Shri Vishnu Incarnations - Dashavatar - 24 Incarnations


Shri Vishnu Incarnations (Avatars)
 
The word “Avatar”, a Sanskrit word means “descent”. In Sanatana Dharma it means the Descent/Incarnation/Manifest/Appearance of Lord/Supreme Being/Deity in an earthly embodiment.

The concept of Avatar in Sanatana Dharma mostly related to Lord Vishnu, one of The Trinity. Srimad Bhagavatam described the innumerable Lord Vishnu’s Avatars, mostly The Ten Incarnations (Dashavatara) are widely known. And among them Lord Shri Rama (related to Ramayana) and Lord Shri Krishna (related to Mahabharata) are widely worshiped Avatars of Lord Vishnu. In Srimad Bhagavatam, around 24 different Avatars of Lord Vishnu are discussed that were descended in different Yugas.

There is no reference of Avatar exists in Vedas. The Bhagavad Gita discusses the subject matter associated with Avatar in textual format in Chapter 4 Slokas 5~9, where Lord Shri Krishna Himself declared the role of taking Avatar.

Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion — at that time I descend Myself. To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium. (Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verses 7~8)

Classifications of Avatars:

Avatar, incarnations are broadly classified into two kinds. When Lord Vishnu Himself descends on earth, He is called Sakshaty-Avatara, and when He indirectly empowers some living entity to represent Him, than that living entity is called an Avesa-Avatara.

Examples:
Direct (Sakshaty): Lord Krishna, Lord Rama, Lord Narasihma etc.
Indirect (Avesa): Narada Muni, Parashurama, VayasDeva etc.

Sakshaty or Direct Avatars are further classified into two more categories:

Purna Avatar: Lord Visnhu takes form directly and all the qualities and powers of God are expressed. (Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Narasimha)

Amsarup Avatars: Lord Vishnu takes form directly but He is manifest in the person only partially (Matsya, Kurma, Varaha )

Lord Krishna is highest Purana Avatar.
 
Various Incarnations of Lord Vishnu as per Srimad Bhagavatam:

The details of about 24 incarnations of Lord Vishnu are mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam:
Canto 1: Chapter 3: Verses 1~25.

Adi Purush Avatar

Lord Vishnu having desire to commence creation, took first avatar, incarnation as the pre-eminent man (with all his sixteen Kalas). The first incarnation is full of Super Natural Powers, Indestructible Seed from which all other incarnations manifested. While lying on Adi Sheesh (Seesh Naag), Lord Vishnu in state of Yoganidra (deep meditation), manifested Lord Brahma from His navel, and then so on, The Creation commenced from the organs of Lord Brahma.

The Four Kumaras (ChaturSana)

The Four Kumaras are the first mind-born (ManasPutra, born by wish) creation of Lord Brahma, who exemplifies the path of devotion by being remain in the state of celibacy throughout their life. The name of Four Kumaras are: Sanaka (Ancient), Sanatana (Eternal), Sanandana (Joyful), and Sanatkumara (Ever Young). The Four Kumaras practiced the vow of Renunciation (Sanyasa), Celibacy (BrahamCharaya) and signifies the importance of Penance. They are well versed in the context of Vedas and they underwent severe austerities for the realization of Absolute Truth.   

Shanti Parva ~ Book of Peace



Shanti Parva
Book of Peace & Wisdom Literature

Shanti Parva (The Book of Peace) is the 12th and longest Parva (book) of Great Epic Mahabharata (comprising 18 Parvas, Books). It is the set of instructions given to King Yudhisthira (son of Pandav) by Great Bhishma (eldest among Kuru Parivar) on various treatises such as: duties of a king and his rule, governance system, dharma, rights, justice, prosperity and welfare of his people, moksha, etc. This book comprises various stories narrated by Bhishma to motivate the King Yudhisthira to understand the importance of kingdom, to be administered by Dharma. 

Advent of Shanti Parva:

At the End of Mahabharata War, Yudhisthira was very dejected at the death of his elders, brothers, relatives and loved ones. He was lamented so much that he has decided to renounce everything and move to forest and live there. Then various Great Sages Rishi Vyasa, Narad Muni, Devala, Devasthana, and Lord Hari Himself counsel him to give up such dejection and rule the kingdom of Hastinapur with the Code Of Dharma, considering that his duty. Even Arjuna, Bhima (younger brothers of Yudhisthira), and Drupadi also guides the same to Yudhisthira. But his sorrows did not vanish completely from his mind and heart.

After the crown ceremony of Yudhisthira as King, on very next morning he went to Shri Krishna and surprised to see Him in deep thought. On enquiring, Shri Krishna replied,

'Yudhisthira! I was thinking of Bhishma, the dying ember, lying on a bed of arrows! Ganga's son, tutored in the vedas as a student of rishi Vashista, well versed in warfare as a favorite student of Parusharama!  A great man who knows the past, present and the future. When he goes, the world will go dark like a night without the moon. Yudhisthira, hence go and meet him when he is still alive and ask him whatever you want to know about laws relating to kings'.   

Shri Krishna took him and rest of the Pandavas and Sages to the place (banks of Ogavathi River) where Bhishma was lying on the Bed of Arrows. When Bhishma came to know that Yudhisthira’s heart is full of sorrows on the demise of elders of Kuru Parivar and he cursing himself for all that, then Bhishma pacify him with following words.

While it is dharma for brahmins to study, do penance and to give. In the same way, it is dharma for a khsatriya to engage in war. If invited, a khsatriya cannot refuse to fight. If someone is going in the wrong path, whether it is a father, a brother or a grandfather, he should be punished. It is khsatriya dharma to kill anyone who transgresses dharma out of greed'. (Bhishma)

The instruction goes on for various days, and Yudhisthira asked as many questions as he can, and he got all answered from Bhishma. It is by Shri Krishna’s mercy that pain of painful wound caused by arrows which pierced the body of Bhishma was vanished so that he can give the instructions properly.

Shanti Parva Statistically:
Statistically it consists of 365 chapters and 13,716 numbers of Shlokas, which is further divided into three sub-parvas:

RajaDharma Parva (Chapters: 1 to 130 & 4716 Shlokas)
Describes the duties of king and his governance

ApadDharma Parva (Chapters 131 to 173 & 1649 Shlokas)
Describes the rules of conduct when one faces adversity

MokshaDharma Parva (Chapters 174 to 365 & 7351 Shlokas)
Describes behavior and rules to achieve moksha (emancipation, release, freedom)