Battling Gods--Ten Maha-avtars of Vishnu
This is an excerpt from my book “Four Eras of The Battling Gods.” The book can be obtained from Amazon.in. The book is also available at Kitab Ghar, Gaiety, Shimla. Click at the link given below:
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(Whenever Righteousness is on the decline in Bharat,
and Unrighteousness is in the ascendant, then I body Myself forth.)
It is He who is said to incarnate whenever Dharm or virtue is on the decline and its opposite Adharm is on the increase, and all efforts of a being lesser than God are useless in stemming the tide of vice. Such manifestations always take place when the earth can no longer bear the burden of sin.[1]
The minor avtars of Vishnu like Dhanvantri, Kapil, Dattatreya, Kumars, Nar-Narayan, Dhruv, Prithu, Rishabh, Haygriv, Yagya, Har, Hans, the presiding deities of each Manvantra and Vyas were spiritual representatives who came at different times to perform special functions. All these persons were real people and the incidences associated with them in the Puranas are also real portions of history, just as in Ramayan and Mahabharat.
Whereas Vishnu took avtars to protect Dharm, it is anger and destructiveness of Shiva, that has time and again manifested into many fierce incarnations.
Ten Maha-avtars of Vishnu
The avtars of Mahavishnu are numerous. Thousands and thousands of incarnations originate from Mahavishnu as streams flow from a lake that overflows at all times. Rishis, Munis, Manus, Devatas, sons of Manus, Prajapatis, all these are marks and portions of Mahavishnu.
Mahavishnu is implored by Devatas and rishis to take incarnation for their protection against their selective onslaught by enemies. Taking compassion for Devatas, Vishnu also took incarnation in the form of four sons of Dashrath, and killed Ravan and his allies.[2]
Altogether, Vishnu is believed to have reincarnated 23 times, and every time he has taken a different form. It is presaged that he will appear as Kalki, one last time at the end of Kali Yug, making the number 24, though Kalki has already taken avtar and recommenced Krit Yug.
The major ten Maha-avtar of Vishnu are Matasya, Kurm, Varaha, Narsinh, Vaaman, Parshuram, Shri Ram, Balram, Shri Krishan and Kalki.[3]
1. Matasya—It is the fish avtar of Vishnu who rescued Manu, as well as other creatures of the earth, from the Great Flood. Matasya forewarned Vaivasvat Manu Satyavrat about the impending flood and ordered him to secure Vedas, all the grains and living beings in a boat, tied to its hump.
2. Kurm—This Tortoise form of Vishnu balanced Mandar mountain on its back to assist the Devatas and the Daityas during the churning of ocean. A firm foundation was needed to steady the mountain, used as a churning stick, over its hard back.
3. Varaha—Varaha is the half man and half boar avtar of Vishnu. He slew Daitya Hiranyaksh to save Bhudevi, the earth, and restored her back to the surface from sinking it underwater.
4. Narsinh—It is the half lion and a half human avtar of Vishnu. He killed Daitya king Hiranyakshipu and establish peace, order, righteousness and other elements of dharma on earth.
5. Vaaman—The dwarf incarnation appeared when the Daitya king Bali ruled the universe and the gods lost their power. One day, Vaaman visited the Yagya of Bali and asked for as much land as he could cover in three steps. Bali granted the wish. The dwarf assumed the form of a giant and measured the whole universe in three strides. Vaaman sent Bali down to rule the netherworld.
His third step was worshipped by Brahma which resulted in the flow of Ganga. Shiv restricted its flow in his matted hair, which he later released at the request of Bhagirath.
6. Parshuram—He was a Brahman with Kshatriya inclination. He is depicted as a sage with an axe in his hand. He was born to end the tyranny of the evil Kshatriyas, who misused their powers and made others’ lives miserable and bring them to justice. It is stated at many places in Puranas that Parshuram fought against Kshatriyas eighteen times. Whereas it is mentioned in Mahabharat that Parshuram fought against the Kshatriyas twenty-one times,[4] so it may be assumed that Parshuram fought eighteen big battles and three minor ones.[5]
7. Shri Ram—He is one of the most significant and powerful deities of Hindu dharma and the lead character of the epic Ramayan. He killed scores of Rakshasas alongwith Ravan to end his terrorizing activities against rishis and munis. While Shri Ram was on the last phase of exile, Ravan had kidnapped Sita, which cost him his life.
8. Balram—Balram appears in Mahabharat as the elder brother of Shri Krishan. He was known for his strength and for carrying a plow as a war weapon. He was Duryodhan’s and Bhim’s guru in teaching the art of fighting with Gada (mace, a weapon). He shared many adventures with Shri Krishan, which included bringing tyrannical rule of Kans to end.
9. Shri Krishan—As the eighth major incarnation of Vishnu, he is known to end the reign of his tyrannical maternal uncle Kans, and for his role as the advisor to the Pandavas. In Mahabharat war he acted as the charioteer and guide of Arjun. He enlightened Arjun with his discourse on the battlefield known as Bhagvad Gita.
Kali Yug, commenced after his Mahaprayan.
10. Kalki—Kalki is the last avtar of Vishnu that is mistakenly believed as yet to be born. Kalki is depicted as a warrior riding a white horse and holding a shining and fiery sword.
At the request of Vamdev, Atri, Vasisth, Galav, Bhrigu, Prashar, Narad, Ashwatthama, Kripacharya, Trita, Durvasa, Deval, Kanav, Ved, Pramiti and Angira rishis, along with Maru and Devapi, the two kings belonging to Surya and Chandravanshi lineage, he exterminated and rid the world of oppressions by enemies of Vedic culture and unrighteous Mallech kings.[6] He once again established Krit Yug.
[1] Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Adhyay 4, Shlok 7-8.
[2] Valmiki Ramayan, Baal Kand, Sarg 15, Shlok 25-26, 31-32.
[3] Mahabharat, Shanti Parv, Adhyay 339, Shlok 77.
[4] Mahabharat, Ashwamedh Parv, Adhyay 29, Shlok 18-19.
[5] Puranic Encyclopedia, Vettam Mani, see Parasuram.
[6] Kalki Puran, Ansh 3, Adhyay 3, Shlok 4-7.
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