AVATAR (Incarnation)

AVATAR (Incarnation) The Avatars do not know the limits of God; the Supreme Ishvara, the Transcendental Lord is Infinite. (Ramkali M. 5, p. 894) There are millions of incamating Vishnus. (Bhairo M. 5, p. 1156) Under God\’s Will ten Avatars were created. (Maru M. l, p. 1037) The exploits of the kings created in various ages were sung as the feats of Avatars. (Asa M. 3, p. 423) The word Avatar ordinarily connotes birth, but in Hindu mythology, it means the descent of a deity from heaven. There is mention of Avatars of Vishnu even in the Vedas.

The anecdotes in the Epics and Puranas mainly turn upon the doctrine of incarnation. Twenty-two incarnations of Vishnu have been mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana. The god Shiva has also some incarnations. Ten incarnations of Vishnu are prominently described in Hindu Literature. The popular incarnations of Vishnu are Rama and Krishna. They were kings in their ages, therefore Guru Granth Sahib specifically states that these kings of different periods were raised to the status of Avatars.

References :

1. Kohli, Surindar Singh, Dictionary of Mythological References in Guru Granth Sahib, 1993