should also be the Avatari, from which all other avatars directly or indirectly out.

Interpretation

The Yogi Aurobindo saw in the ten avatars a symbol of evolution, which follows the involved Divine; from animals ( Varaha, Matsya ) over the half- man ( Narasimha ) and the small human ( Vamana ) for war ( Parasurama ), for law-abiding (Rama ), for embracing all opposites ( Krishna ), and finally to the development of the superman with the tenth avatar, Kalki.