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:
https://www.amazon.in/dp/9390758173?ref=myi_title_dp
(Whenever Righteousness is on the
decline in Bharat,
and Unrighteousness is in the ascendant,
then I body Myself forth.)
Out
of the Trinity, it is the second and third, Vishnu and Shiv who incarnate on
earth at different times in different forms. Vishnu being the one that has the
two aspects of Avyakt and Vyakt, unmanifested and manifested, represents the
transitional state that originates the manifestations. Vishnu represents the
twilight at dawn that precedes the day of creation, or the doorway through
which one enters into this world from the broad outer space.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,
so it may be assumed that Parshuram fought eighteen big battles and three minor
ones.
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.
He once again established Krit Yug.
Shrimad Bhagavad Gita,
Adhyay 4, Shlok 7-8.
