The Ten Principal Avataras of the Hindus

7/25/2019 The Ten Principal Avataras of the Hindus

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Ohm Sree Ganapatiye NamahaOhm Namaha Shivaya

Ohm Namo Narayana NamahaOhm Sri Pattinathar Swamiye Namaha

Ohm Vadivudaiyama Namaha

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Day 29, June, 2014 Sunday Eary !ornin" #Ni"ht to Saturday$ %t 00&'1( )ave Started *hi+ *ran+ation o !y -oe.tion /oo

!y or& ir+ty, ( i /e -onvertin" *hi+ /oo (n *o !+ ord, (3E *ypin" *he

/oo (n En"i+h (n *o !+ ord %nd ater, -onvertin" (nto *eu"u an"ua"e3 %nd

*ar"et Date *o -ompete *hi+ (+ %u"u+t '1, 2014

( oud See )ep rom *he !y God , !y Guru Shri Shri Shri Pattinathar

Swami"a %nd !ahadeva Shiva %nd !ahadeva Narayanan %nd %mman3

Ohm Shathi, Shri Vadivudianamman

This Work Is To Proof Reading And Translation Of The Ten Principal Avatars Of Hindu. By

Sourindro ohun Tagore! us!"oc.!

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*he *en Prin.ipa

%vatara+ O *he )indu+3(*)

% S)O5* )(S*O56 O E%-) (N-%5N%*(ON %ND

D(5E-*(ONS O5 *)E 5EP5ESEN*%*(ON

O

*)E !75**(S %S *%/E%78 V(V%N*S,

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SO75(ND5O !O)7N *%GO5E, !7S, DO-3,

*ran+ation and S.ripted/y

Satyanarayana Goti

-ON*EN*S

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urttiThe Ta#leau$ %ivantsThe Stages of the AryansThe Ten Principal Avataras

I. The atsya Avatara VI. The Parashura&a AvataraThe atsya urttis 'Sanskrit( The Parashura&a urtti 'Sanskrit(The atsya urttis 'Translation( The Parashura&a urtti 'Translation(

II. The )ur&&a Avatara VII. The Ra&a AvataraThe )ur&&a urtti 'Sanskrit( The Ra&a urtti 'Sanskrit(The )ur&&a urtti 'Translation( The Ra&a urtti 'Translation(

III. The %araha Avatara VIII. The Balara&a AvataraThe %araha urtti 'Sanskrit( The Balara&a urtti 'Sanskrit(The %araha urtti 'Translation( The Balara&a urtti 'Translation(

IV. The *arasiha Avatara IX. The Buddha AvataraThe *arasiha urtti 'Sanskrit( The Buddha urtti 'Sanskrit(The *arasiha urtti 'Translation( The Buddha urtti 'Translation(

V. The %+&ana Avatara X. The )alki AvataraThe %+&ana urtti 'Sanskrit( The )alki urtti 'Sanskrit(The %+&ana urtti 'Translation( The )alki urtti 'Translation(

The Ten principal Avataras ',roup(Ode to the ten incarnations 'Sanskrit(Ode to the ten incarnations 'Translation(

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*he *en Prin.ipa %vatara+ O *he

)indu+

(S* O (7S*5%*(ONSVISHNU '-RO*TISPI/(

i. The atsya Avataraii. The )ur&&a Avataraiii. The %araha Avatara

iv. The *arasiha Avatarav. The %+&ana Avatara

vi. The Parashura&a Avataravii. The Ra&a Avatara

viii. The Balara&a Avatarai$. The Buddha Avatara

$. The )alki Avatara$i. The Ten Avataras ',roup(

*he Vi+hnu ; !urtti

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*he *en Prin.ipa %vatara+ O *he

)indu+3=



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A//OR"I*, to Sanskrit authorities! "ra&a 'Natya( is of t0o kinds 1 the Marga and

the Desi. That for& of dra&atic entertain&ent 0hich Brah&a* first learnt of Mahadeva

and his consort Parvati! and 0hich he after0ards perfor&ed #efore the&! goes #y thena&e of Marga Natya 2 that 0hich is kno0n on earth ! and 0hich is generally perfor&ed

#y &ortals #efore kings and others! is designated Desi Natya. Murtti is one of the si$teenvarieties of the latter. As it is intended that the present treatise should deal 0ith this kind

e$clusively! it is unnecessary to &ention the na&es of the fifteen other varieties! or to

enter into a detailed description of the&. This has already #een done in another 0orkentitled 3the eight principal Rasas of the Hindus4.

5RTTI! as has #een defined else0here! is that species of dra&atic perfor&ance in

0hich cele#rated historical characters are represented! 0ithout any e$pressivepanto&i&ic gestures! and in 0hich a Sutradhara is introduced! 0ho e$plains the &ute

figures. This kind of dra&atic entertain&ent so&e0hat rese&#les the Tableaux Vivants

0hich occupy a pro&inent position a&ong the dra0ing6roo& a&use&ent of the people of

ngland and of the continent of urope. It is proposed first to furnish the readers 0ith an

idea of the construction of the stage! the arrange&ent of the figures! and other &attersconnected 0ith the e$hi#ition of the Tableaux Vivants! and then to ac7uaint the& 0ith

the &ode adopted #y the Sanskrit authorities for their general arrange&ent.

* Brah&a! the /reator! %ishnu! the Preserver! and ahadeva! the "estroyer! /o&pose the

Trinity of the Hindus.

*)E *%/E%78 V(V%N*S3

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TH e$hi#ition of the Tableaux Vivants or 8iving pictures! 0hich are a

co&#ination of #eauty! for& and color ! contri#utes not &erely to the a&use&ent

of a social party! #ut! 0hat is of &uch higher i&portance ! inspires! in the &inds

#oth of the e$hi#itors and spectators! feelings of poetry ! and i&parts a kno0ledgeof co&position and grouping. It fosters taste and 9udge&ent! and a0akens their

i&itative faculties. The success of these popular entertain&ents depends chieflyon the correct understanding of the follo0ing points26

:. THE STAGE: That 3distance lends enchant&ent to the vie04 is no0here #ettersho0n then in the e$hi#ition of the Tableau! *ot less than si$ feet should

intervene #et0een the stage and the spectators. In the a#sence of a large hallor gallery adapted for such entertain&ents! the folding 1doors #et0een t0o

dra0ing6roo&s should separate the spectators fro& the perfor&ers! the s&aller

roo& #eing reserved for the latter. The platfor& should #e raised at least three

feet a#ove the floor. The stage 10hen it is created in a hall or gallery6should #e

raised nearly si$ feet fro& the floor! so that gentle&an sitting in the #ackseats ! &ay have the sa&e advantages as those in the front ones. When a

te&porary stage is i&provised! there should #e either curtains hung at the

sides! or a screen 0ith an opening in the centre in proportion to the si;e of the

stages! and painted like a picture fra&e. A close #lack gau;e or &uslin should

#e put up #et0een the perfor&ers and spectators. When the e$hi#ition takeplace in a dra0ing6roo&! this piece of cloth should #e nailed tightly across the

opening of the folding6doors or arch. The color of the cloth hung over the highscreen ! placed at the #ack of the stage ! &ust depend on the prevailing color

of the o#9ects e$hi#ited! as ! for instance! a light #ack6ground is re7uired 0hen

the figures are dressed in #lack < #ut for &ost su#9ects and specially 0here#rilliant color predo&inate! a #lack or dark green cloth should #e su#stituted<

0here a series of picture is intended to #e sho0n! sa&eness of color should #e

avoided! #y changing it into dra# or neutral6tinted drapery. The floor of the

stage &ust al0ays #e covered 0ith a dark cloth.

=. LIGHTS: As foot6lights thro0 disagreea#le shado0s on the faces of the

perfor&ers! and are calculated to &ar the pictures7ue effects of thee$hi#ition! they should! as a rule! #e avoided. Where a cross light #eco&es

a#solutely necessary. It is desira#le to place it on one side of the stage! and the

&a9or part of it! high up. -our to si$ carriage6la&ps! 0ith tin reflectors! 0ill of 9udiciously used! #e found to thro0 a&ple light on the o#9ects. /are should #e

taken to e$tinguish all the lights in the spectators> roo& as soon as the drop6

scene #egins to rise. The la&ps on the side of the stage should have shades of

red or green ! ' for&ed of colored glass or tinted silver paper of the necessary

color(! placed over the glass of each! 0hen a fire or a &oon6light scene is

re7uired to #e represented. So&e place glo#es of colored li7uid #efore the

la&ps! 0ith the sa&e vie0. A fire6scene can also #e i&itated #y #urning red6fire at the sides< a pale &oon6light! #y green6fire! 0ithout help of &uch light. A

large Tableau consisting of several figures should have as &uch light as

possi#le. In &ediu& representations! the light and shade should #e so ad9ustedas to sho0 the principal and pro&inent figure in relief and to the #est

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advantage. To produce a 0eird! ghastly effect! 0hen ghost6scenes are re7uired!

a 7uantity of co&&ons salt should #e &i$ed 0ith spirits of 0ine in a &etal pot!

and set on a 0ire6fra&e over a spirit6la&p! 0hich again should #e shaded in

so&e 0ay. The other la&ps should #e put out altogether. The &agic6lantern isalso calculated to heighten the effects of drea&land scenery or a ghostly

spectacle. The effect of electric light through this involves e$pense and thenecessity of &ore space is &arvellous on hu&an figure upon the stage.

?. CURTAIN: The curtain should #e &ade of dark calico! sufficiently thick! 0hen

do0n! to render the light and figures #ehind it invisi#le to the spectators. The

persons e&ployed to pulling it up! should #e instructed to co&&ence 0ork

si&ultaneously on receiving the signal 0hich is generally given #y the ringing of a #ell! and they should al0ays #e ready at their posts! so that the figures &ay

not have to stand in their proper attitudes! 0hich 0ill #e necessarilyconstrained! for &ore than t0o or three &inutes! 0hich is considered fair ti&e

for e$hi#ition of one scene. There should #e an interval of t0o or three &inutes

#et0een the 3acts.4

@. GROUPING: This al0ays includes the arrange&ent of dress. The success or! 0e

&ight say the difficulty in the getting6up! of a Tableau! hinges &ainly on the&anner on 0hich light and shade are &ade to fall on the different parts of a

scene. To one ac7uainted 0ith the har&ony of colors! no directions arenecessary on this point. But to those ine$perienced young &en of this country!

0ho cannot have any scientific kno0ledge of the su#9ect! and 0ho cannot

secure the services of an adept! a fe0 hints 0ill #e useful. A plethora of

#rilliant colors should #e avoided. ,audy dress should al0ays #e relieved #y

inter&i$ture of those having &ore so&#re rule! #e in the #ack6ground. When it

is intended to give pro&inence to one particular figure! it should #e dressed in

0hite! in case of 0o&en< or in si&ple dark cloth of one unifor& color! in that of

a &an. The tallest figures should also generally #e in #ack6ground! 0hen they

0ill sho0 the&selves to #etter advantage! and 0ill ! at the sa&e ti&e! &ake

roo& for those 0ho are less tall < #ut 0hen a perspective is intended to #e

sho0n! 'and this is possi#le only 0here there is large space at co&&and(! the

process should #e reversed. In that case! the color of the dresses should #epaler and less vivid #y degrees.

There should #e three persons to direct! all the other assistants should #e

su#ordinate to the&.

1St. The Stage Manager ! 0ho should have the charge of all the details connected

0ith the stage! the curtain! and the providing of the lights. His duty should #e to

ring a #ell for asse&#ling the dramatis persone! and for the pulling up or letting

do0n of the curtain. He should give the signal for putting out the lights in the

spectators> hall at the proper ti&e and he should supply each perfor&er 0ith a #o$

to #e kept in his o0n dressing 1roo&! containing all the necessary articles for his

use. The &usic should! to so&e e$tent! #e under his direction< #ut the selection of

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the tunes to #e played during the perfor&ance or in the intervals! should #e left to

person of e$perience and taste.

!nd The "rtist# 0hose duty it should #e to look after the arrange&ent of the

groupings and the selection of the characters to #e assu&ed #y the players.

$rd The Dresser and %ardrobe "ssistant, 0ho should &ake it a point to see that

every one of the characters has #een properly dressed according to the

instructions of the artist. He should also #e provided 0ith thread! tape! needles

and other necessary ad9uncts! to guard against accidents.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

*)E S*%GE O *)E %56%NS3>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

ACCORDING to the authorities! the cere&ony of laying the foundation of a

stage should #e attended 0ith an invocation to the "eity and other rites. Anauspicious day should #e chosen for erecting the pillars of the stage. These pillars

should #e &ade either of gold! or of Catechu! 9ack or red sandal60ood< their tops

should #e hollo0! and their #ases! co&paratively thick and s&ooth. The character

of the play intended to #e perfor&ed should regulate the di&ensions of the stage.

According to "a&odara isra! the stage should #e 0hite60ashed! and care should

#e taken that it does not retard the &ove&ent of 3the light fantastic toe4 #y #eing

&ade too slippery. The top6front of the stage should #e orna&ented 0ith 0ooden

figures! flags of the different colors! 0reaths of flo0ers! and other decorations.

The 0estern potation of it! 0hich should occupy one6third of the 0hole space!

should #e set apart for the green6roo&.

THE DROP-SCENE - The Yabanika ! or the drop ! should #e painted on a

piece of fine thin cloth! and changed ! like the scenes that are hung in the #ack6

ground! 0ith each act its su#divisions. In the olden days the t0o 0ings of every

scene used to #e re&oved #y t0o handso&e girls! 0ho appeared on each occasion.The color of the drop 0as regulated #y the nature of the senti&ent 'rasa( that

prevailed in a play. -or senti&ent of love 'Sringara(! the color 0as 0hite< for thatof herois& 'vira(! yello0< for tenderness ')aruna(! S&oke6colored< for 0arth

'Raudra(! red< for laugher 'Hasya(! parti6colored< for terror 'Bhayanaka(! #lue< for

disgust 'Bi#hatsa( so&ke6colord< and for that of the 0onderful 'Ad#huta(! #lack.

According to certain authorities! the red color &ay #e adopted on all occasions.

THE AUDIENCE – The eastern potation of the theatre used to #e set apart

for the king and the paraphernalia attending on royalty. The Brah&ins sat in front!the courtiers and little children on the south! the heralds and connoisseurs on the

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north! 0hile the #ody6guards and other retainers re&ained outside. The ad&ission

of heretics! the sick! the i&&oral! the in appreciating! the untidy! and unkno0n!

ar&ed &en 0as strictly prohi#ited.

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*)E *EN P5(N-(P% %V%*%5%S∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

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THE su#9ects of the Tableaux Vivants are! In ngland. /hosen fro& history

or popular stories other than Scriptural. But in the /ontinent! and especially in

,er&any! the people do not consider it sacrilegious to #ase their e$hi#itions on the

#i#le< and several instanced are kno0n 0here the %irgin ary 0ith the infant esusfor&ed one of the principal ite&s of the representations. In India 0here the life

and ha#its of the people are insepara#ly associated 0ith religion and &ythology!0here the generality of the&6&en and 0o&en6do not like to 0aste their ti&e in

frivolous a&use&ent unless they have so&ething religious a#out the&! and 0ho

0ould not see! hear or talk of! anything 0ith &ore enthusias& than the

&ythological #eing that are the o#9ects of their daily 0orship! 0ho ! fro& their

very infancy are partially! if not entirely! conversant 0ith the accounts of their

"eities! nothing 0ould! perhaps! #e &ore accepta#le ! and 0ould afford the&

grater pleasure! than the representations of the ten principal Avataras! #ased on

the Puranas. Before proceeding further! the signification of the 0ord Avatara

should #e first e$plained. An Avatara! ety&ologically speaking! signifies 3one

descended!4 or 3one 0ho has co&e do0n4 and! in the popular acceptation of theter&! and incarnation of the godhead. The o#9ect of the periodical incarnations is

thus e$plained in the Bhagavat6gita #y %ishnu 0ho visited this earth in the shape of )rishna26 3although I a& not in &y nature su#9ect to #irth and decay! and a& the

lord of all created #eings! yet! having co&&and over &y nature! I a& &ade

evident #y &y o0n po0er< and as often as there is a decline of virtue and an

insurrection of vice and in9ustice in the 0orld! I &ake &yself evident < and thus I

appear ! fro& age to age ! for the preservation of the 9ust! the destruction of the

0icked! and the esta#lish&ent of virtue.4 The o#9ect of the Incarnations can also

#e gathered fro& the follo0ing passage2 6 3"esiring the preservation of herds! andof Brah&ans! of genii! and of virtuous &en! of the %edas! of la0 and of precious

thing! the 8ord of the 5niverse assu&es &any #odily shapes< #ut through he

pervades! like the air! a variety of #eings! yet he is hi&self unvaried! since he has

no 7uality su#9ect to change.4 -or the acco&plish&ent of the purposes noticed

a#ove %ishnu is credited 0ith the assu&ption of several shapes ! of 0hich thefollo0ing ten are principally recogni;ed< viz, ':( the Matsya! or the -ish Avatara,

'=( the &urmma ! or the Tortoise Avatara! '?( the Varaha! or the Boar Avatara! '@(Nri-sinha! or the an68ion Avatara! '( the Vamana! or the "0arf Avatara! 'C( the

Parasu-rama Aa!ara! 'D( the Rama Aa!ara! 'E( the "a#arama Aa!ara! 'F( the

"u$$ha Aa!ara! and ':G( the %a#&i Aa!ara. Of these! the first five Incarnationsare purely &ythological in their character! and are kno0n to have taken place in

the Satya' (uga< the ne$t t0o! in the Treta Yuga! and the eight ! in the Dvapara

Yuga.The last three Incarnations 0ere fa&ed for valor! and perfor&ed heroic

deeds< the ninth 0as a religious refor&er< and the tenth has yet to co&e. The last

t0o #elong to the Kalki Yuga! or the present age. In the ha;y &ist

of &ythology! in 0hich the accounts of the Avataras are thickly enshrouded! there

lie concealed deep and i&portant theological and astrono&ical truths! 0hichtestify in un&istakea#le ter&s to the 0onderful intellectual ingenuity and the

strong i&aginative po0ers of our ancient authors. But the e$position of these

0ould #e 7uite foreign to the purpose of this 0ork.

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* In order to kno0 0hat is (uga is! 0e &ust try to co&pare the )alpa! of

0hich it is #ut an infinitesi&al potation. On this point hu&an co&putation isindeed lost and rational con9ecture a#solutely over0hel&ed. A kalpa is a day of

Brah&a! the creator of the universe< and consists of @!?=G!GGG!GGG hu&an years!

calculated as follo0s2 6

The period of Satya(uga 'or the age if eternal righteousness( is co&puted

at @!EGG divine years! 0hich &ultiplied #y ?CG 'a year of the gods #eing e7ual to

?CG years of the &ortals(! gives us for the product! :!D=E!GGG hu&an years.

Treta (uga 'or the age of in 0hich righteousness decreased #y on6fourth(!

co&prised a period of ?!CGG divine years! 0hich &ultiplied #y ?CG! given :!=FC!GGG

hu&an years.Dvapara (uga 'or the age in 0hich righteousness 0as di&inished #y half(!

consisted of =@GG divine or E@C!GGG hu&an years.

&ali (uga ' or the age in 0hich righteousness re&ained to the e$tent of

one6fourth only(! e&#races a period of :!=GG divine or @?=!GGG hu&an years!

According to so&e 0riters! the present Kali Yuga co&&enced on ?:G= B./. thesu&6total of the four Yugas is @!?=G!GGG hu&an years! other0ise called a Maha

yuga . In each &alpa or day of Brahma ! :@ anus reign! and in each reign of

Manus! seven rishis ! certain deities! an )ndra! and the kings and their sons are

created and perish. Seventy6one syste&s of the four ugas elapse during each Manvantara! 'the period of a anu>s reign( and conse7uently nearly a thousand

such syste&s coincide 0ith the period of the :@ Manvantaras, or a day of Brahma.

In other 0ords! @!?=G!GGG years!6the period co&prised #y each rotation of the four

ugas 1 &ultiplied #y :!GGG! gives us @!?=G!GGG!GGG years! 0hich! as 0e have

already stated! represent a day. At the close of this day! a night of e7ual of

duration follo0s! in 0hich the 0hole of the 0orld collapses is turned into one vast

ocean! 0rapped up in hopeless chaos! and the 8ord of all sleeps on the serpent

Sesha! till the #reak of &orn! 0hen the 5niverse is created ane0 and the ne$t day

'kalpa( follo0s.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I.

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*)E !%*S6% %V%*%5%3∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

THE o#9ect of this Incarnation of %ishnu 0as to preserve Satyavrata

'after0ards kno0n as %aivasvata or the seventh anu(! fro& the universal deluge!

and to restore the %edas to Brah&a. At the close of a )alpa! 0hile Brah&a 0as a

sleep! and the 0hole universe had #eco&e one vast e$panse of 0ater! a de&on

0as o#served #y %ishnu to steal the %edas 0hich had issued fro& the lips of

Brah&a! and 0hich had never! up to that ti&e! #een re&oved fro& his side. With a

vie0 to punish this thief! 0ho 0as kno0n #y the na&e of ayagriya! %ishnu

assu&ed the shape of a s&all fish 'Saphari( and glided into the hands of the pious

Satyavrata 0hile he 0as perfor&ing his daily a#lutions in the river. When a#out to

#e restored to the 0ater! it asked the saint to preserve it fro& the larger fishesand to keep it in a 0ater69ar in his house. The fish gradually gre0 #igger and

#igger! so that Satyavrata 0as o#liged to put in a large pond and su#se7uently to

consign it to the ocean. There he recogni;ed the divinity of the fish and feel do0nto 0orship it. As a &ark of satisfaction for his piety! he 0as infor&ed of %ishnu>s

intention of saving hi& fro& the approaching cataclys&. He 0as asked to e&#ark0ith the seven Rishis! and 3the seeds4 of all created things! on #oard a vessel

0hich 0as to #e sent to hi& #efore the catastrophe took place. True to this

pro&ise! the ship hove in sight at the appointed ti&e! 0hich 0as follo0ed #y a

large golden fish 0ith a horn of stupendous si;e! to 0hich the vessel 0as #ound

fast #y &eans of a ca#le &ade of the great serpent. While the deluge lasted! thefish instructed Satyavrata in all divine and hu&an kno0ledge! and! after that

0ater had su#sided! assisted hi& in landing. It is further related that 0hen Brah&a

a0oke after the co&pletion of the dissolution of the universe! %ishnu sle0 the

stealer of the %edas and restored the& to hi&.

The origin in the !urana of the a#ove description &ight pro#a#ly #e traced

to the legend of the deluge! as related in the Satapatha Brahmana. It #ears

re&arka#le affinity to the sa&e circu&stance 0hich occurred in *oah>s ti&e.

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(3!%*S6% %V%*%5% !75**(

#*ran+ation$∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

VISHNU ! the lord of 8aksh&i>s heart! assu&ed the shape of a Rohita fish!

fro& his navel do0n0ards< up to the throat! that of a &an ! of a dark6#lue color

and having four ar&s holding respectively the conch ! discus! clu#! and lotus. The

head 0as like that of Sringi 'horned( fish. The eyes 0ere char&ing and the 0hole

#ody 0as full of lily6&arks and altogether very #eautiful.

eru6Tantra.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

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(3!%*S6% %V%*%5% !75**(

#*ran+ation$∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

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∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

THE o#9ect of the &urmma "vatara 0as to recover &any priceless and

precious things 0hich has #een su#&erged during the universal deluge and lay at

the #otto& of the ocean. A&ongst these and &ost pri;ed and coveted #y the gods!

0as the Amrita! or the 0ater of i&&ortality. It 0as settled that the Skhiroda

Sa&udra! or the ocean of s0eet6&ilk! should #e churned. The andara ountain

0as chosen as the churning staff! and %asuki! the great serpent as the cord to #e

attached to it. %ishnu took the for& of a gigantic t"rt"ise #Kurmma$! in order that

his #ack &ay #e &ade the #ase or pivot of the &ountain! 0hich! on account of theunfatho&a#le depth of the ocean! had #egun to sink in it. The "evas ! or the

gods ! sei;ed the tail and the Asuras! or the de&ons! the neck of the serpent! and

all 9oined in a &ighty effort to recover their lost treasure! the ocean 0as stirred toits very depths #y the rapid rotation of the staff. -ro& its &ysterious #o0els a

no$ious poison 0as thro0n out! the stench of 0hich threatened to destroy theinha#itants of the three regions of the universe! till ahadeva! 0hose heart 0as

full of love and generous feelings! co&e to the rescue! and s0allo0ed the deadly

poison! thus saving the 0orld fro& certain destruction. The process of churning

0ent on ! and the sea #egan to give up its treasures one #y one. -irst ! fro& the

vasty deep arose the &oon in all her glory ! ne$t Sri! the goddess of fortune!then ! Sura6devi! the goddess of 0ine! then ! the 0onderful horse %chchaihsraba !

0ith seven heads < these 0ere follo0ed #y the cele#rated 9e0el Kaustubha! 0orn

#y *arayana on his #reast! !ari&ata! the tree of paradise! Surabhi! the co0 of

plenty! Airabata! the peerless elephant o0ned #y Indra! and various other 0onders

and lastly! Dhanvantari! the god of the healing art! #earing in his hand ! the sacredvase in 0hich 0as the long6sought6for a&#rosia. The de&ons raised a shout and

cla&oured for a share of the nectar of life! #ut they 0ere tricked out of it #y astratage& devised #y %ishnu at the ti&e of its distri#ution. This led su#se7uently

to a great 0ar #et0een the "evas and the Asuras! 0hich resulted in the total

disco&fiture of the latter.

Reference to the )ur&&a Avatara can #e found in the 3SatapathaBrah&ana4 chapter of the %edas! 0here it is stated that 3Pra9apati! having

assu&ed the for& of a tortoise ')ur&&a( created offspring. That 0hich he createdhe &ade 'Akarot(< hence the 0ord )ur&&a.4

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

1?



((3

@ 75!!% %V%*%5% !75**(∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

#*5%NS%*(ON$

THEN the lord! &ighty in po0er and uns0erving of purpose! seeing o#staclesintervene in the 0ork of churning the ocean assu&ed the shape of a 0onderful!

gigantic tortoise! and plunging into the trou#led 0aters supported the &ountain onhis #ack.

6Bhagavata.

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19



((3

@75!!% %V%*%5% !75**(∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

20



∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

III.

*)E V%5%)% %V%*%5%∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

VISH*5 is said to have assu&ed the shape of a #oar in order to raise the

su#&erged earth a#ove the surface of the unfatho&a#le deep. According to so&eaccounts! 0hen the earth 0as over 0hel&ed during the deluge! Brah&a resu&ed

his conte&plative attitude to think of the #est 0ay of raising it up again! and sent

up a fervent prayer to the Al&ighty Po0er to furnish hi& 0ith the &eans. A short

0hile after! 0hile thus engaged in devotion! there e&anated fro& hi& a spirit! 6 an

essence! 0hich took the shape of a 0hite #oar! #ut of a very s&all stature. It

presently astonished Brah&a and his sons! #y assu&ing the si;e of a gigantic

elephant! and uttering a terri#le sound like thunder! convinced the& #eyond the

shado0 of a dou#t! that it could not #e anything else #ut a &anifestation of the

divine po0er. It then took a 9u&p into the airy regions and plunged headfore&ost

into the deep! thro0ing the ocean and its presiding deity into violent convulsions.With the characteristic instinct of the ani&al! it #egun to s&ell out 0here the

earth 0as su#&erged! and co&ing across it at the very #otto& of the deep! raisedit high up on his tusks and restored it to its original place. According to other

legends! 'supported #y the Agni ParanJ(! the o#9ect of the Incarnation! 0as to

punish a de&on kno0 #y the na&e of iranyaksha. aya and Bi&aya ! the t0o

door6keepers of %ishnu! having offended so&e 'ishis 0ho has desired ad&ission

into the divine presence! 0ere turned out of heaven and doo&ed to take #irth on

earth. There they 0ere #orn as the sons of )asyapa #y his 0ife! "iti ! and na&ed

iranya6kasipu and iranyasksha. They gre0 apace.

The for&er su#dued the three regions of the universe! and latter atte&pted

the su#version of the /elestial &pire. The gods 9oined in a #ody in praying to the

al&ighty %ishnu to save the&! and it 0as in response to their earnest solicitationsthat he took the shape of a #oar! raised the earth a#ove the surface of the ocean!

into 0hich it has #een hurled #y the &ighty de&on! and put an end to his restless

and trou#leso&e life #y tra&pling hi& under his feet.

According to the )alki ParanJ! the #oar continued to haunt the earth and

had issues 0hich #eca&e the source of so &uch annoyance to everyone! as to

o#lige the deities to pray to %ishnu again to suppress the pest #y taking #ack to

hi&self the divine essence and energy 0hich sustained these terri#le ani&als and

kept the& alive. But %ishnu>s reply to their prayer 0as that he could not call #ack

the 3po0er4 0hich had gone out of hi&! and that it 0ill re7uire on possessinggreater pro0ess than that 0ith 0hich the #oars had #een invested to effect their

21



destruction. ahadeva! the fearless! 0as chosen for that tre&endous task! and

0as gifted 0ith the energies of all the gods. He assu&ed the for& of a gigantic

ani&al! the Sara#ha! having eight legs! and totally destroyed the #oar and its

progeny! thus restoring peace and tran7uillity to the groaning earth.

The legend of this incarnation is anticipated in the Taittiriya Sanhita andBrah&ana portion of the %edas! and also in the Satapatha Brah&ana chapter!

0here it is distinctly stated that Pra9apati! ' after0ards kno0n as a Brah&a(! 3took

the for& of a #oar for the purpose of raising the earth out of the #oundless0aters4.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

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III.

*)E V%5%)% %V%*%5% !75**(∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

#*5%NS%*(ON $

THEN the &ighty de&on Hiranyaksha! e$clai&ing K0ho is thisL> stared at %ishnu

0ith #lood6shot eyes! and 7uivering 0ith rage! 6 %ishnu! the destroyer of the

de&ons and the re&over of fear the &inds of the gods! %ishnu 0ho stood #efore

2'



hi&! having in his hands the conch and the discus! #et0een 0hich he shone even as

a #lue cloud #et0een the sun and &oon on a full6&oon evening.

6 Agni ParanJ

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

III.

*)E V%5%)% %V%*%5% !75**(

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

24



∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

(V3

N5(AS(N)% %V%*%5%3 ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

THE particulars of the incarnation! %araha Avatara! have already #een given.It has #een stated that the t0o door6keepers of Paradise! aya and Bu9aya! took

#irth on this earth as the de&ons Hiranyaksha and Hiranya6)asipu! and that the

2:



destruction of the for&er 0as effected! #ut the latter continued to ravage the

earth! and it 0as to relieve the gods and others fro& his tyranny and depredations!

that %ishnu had to assu&e the for& of the &an6lion. The de&on Hiranya6kasipu

had! #y a long course of austerities! o#tained fro& Brah&a the #oon that neithergods! nor &an! nor other created #eing then e$isting shall have po0er to slay hi&

#y day or night ! in heaven or on earth. Proud of this divine favour! 0hich hethought had rendered hi& co&pletely invulnera#le! he #egan to despise even the

gods of heaven! openly defied the divinity of %ishnu! and #eca&e a source of

terror and &ischief to all the three 0orlds. He took a thorough dislike to one of his

sons Prahlada! 0ho! fro& his infancy! had #eco&e a devout 0orshipper of %ishnu.

Prahalada 0as on several occasions taken to task #y his de&on6father for acting

contrary to his 0ishes! #ut 0ithout effect. He 0as successively cast into the fire!

dashed against the rocks! thro0n fettered into the sea! tra&pled upon #y

elephants! and su#9ected to a thousand other tortures! #ut the Al&ighty al0ays

stood #y his side and saved his life. Being astonished at these &iraculous escapes

fro& the 9a0s of 0hat 0as considered inevita#le death. Hiranya6)asipu one dayasked Prahalada in open dur#ar the &ystery of his 0onderful escapes. Prahalada

replied he o0ed everything to %ishnu and then #egan to descant on Hiso&nipotence! o&nipresence! and o&niscience. On #eing 7uestioned if! #y 0ay of

illustration! he could certify to the presence of %ishnu on one of the crystal

colu&ns 0hich supported the &agnificent hall! he ans0ered that he assuredly

could do so. The un#elieving father thereupon scoffingly struck the pillar 0ith

sceptre! and #eholdM as if to #ear his devout disciple out in his assertion! the

crystal pillar 0as rent asunder! and %ishnu in the shape of *ri6Sinha! or half6&an

and half6lion ! leapt out of it ! preceded #y a thick cloud of s&oke that threatenedto stifle every #reathing creature! and a loud ru&#ling noise that thre0 the three

regions into utter confusion and dis&ay. The de&on6king in the &ist of his

astonish&ent 0as sei;ed #y the hair! and the &an6lion placing hi& across his

knees! ripped open his #elly 0ith his shape talons! and! true to the #loody

proclivities of the terri#le ani&al 0hose for& and nature has #een assu&ed !sucked the #lood of the dise&#o0elled de&on6king ! and su#se7uently placed his

favourite! the devout Prahalada ! on the vacant throne.

Thus perished one of the &ost terri#le de&ons 0ho devastated the earth in

defiance of gods and &en. The #oon of invulnera#ility 0hich he had received 0as

not distur#ed. It 0as sad that no created #eing then e$isting shall have po0er overhis life! either #y day or night! in heaven or on earth. The divine pro&ise 0as notfalsified. the author of the de&ons destruction 0as a ne0 incarnation! and not a

created #eing e$isting at the ti&e the pro&ise 0as given. The ti&e 0hen he 0as

killed 0as neither day nor night! #ut t0ilight! and his #ody 0as neither on the

earth nor in heaven! #ut on the knees of his destroyer.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

2<



∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

(V3N5(AS(N)% %V%*%5% !75**(

#*5%NS%*(ON$

VISH*5! the slayer of the de&on &ura! having assu&ed the shape of a &an6

lion ! the #ody #eing like that of a &an! and the terri#le face 0ith #lood6red eyes

like that of a lion! entered the court of the de&on Hiranya6)asipu and stood

#efore hi&.

6 Agni Purana.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

(V3N5(AS(N)% %V%*%5% !75**(

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

2=



∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

V3 *)E V%!%N% %V%*%5%3

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

2?



ANOTHER de&on6king! Mahabali! or the ,reat Bali! had #y dint of penance

and devotion! o#tained fro& Brah&a the sovereignty of the universe that is of thethree regions! 6 the heavens! the earth and !atala 'the lo0er 0orld(. He 0as a

&odel &onarch in all respects! #ut his over0eening pride engendered in his &ind a

supre&e conte&pt of all divine and &ortal po0ers. He 0as charita#le! and kind tohis su#9ects! #ut! as has #een said! his chief guilt lay in denying to the deities and

their attendant &inisters the ho&age and o#lations that 0ere un7uestiona#ly their

due. Repeated insults of this nature at least roused the ire of the gods 0ho applied

in a #ody to %ishnu for redress. With the vie0 of hu&#ling the arrogance of the

offending &onarch! %ishnu took #irth! in the shape of rickety little d0arf

'(amana(! as the son of an old sage! )asyapa ! #y his 0ife Aditi! and appeared

#efore the ,reat Bali! 0hile he 0as ! on one occasion! displaying his po&p and

&agnificence at this opportunity! the "0arf6,od supplicated the grant of a &odest

re7uest! vi;! of as &uch land as could #e e&#raced #y three strides! 0herein! headded! he 0ould acco&&odate hi&self! his u&#rella! his #ooks! his drinking cup

and his staff. Struck 0ith the singularity and &odesty of his prayer! Bali re&indedhi& that all the three regions 0ere his! and that it 0ould not #e asking too &uch

even if the prayer 0as for land sufficient for the erection of a large place. To this

the "0arf naively replied that the 0ants of a poor Brah&in 0ere #ut fe0! and that

if the re7uest he had preferred 0ere co&plicated 0ith! he 0ould consider his

a&#ition a&ply gratified. While Bali 0as ratifying his pro&ise! according to the

custo& of those days! #y pouring out 0ater fro& a vessel upon the hand of the

person to 0ho& it 0as given! his priest! Sukracharys! 0arned hi& of the danger

that 0ould follo0 his rash pro&ise! for! added he! the &isera#ly6clad anddisproportioned &endicant 0as no other than the great %ishnu hi&self. But the

&onarch 0as too high6&inded to take #ack his 0ord that 0as once given. The

0ater 0as no sooner poured into the hands of the %a&ana ! than his si;e #egan

visi#ly to increase till it assu&ed such colossal proportions that 0ithout the leasteffort he &ade one stride and co&passed the vast glo#e of the earth< 0ith the

second ! the 0hole of the airy e$panse< and 0hile he 0as! 0ith the third! going tostride over the infernal regions 'Patala(! Bali! convinced of the divinity of the

supposed &endicant! prostrated hi&self and #egged of the ,od to place that step

over his head! and to pardon hi& for his pride and arrogance. Being deprived of

the supre&acy over the three regions #y this piece of ingenuity! Bali had no place0here to go. As a re0ard! ho0ever! for his past righteousness! he assigned a

delightful ha#itation in !atala! fro& 0hence! after a te&porary residence and

unceasing devotion! he 0as translated to heaven.

Professor ,oldstucker! 3the %edic conception of the three strides of %ishnu

is dou#tless the #asis of the ides 0hence the Avatara arose.4 ention of the three

steps is &ade in portions of the Rigveda and Taittiriya Sanhita.

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29



V3 *)E V%!%N% %V%*%5%3

#*ran+ation3$

TO HI( – 0hose #reast is adorned 0ith the 3Srivatsa4 &arks and 0ith the precious

ge& K)austu#ha>. Whose #ody is #eautiful and shining like the resplendent full6&oon!0hose eyes are like 0hite6lilies! 0ho is of s&all stature! 0ho 0ears the sacrificial ;one

and is girt #y an antelope6hide round his 0aist! 0ho holds a staff in one of his hands ! 0hois arrayed in the dress and 0ith the appoint&ents like those of a Brah&in ne0ly invested

0ith the sacred thread! and 0ho is versed in all the 3%edas> and 3%edangas> 1 to hi& the

&ighty gods and the holy sages ! acco&panied #y Indra! rendered ho&age and offeredprayers.

Pad&a 1Purana

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

V3

'0



*)E V%!%N% %V%*%5%3

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

V(3

'1



*)E P%5%S7A5%!% %V%*%5%3PARAS56RAA! the si$th Incarnation of %ishnu! 0as the son of Brah&in of the na&eof a&adagni! #y Renuka! a )hsatriya Princess. It is related that the pious sage

had! on one occasion! reason to #e dissatisfied 0ith the conduct of his 0ife! andasked his sons to cut off her head. ach and all of the& refused ! e$cept Parasu6

ra&a! 0ho ! su#ordinating feeling to o#edience and filial duty! 0ithout hesitation

#eheaded her 0ith the Parasu! 'a$e( 1 the gift of his patron deity ahadeva. Highly

pleased 0ith his son>s sense of duty! a&adagni 0ished hi& to re7uest a #oon. He

prayed that his &other &ight #e #rought #ack to life! and that hi&self &ight en9oy

long life and prove invinci#le in 0ar. The re7uest 0as granted in order to atone<

ho0ever! for the sin of &atricide! Ra&a 0ent to ount )ailash 0here he re&ained

a#sor#ed for years in &editation and prayer. In the &eanti&e a )shatriya )ing!

')arttavirya(! 0hile out hunting! happened to co&e to the her&itage of a&adagni

and 0as there entertained in right royal style in the a#sence of the venera#le sage#y his pious spouse. Ascertaining that the source fro& 0hich all the rich viands and

delicacies ca&e 0as )a&a6"henu! the co0 of plenty60hich the god Indra had leftin the her&it>s charge! the king e$pressed a 0ish to have it. Resenting the refusal!

he atte&pted to take forci#le possession of the ani&al! #ut the divine co0!

suddenly assu&ing e$traordinary si;e! sho0ed a #old front to the king and his

follo0ers! &ost of 0ho& she gored to death or put to flight. Parasu6ra&a! on his

return to the her&itage! 0as infor&ed of the treacherous conduct of )arttyavirya!

and #urning to revenge the insult offered to his father! pursued the )shatriya king

in hot haste! sle0 hi&! and then 0ent #ack to resu&e his &editations and prayer

on ount )ailasa! The sons of )arttyavira! to avenge the death of their father!su#se7uently sle0 the pious Brah&in! 0ho! at the least &o&ent! called loudly on

Parasu6ra&a for help. But the response ca&e 0hen all 0as over! Parasu6ra&a 0ho

arrived 0hen the funeral pyre of his father 0as #eing lighted! s0ore sole&nly that

he 0ould e$tirpate fro& the face of the earth the 0hole race of )shatriyas 0hoseleaders had in so co0ardly a &anner &urdered his inoffensive father! and thrice

seven ti&es did he clear the earth of the )shatriya caste! su#se7uently restoringthe sovereignty to the Brah&ins! and esta#lishing order and syste& a&ongst the&.

He 0as! ho0ever! refused possession #y the ungrateful Brah&ins of a piece of land

0here to spend the rest of his days in peace and &editation. Parasu6ra&a

accordingly 9ourneyed to the ala#ar /oast! 0here he #egged of %aruna! the godof the ocean! to grant hi& as &uch space as an arro0 0ould fly over. -earing!

0hen apprised of the divine nature of Parasu6ra&a! that the re7uest contained

so&e trick of %ishnu>s 'like that practised on Bali on a previous occasion(! to

deprive hi& of his possessions! %aruna applied to the other gods for advice. 5nder

their direction it 0as arranged that! on the night previous! the god of death should

in the shape of a 0hite ant al&ost sever the string of Parasu6ra&a>s #o0! so that

the arro0 0hen shot forth 0ould go #ut a little 0ay. The plan succeeded

ad&ira#ly! and Parasu6Ra&a 0as o#liged to content hi&self 0ith a li&ited plot of land! for&ed #y the receding of the sea on the ala#ar /oast! 0here! according to

the legend! he is still living.

'2



∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

V(3P%5%S7A5%!% %V%*%5% !75**(3

(Translation)

DASS8I*, like &yriads of suns! flashing like lighting appearing a lu&inous&ass of energy and po0er! of for& &a9estic and like the cloud of assure hue! 0ith

tangled locks! a #o0 in one hand and an a$e in the other! stood Parasu6ra&a! the

slayer of )arttyaviryya! and the destroyer of the fiery )shattriya race! even like

the king of terrors! #efore "asaratha! and thus 0as he seen #y the valiant Ra&a

/handra.

Adhyat&a Ra&ayana.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

V(3

''



P%5%S7A5%!% %V%*%5% !75**(3

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

'4



V((3 *)E 5%!% %V%*%5%3

R AVANA) the ten6headed and t0enty6ar&ed giant6&onarch of 8anka!

'/eylon(! having received fro& Brah&a! through single &inded devotion and severe

penances! the #oon of invinci#ility as regards gods and de&ons! #egan to take so

&uch advantage of it! #y tyrannising over the gods! 'so&e of 0ho& he ordered to

do even &enial 0orks(! that they 0ent up to %ishnu 0ith earnest solicitations for

speedy redress. In the conclave of gods it 0as resolved that %ishnu should again

incarnate hi&self and #e #orn as the son of "asaratha! )ing of Ayodhya! 'oudh(!

0hile his consort ! 8aksh&i! should 9oin hi& in the &undane 0orld in the shape of

Sita! the daughter of king anaka of ithila 'Behar(. It 0as also resolved that the

gods representing the ele&ents of nature! should co&e do0n in the dor& of &onkeys and lend their aid in the punish&ent and destruction of the de&on6king!0ho did not! at the ti&e of asking the favour of Brah&a. /onte&plate the

possi#ility of any har& co&ing to hi& fro& such insignificant 7uarters as &an and&onkey. Ra&a ! or as he is popularly called ! Ra&a chandra& 0ith his step6

#rothers! 8aksh&ana! Brahrata and Satrughna gre0 apace and &ade rapid

i&prove&ents in the arts and sciences under the tutelage of %isisitha. At the

re7uest of %isva&itra! the pious sage! 0hose forest retreat as 0ell as those of his

neigh#ouring peace6loving #rother6her&its 0ere &olested #y a she6de&on na&ed

Taraka ! Ra&a /handra! 0hile a #oy ! killed this pest of forest ! and freed the

country fro& her depredations ! 0hile out on this e$pedition! he 0as condusctedto the court of anaka! king of ithila! 0ho had a lovely daughter na&ed Sita! said

to have #een #orn of the earth! and to have #een taken up 0hile the land 0as

#eing ploughed. It 0as kno0n that the #eautiful Sita 0as destined #y her royalfather for hi& 0ho 0ould succeed #ending 0onderful #o0 of enor&ous toughness

and strength '#elonging to Siva( 1 0hich in the palace. All the reno0ned heroes andstal0art 0arriors of those days ca&e and 0ent a0ay disappointed! asha&ed and

0ondering at their ina#ility even to lift up the &ighty #o0. It 0as left to Ra&a

/handra to achieve triu&phant success. He succeeded not only in #ending it! #ut

in #reaking it into t0o frag&ents. The hand of the lovely Sita 0as accordingly

a0arded to hi&! she proved herself to #e the e&#odi&ent of all that 0as pure!tender and loving. ean0hile! "asaratha! getting old and sick 0ith the cares of

royalty! 0as preparing for the installation of his eldest6#orn! Ra&a6chandra! to the

throne. At this &o&ent he 0as re&inded #y his second 0ife! )aikeyi! of his

pro&ise! given to her in consideration of his satisfaction 0ith her conduct on t0o

occasions! that he 0ould confer on her any t0o #oons she &ight ask 0henever she

should desire to do so< and 0as utterly astounded to her fro& her lips the

unreasona#le re7uests she no0 preferred at the instigation of a spiteful! hu&p6#acked &aid6servant of hers. The first 0as that Bharata! her son! should #e placed

on the throne instead of Ra&a 1 /handra< and the second that Ra&a6/handra

should #e e$iled to the forests for a period of fourteen years. Ra&a6/handra! 0ithrare high6&indedness and sense of ducty! accepted his position and #etook hi&self

':



to the 0ilderness in the gra# of a &endicant! acco&panied #y his faithful consort

Sita! and his #rother 8aksh&ana! #oth si&ilarly dressed< and through he earnestly

solicited the& to leave hi& alone in his e$ile! his o#9ections 0ere affectionately

#ut fir&ly overruled . Here they suffered &uch privations.

"uring their so9ourn in the forests! 8aksh&ana incurred the displeasure of Surpanakha! a sister of Ravana! #y scornfully re9ecting the Rakshasi>s proffered

love! and chastised her i&pudence #y cutting off her ears and nose. But 3hell hath

no fury like a 0o&an scorned.4 1 The outraged Surpanakha 0ent over to Ravana ina paro$ys& of rage and induced hi& to take so&e steps to avenge her. aricha!

one of the attendant of the &ighty &onster! 0as ordered to #etake hi&self to theforest of "andaka and to assu&e the for& of a golden deer. He did so. Sita!

char&ed 0ith the 0onderful #eauty of the ani&al! e$pressed a 0ish to #eco&e its

possessor. Ra&a pro&ptly 0ent in pursuit of the handso&e ani&al! and

8aksh&ana! like0ise! a short ti&e after! 0as induced to go in search of hi&!

deceived #y a cry for help! 0hich appeared apparently to proceed fro& Ra&a.Taking advantage of the a#sence of #oth the #rothers for& the her&itage! Ravana

approached it! disguised as a religious &endicant ! and ! pouncing upon the

startled Sita! carried her to his car ! and #ore her a0ay through space to his sea6

girt ho&e! /eylon 'lanka(. 8oud and #itter 0ere the la&entations of the #rothers

0hen they &issed Sita on their return to the hut! and hot and eager 0as the search0hich they &ade for her in the vast 0ilderness. They at last succeeded in finding

the track of the ravisher #y &eans of the orna&ents 0hich Sita had intentionallydropped to guide the& in their search. Thus they ca&e across Sugriva! )ing of the

&onkeys! and having entered in to a fir& alliance 0ith hi&! they directed their

steps to0ards the south. The stretch of 0ater 0hich separates India fro& /eylon!0as crossed #y Ra&a /handra>s invading ar&y ! #y &eans of a #ridge of stoned!

' the position of 0hich is no0 represented #y 3ada&>s Bridge!4( and 8anka 0as

#esieged. It 0ould occupy &uch &ore space than the scope of the present 0ork

0ould ad&it of! 0ere details given of &ighty struggle 0hich ended in the defeat

and death of Ravana. -or glo0ing and thrilling descriptions of the terri#le #attles

that took place! of the unparalleled herois& of the leaders of the opposing hosts!

of the privations and disappoint&ents to 0hich Ra&a /handra and his party 0ere!

fro& ti&e to ti&e! su#9ected ! of the faithful services rendered #y the staunch and

stal0art Hanu&ana! the &onkey6god! of the 0isdo& and stern rectitude of

Bi#hishana! 0ho ! through a #rother of Ravana! had the &oral courage to secedefro& his ca&p and 9oin the cause of virtue and 9ustice! the reader is refereed tothat 3Iliad of east!4 the Ra&ayana itself. It 0ould suffice for the purpose of this

0ork to &ention! that! perfor&ing prodigies of valour! Ravana 0as routed and

slain! and all the &e&#ers of his valiant fa&ily shared his fate. Sita 0as

recovered. But! #efore taking her to his heart! Ra&a /handra! to test that she still

retained her truth and purity! &ade her undergo the ordeal of fire. As e$pected!

she ca&e out of it triu&phant. The victorious Ra&a /handra no0 returned in po&p

and state to Ayodhya a ascended the throne left vacant #y the death of his father!

0ho had died of a #roken heart i&&ediately after the departure of Ra&a /handra

to the forests! Bharata having decidedly declined to #e disloyal to his royal #rother

'<



and to assu&e the reins of govern&ent. It 0as 0hispered a#out! ho0ever! and the

0hispers reached the ears of Ra&a /handra! that Sita had lost the cro0n of all

fe&ale virtues6chastity6#y re&aining so long in the po0er of Ravana. A poor 0asher

&an one day had a violent 7uarrel 0ith his 0ife on account of her &is#ehaviourand turned her out of the house! saying that he 0as no going! like Ra&a /handra!

to #e duped #y an i&pure 0ife. This the king happened to here! and he felt keenlythe scorn i&plied in these 0ords. To prevent such accusation against no less a

person than his #eloved 7ueen #eing #ruited a#out! and to stop forever the #reath

of scandal! he ordered his ever faithful #rother 8aksh&ana to take the unfortunate

Sita! 0ho 0as then going to #e a &other! to the forest and leave her there to take

care of herself. This painful and cruel sacrifice to the popular voice! 6 the o#9ect

#eing to identify royalty 0ith the feeling and 0ishes of the people! 6 0as

acco&plished. in due ti&e Sita gave #irth to t0ins ! 8ava and )usa ! 0ho 0ere

taken care of and educated in the Shastras #y the sage %al&iki! 0ith 0ho& the

helpless e$67ueen had taken refuge. The #oys had! on one occasion! retained

possession of the sacrificial horse of the Asva6&edha a9na 'a sacrificeconte&plated #y Ra&a /handra(! 0hich 0as! according to the rules for the

Sacrifice! let loose upon the 0orld. This act of theirs #rought a#out a violentcollision #et0een the& and the #rothers of Ra&a /handra! 0ho 0ere one #y one

defeated #y the& and put to death. Ra&a /handra! 0ho has at least co&e to the

rescue! 0as doo&ed to a si&ilar fate. The 0ater of i&&ortality having

su#se7uently #een poured upon the dead #y the sage %al&iki! they sprang #ack

into life. utual recognition follo0ed! and hitherto &isera#le 7ueen and the t0o

princes 0ere taken in triu&ph #ack to the capital. But the poor lady had no rest.

/ircu&stances occurred! and she 0as again called upon to prove her virtue.Harassed and 0eary of life! in the agony of her sufferings! she called on her

&other to appear and relieve her of her unfortunate e$istence. Her supplication

0as heard. The earth opened 0ide! and her innocence having #een &ade patent to

all! she dropped into her &others> ar& and 0as lost to vie0. The disconsolate king

0as deter&ined to 7uit a life 0hich had #eco&e henceforth #urthenso&e to hi&!#ut the god of "eath interposed! and re&inded hi& that his ti&e had not yet

co&e. When that ti&e arrived! Ra&a 0ent in great state to the river Sarayu! and0hile 0alking into it! 0as hailed #y heavenly voices of 0elco&e! and entered 3into

the glory of %ishnu.4

Ra&a Avatara has nu&erous 0orshippers all over India and particularly inOudh and Behar. He is held to #e the prototype of an undaunted hero and apopular sovereign! te&pering &ercy 0ith 9ustice! a terror to 0rong6doers! #ut

&eek as a la&# to the innocent and to those devoted to hi&! 6 a &odel of

&agnani&ity! purity of character! virtue! 0isdo&! si&plicity! and tender6

heartedness< in short! of all the attri#utes of a really good king and a 9ust &ortal.

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V((35%!% -)%ND5% %V%*%5% !75**(

#*ran+ation$

THE o#9ect of &y unceasing prayers is Ra&a /handra! the hue of 0hose #odyis like that of the dark cloud! 0ho kneels #eside his lovely consort Sita! 0ith a

cro0n on his head and adorned 0ith ar&lets and flashing 9e0els!6 the pal& of onehand pressed on his #oso& and the other on his left thing! casting affectionate

glances on her! as she Sita 0ith a lotus in her hand radiant 0ith the resplendent#eauty of the lighting M

6Tantra Sara

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V(((3 *)E /%%5%!% %V%*%5%

THE life of Balara&a is so closely associated 0ith that of )rishna! the

popular Hindu "eity! that it is necessary to narrate the particulars of the #irth of

#oth! in order to #ring out the history of the eight Avatara clearly #efore the

reader. )ansa! a cruel and po0erful de&on6king of Mathura! had a cousin na&ed

Devaki! 0ho 0as &arried to (asu)eva. )ansa having received a 0arning fro&a#ove! that the eighth child #orn of "evaki 0ould #e the cause of his death!

ordered her! together 0ith her hus#and! to #e put in irons and kept under her!together 0ith her hus#and! to #e put in irons and kept under strict guard. Si$

children #orn of the& 0ere one #y one put to death #y co&&and of the tyrant.The tyranny and oppression of the king having #eco&e a#solutely intolera#le to

the gods! they prayed to (ishnu for relief and aid. Where upon %ishnu took t0in

hairs ! one 0hite and other #lack! 0hich! at his 0ill !0ere transfor&ed into

Balara&a and )rishna! ' one fair and the other #lack ! according to the color of the

hair fro& 0hich each had sprung(!and ! as such! they 0ere placed one after the

other in the 0o&# of "evaki! 6 Balara&a! ho0ever 0as #y so&e &ysterious and

divine agency transferred fro& the 0o&# of "evaki to that of Rohini another 0ife

of %asudeva! 0ho 0as then residing at ,okula. This 0as done to preserve the life

of the child fro& the persecutions of the cruel king. )rishna 0as ! i&&ediately

after his #irth! secretly re&oved #y his father and left in charge of asoda! the0ife of *anda! a 0ell6to6do co06herd of ,okula! 0ho had 9ust then given #irth to a

daughter . While the guards 0ere 0rapped in &ysterious slu&#er! the ne06#orn#a#e of *anda 0as carried a0ay and su#stituted for the infant )rishna. *o one #ut

%asudeva and his 0ife kne0 of the su#stitution. The changeling 0as regarded as

the eight issue of "evaki! and 0as according to the orders of )ansa! taken to #e

slain. But the gods protected her! and she slipped out of the hands of the deputed

assassin and fle0 up to the skies! 0arning the tyrant ! #efore disappearing in the

heavens! that his slayer 0as gro0ing apace and flourishing at ,okula. )ansa>s eyes

0ere no0 opened! and he 0as satisfied that he had #een over6reached. In his fury

he gave orders for the &assacre of all the ne0ly 1#orn &ale children in his

kingdo&! and de&ons and &onsters 0ere sent out! in the shape of &en! 0o&en

and ani&als! to #ring a#out their death. Balara&a and )rishna! 0ho had #eentaken charge of #y *anda! and 0ere nurtured and #rought up at ,okula! and

su#se7uently at Brinda#ana ! gre0 up together and #eca&e inti&ate as #rothers.Balara&a 0as endued 0ith Herculean strength! and took a pro&inent part in &any

of the #oyish pranks and adventures of his co&rade )rishna. One of his earliest

e$ploits 0as the destruction of the great de&on "henuka! 0ho had! in the for& of

an ass! atte&pted to enco&pass his death. Another de&on! na&ed Prala&#a! 0ho

essayed to carry hi& off on his shoulders! 0as dashed to pieces #y the infant hero.

In one of his drunken fits!6 for he 0as kno0n to #e inordinately fond of into$icating

40



fish and tortoise Incarnations! the ne$t 3t0o4 to the #oar and an6lion

Incarnations! the third to the %a&ana or "0arf Incarnation! 3the three Ra&as4 to

Parasu6ra&a! Ra&a /handra and Balara&a! then ca&e Buddha the tender6hearted!

and last )alki the i&placa#le. Besides! the description of the eight Incarnation!given #y ayadeva in his cele#rated2 Ode to the Ten Avataras!4 Points! in clear and

un&istakea#le language! to Balara&a as the eight Avatara. It has #een stated that!0hile 8aksh&ana! the younger #rother of the seventh Avatara! 0as on the point of

death! having received a tre&endous shock fro& the Sakti6sela '0eapon( hurled at

his #y the &ighty Ravana(! Ra&a /handra! 0hose heart #led for the agonies of his

faithful #rother &ade a &ental vo0 that in his ne$t #irth! he 0ould allo0

8aksh&ana to #e #orn #efore hi& as his elder #rother. Balara&a is! according to

this legend! the 8aksh&ana of the "vapra uga. Others! ho0ever ! assert that he is

the Incarnation of the great Serpent Sesha! and that at the ti&e of his de&ise! a snake

issued fro& his &outh.

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V(((3/%%5%!% %V%*%5% !75**(3

#*5%NS%*(ON3$

ON hi&!6 0ho is radiant like &yriads of suns ! 0hose effulgence is like thatof the sno06clad Hi&alayas! 0ho head is fitly cro0ned 0ith a cro0n of serpents6

4'



their hoods upraised!6on 0hose ears flash ge&6set rings! 0ho is vested in char&ing

#lue! in 0hose four hands glea& the plough6share! the &ace! the conch and the

s0ord! 0ho is adorned 0ith necklace! ar&let! #racelet and ring! 6girt 0ith the

sacrificial ;one! 6 glea&ing 0ith celestial 9e0els! 60ith pleasant eyes ! s&iling #e0itchingly! as if gladdened #y a&#rosial 0ine and a&orous dalliance! his #lue

rai&ent slipping do0n fro& his handso&e for&! 6 on hi& should thou &editate andcentre thy thoughts M

6atra Prasarana

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(83

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"UDDHA! the son of Suddhodana and ahadevi 0as #orn at )aplilavastuN! the

capital of his fathers>s kingdo&! situated so&e0here at the foot of the &ountains

of *epaul. He 0as in his early days called Siddhartha! #ut 0as su#se7uently #etterkno0n as Sakya Singha! or the 8ion of the Sakya fa&ily! and also as ,outa&a! after

the clan to 0hich he #elonged! it is said that 1

3The /hildhood sho0s the &an!

As &orning sho0s the day.4

The infancy of Buddha furnished a very accurate forecast of the future characterand &ove&ents of the great religious refor&er. He 0as! unlike the children of hisage! al0ays averse to play! #ut loved! 0henever he could find opportunity of #eingalone! to fre7uent the forests and lose hi&self in &editations. His father sought to

prevent hi& #eco&ing a drea&er! #y &arrying hi& to the #eautiful andacco&plished +"pa! the daughter of Dan)apani. But this &ade no difference in hislife. 3*othing is sta#le in earth!4 he used to say 3nothing is real. 8ife is like thespark produced #y the friotion of 0ood. It is lighted and is e$tinguished6 0e kno0not 0hence it ca&e or 0hither it goes. It is like the sound of a lyre! and the 0ise&an asks in vain fro& 0hence it ca&e and 0hither it goes! there &ust #e so&esupre&e intelligence 0here 0e could find rest. If I attained it! I could #ring lightto &an< if I 0ere free &yself! I could deliver the 0orld.4 All sorts of 0orldlya&use&ents 0ere tried to divert his &ind fro& philosophy and pole&ics! #ut invain. While once out on a drive ! he ca&e upon a &an sinking under the influence

of e$tre&e old age< on another occasion! he &et one groaning 0ith illness< on athird occasion! he sa0 a religious devotee going a#out for al&s. +"utama 0as anacute o#server as 0ell as a profound thinker! and the sight of these threeindividuals #rought ho&e to hi& the foolishness of #oasting of the riches of youth!0hich 0ere destined to #eco&e the prey of old age! the a#surdity of relying upona#undant health! as it co&es and vanishes like the phanto&s of a drea&! and thenecessity of leading the religious and hu&#le life of recluse! renouncing all thepleasures and desires of the 0orld 0ith its endless trou#les and tur&oils. Such andlike cogitations 0orked so strongly upon his already over60rought &ind! that onenight hr stole out of the house on horse6#ack ! and ! attended only #y a singlefollo0er! left his father and 0ife! eluding the vigilance of the guards 0ho had #een

keeping 0atch over hi&. At da0n of day! he &ade over his horse and his orna&entsto the servant! and #ade hi& return to the capital. According to the author of the8alita6%istara! 'a 0ork on the life and doctrines of Buddha(! 3a &onu&ent is still to#e seen on the spot 0here the coach&an turned #ack.4 Its situation lies a#out G&iles S fro& +"ruckpur . Buddha first 0ent to (aisali N 0here! under thetutelage of a cele#rated Brah&in! he learned all that the sage could teach hi&!#ut his disappoint&ent 0as great 0hen he failed to o#tain a satisfactory solutionof the great pro#le& of salvation. He tried another Pundit at 'a&agriha ! thecapitol of agadha ' Behar(! #ut the result 0as e7ually fruitless. He ne$t #etookhi&self to a solitary village called %ruvilva! 0here in con9unction 0ith five of hisfello06students! he! for a period of si$ years! practised austerities. At the

e$piration of this period! his #rother students a#andoned hi& as a heretic! inconse7uence of his holding that asceticis& 0as a huge stu&#ling6#lock in the 0ay

4<



of truth. After a long series of &editations! in the course of 0hich he 0as favoured0ith divers visions! he arrived at 3that true kno0ledge 0hich discloses the causes!and there#y destroys the fear! of all the changes inherent in life.4 It 0as ! at this&o&ent ! that he clai&ed the title of Buddha! or the nlightened ! and! allo0ingco&passion for suffering hu&anity to get the #etter of an intention to keep his

kno0ledge a sealed #ook to the 0orld! he #eca&e the founder of a ne0 sect!0hich ! even to this day! nu&#ers a&ong its adherents a#out @!GGG!GGG hu&an#eings. He is said to have visited Benares! the stronghold of Brah&inis&. The firstthing he did there! 0as to seek out! and! #y dint of argu&ent and sound logic!&ake his for&er five fello06students! 0ho a#andoned hi& for his heresy!ackno0ledge the truth of his doctrine. -ro& 0hat can #e collected fro& strayaccounts left of this great &an! it appears that he 0as once invited #y kingBi&#isara to his capital Ra9agriha! and 0as there presented 0ith the onastery of )alantaka. Here he delivered so&e of his &ost i&portant discourses. While in thisplace! he 0as 9oined #y three of his 0ell kno0n follo0ers! Sariputra )atyayna! andaudgalyayana. He lived in peace and en9oyed for a long ti&e the friendship of thegood king! till the prince! his son! assassinated hi&. The ne$t place Buddha iskno0n to have settled in! 0as Sravasti N! 'north of ,anges(! the capital of )osalaNNthe king of 0hich place! Prasen9it! #eca&e a convert to his faith. On the occasionof his visit to his father at )apilavastu! after a separation of t0elve years! he issaid to have perfor&ed several &iracles and converted all the Sakyas to hisdoctrines. His 0ife and aunt 0ere the first fe&ale converted to Buddhis& in India.At the age of DG! Buddha repeated his visit to Ra9agriha ! the capital of A9ata6satru' the parricide! and conse7uently the ene&y of Buddha( ! and &ade hi& hisfollo0er! after 0ringing out of hi& a pu#lic confession of his cri&es! He also re6visited %aisali. After leaving it! he advanced to0ards the city of )usi6nagara! NNN

and there he first felt the gradual decrease of vitality in hi&. While halting undera Sal tree in the forest! he #reathed his last! or! in the language of Buddhis&!entered in to *irvana 'final Beatitude(.

According to the doctrines of Busshis& ! the various trans&igrations!through 0hich the sul is destined to pass! are not caused #y the creator or theRuler of the 5niverse. The po0er that controls the 0orld is e$pressed #y the 0ordKarmma! literally! action 10hich &ay #e good or #ad! or #oth. The Buddhisticreligion inculcates &orality! and #enevolence is its chief characteristic.

The #irth of Buddha appears to have occurred in the D th and his death in the

Cth century #efore /hrist 'C=: 1 @? B./( several religious refor&ers! #orn in afterages! and follo0ing the doctrines of Buddha are no0 kno0n #y the na&e of theirgreat prototype.

According to the Pauranic legends! the apparent o#9ect of thisIncardination! 'for it &ust #e re&e&#ered that this religious refor&er is there inregarded as nothing less than an Avatara!( 0as to a#olish the sanguinary sacrificesprescri#ed in the %edas. But the real o#9ect 0as to &ake the de&ons and 0icked&en court their o0n destruction! 0hich 0ould #e the inevita#le result of theirconte&pt of %edas! the re9ection #y the& of caste! and the denial of the e$istenceand po0er of the gods.

4=



It is &entioned in Puranas that the de&ons had asked Indra as to the #est&eans #y 0hich they &ight Khave do&inion over the 0orld>! and 0ere directed #yhi&! to #etake the&selves to sacrifices! purifications! and piety! in order that theira&#ition &ight #e cro0ned 0ith success. While they 0ere preparing for a sole&nsacrifice and general purification! %ishnu ! at the earnest entreaty of the deities !

ca&e to the& in the gar# of a sannyasi! na&ed Buddha4 0ith his hair #raided in aknot on the cro0n of his head ! 0rapt in a s7ualid &antle ! and 0ith a #roo& in hishand.4 Being 7uestioned #y the de&ons! as to the uncleanliness of his clothing andthe singularity of the i&ple&ent he carried 0ith hi&! Buddha re&arked that 3it0as cruel! and conse7uently i&pious! to deprive any creature of life<4 that! inspite of 0hat &ight have #een dictated #y the %edas! every sacrifice of an ani&al0as an a#o&ination! and that purification 0as 0ickedness< for 0ere not thousandsof s&all insects and unseen ani&al life destroyed in the act of #athing or 0ashingclothesL He accounted for the untidiness if his appearance #y &entioning hisaversion to a#lutions! and stated that the o#9ect of his carrying a #roo&stick 0ithhi& 0as to s0eep the ground #efore hi& 0hen 0alking ! so that he &ight not treadon so&e poor har&less reptile. He declai&ed against the inhu&anity of sacrificingani&als for religious purposes 0ith so &uch reason and heart6stirring elo7uence!that the de&ons #urst into tears! and! 0ith one voice! gave up their pro9ect of perfor&ing the sacrifice and the purification cere&onies! and 0ith those! all hopesof do&ineering over heaven and earth.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞* %aishali is cele#rated as a chief seat of the early la#ours of ,outa&a! and

is con9ectured #y so&e to #e Prayaga or Allaha#ad< #ut according to theRa&ayanas! its site is &uch lo0er do0n on the north #ank of the ,anges. ,eneral/unningha& places it a#out =D &iles north of Patna and Identifies it 0ith the

village of Besarh ! including the old ruined fort kno0n as Ra9a %isal6ka6garh< or thefort of Ra9a %isala! the reputed founder of ancient %aisali.

*Sravasti! on the Rapti! 0as the capital of 5ttara )osala or Oudh! to thenorth of ,hagrn! it is identifies #y so&e 0ith -ai;a#ad.

** 3On Saraya>s #ank of a&ple si;e!The happy real& of )osala lies46 ,riffiths

3A country on the Saraya River! having Ayodhya for its capital. The na&e isvariously applied to other countries in the east! and in the south! and in the

%indhya ountains. It pro#a#ly 0idened 0ith the do&inions of its rulers! and partof Birar is called "akshina6)osala! the southern )osala.4

*** Situated e$actly ? &iles to the east of ,oruckpur. Wilson identifies the place0ith the ruins of )asia . According to #uddhistic accounts! the death of Buddhatool place here! in the full &oon of %aisakh ! @? B/.

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#*ran+ation3$

TO Buddha! 0hose face #ea&s 0ith tran7uil serenity 0hose co&passionateheart is al0ays to the destruction of ani&al life! fro& 0hose head hang do0n

&atted locks! 0ho is clad in yello0 rai&ents ! 6 to Buddha! Prince a&ong devotees!6 I offer &y prayers.

6)asi )handa.

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83 *)E @ %@( %V%*%5%3

IT has #een already stated that the duration of the present #Kali$ Yuga is

@?=!GGG years! of 0hich @!FDF years have #een gone through. At the e$piration of

the re&aining period! the )alki Avatara 0ill appear as a sign of the dissolution of

the &undane syste&. A ne0 0orld 0ill then spring up! Phoeni$6like! out of the

ashes of the for&er! and ne Satya Yuga 0ill #e ushered in.

3On the approach of )alki4 says .Sonnerat! in his voyages! 3the sun and

&oon shall #e darkened! the earth tre&#le! and the stars fall fro& the fir&a&ent<

that then the serpent Ananta! ' or infinity! on 0hich %ishnu reposes!( fro& his

thousand &ouths! shall vo&it forth fla&es 0hich shall consu&e the spheres and allliving creatures.4

The )ali uga co&&encing fro& the date of %ishnu>s return to heaven !

after the eight Incarnation! is the period ! 0hich according to the Bha#ishya

Purana! ' 0hich treats of future occurrences!( 0ill #e characteri;ed #y the

prevalence of viciousness and i&&orality ! and #y the general decline of everything good. The %edas and the other sacred 0ritings 0ill #e disregarded<

Brah&ins or the sacred castes 0ill have no respect and precedence in society< theac7uisition of 0ealth 0ill &ore closely occupy the attention of &ankind than that

of virtue< the desire for the gratification of selfish pleasures 0ill #e para&ount inthe hu&an &ind< the 0hole 0orld appear to #e hopelessly drifting to0ards 0reck

and ruin. The advent of the )alki Avatara 0ill #e at such a ti&e! and he 0ill

succeed in rooting out ini7uity fro& the earth and re6esta#lishing the reign of

righteousness and peace.

A detailed account of the )alki Avatara is su#9oined! as it &ight not #e

kno0n to so&e of the readers< the history is given as a legend. It should #e

re&e&#ered ho0ever! that the events narrated therein are yet to co&e.

Being a#le no longer to #ear the #urden of ini7uity that prevailed a&ongst

the inha#itants of this glo#e in the )aliuga! other arth ! acco&panied #y thedeities ! and headed #y Brah&a 0ent up to the Paradise of %ishnu and &ade kno0n

to the preserver the sins of )ali. The prayerful solicitation of the gods found a

favoura#le hearing! and %ishnu pro&ised the& speedy relief. He inti&ated his

intention of taking hu&an #irth! in the city of Sa&#hala! as the son of %ishnuyasa

and of Su&ati his 0ife. It 0as further arranged that 8aksh&i ! the consort of

%ishnu! should #e #orn as Pad&a! the daughter of Brihadratha! king of /eylon! #y

his 0ife )au&udi! and 9oin hi& on earth as his 0ife< and that the gods should

like0ise take hu&an for&s to help %ishnu in the destruction of the 0icked and in

the regeneration of the 0orld . )alki 0as accordingly ! #orn in the city of Sa&#hala

'I( on the :=th

ay #efore the full6&oon in the &onth of Baisakh! corresponding 0iththe latter portion of April and the #eginning of ay . At the re7uest of Brah&a the

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infant 0as o#liged to #e content 0ith t0o ar&s instead of the four 0hich he had at

his #irth. His parents 0ho sa0 this change! through that they &ust have #een

deceived #y an optical delusion. Parasu6Ra&a! )ripacharyya! %yasa! and other

i&&ortals ca&e to see the #oy6god int he guise of &endicants! and #y the& theinfant 0as na&ed )alki! or the destroyer of )alki 'sin(. In due ti&e he 0as invested

0ith the sacred thread and put in charge of Parasu6ra&a! 0ho undertook to trainhi& up in all the arts and sciences. He su#se7uently learnt the use of ar&s fro&

ahadeva! 0ho! in appreciation of his talents! presented hi& 0ith a s0ord of

terri#le po0er! a horse capa#le of carrying hi& any0here at his 0ill! and a

0onderful parrot 'suka( gisted 0ith every kno0ledge. After his &arriage 0ith

pad&a! the daughter of the king of /eylon! )alki set out to con7uer 0ith a large

ar&y. He first attacked )ikata '=( the land of the Buddhas and sle0 their &ighty

king ina '?(! together 0ith all his friends and follo0ers. On the defeat and death

of ina! the lechchhas '@( 0ho ca&e to oppose hi&! &et 0ith si&ilar fate. The

0o&en of lechchhas ne$t ca&e out! ar&ed for #attle! #ut considering 0o&en to

#e un0orthy of his steel. )alki paralysed their ar&s #y his Mantras! and the0eapons re&ained in their hands fi$ed and i&&ova#le. The a&a;ons 0ere

convinced of the divine nature of the 0arrior they 0ere opposed to and could notrefrain fro& oining 0ith one voice in prayer and praise of the hero. After0ards

kakli sle0 a terri#le she6&onster na&ed )uthodari ! and destroyed the #ar#arian

races kno0n as the Sakas ' ( ! )a&#o9a'C( and Sa#aras 'D( . He had then a

conflict 0ith Sasidh#a9a! the king of Bhallata! a staunch follo0er of %ishnu. In

spite of the 0arning of his pious 0ife Susanta '0ho 0as a0are of )alki>s divine

nature( Sasidhva9a ca&e forth #oldly to #attle. A single lucky #lo0 0ith his heavy

0ar 1clu# rendered the hero6god insensi#le! and in this state he 0as #rought to hisvictor>s ho&e. When he recovered hissence! his 0rath 0as propitiated #y the

hu&#le attitude and earnest prayers of Sasidhva9a and the #esto0al of the hand of

his daughter Ra&a. The ne$t achieve&ent of )alki 0as the restoration to her

celestial ho&e of Sulochana! 'the 0ife of the ,andharva! /hitraratha! 0ho had

#een residing under a curse! in the city of )anchani in the infernal Regions! andthe installation of aha&ati on the throne of that kingdo&.

He also placed Suryyaketu on the throne of Ayodhya 'oudh(! and "e#api on that

Barana#ata 'I( and then returned to Sa&#hala ! his #irth6place. He distri#uted the

kingdo&s of Sau&#ha! Paundra!'II( Pulinda! 'III( Surashtra 'I%( and agadha! '%(

a&ongst his #rothers! those of )ikata! /entral /arnat! '%I( Andhra! '%II( Odra! 'II()alinga! 'I( Anga '( and Banga! 'I( a&ong his relatives< ceded )ankaka 'II( and)alapaka 'III( to his kins&an Bisakha6yupa< and placed /hola! 'I%( Bar##ara '%(

and )ar##a! under his sons. Peace and tran7uillity 0as no0 restored in earth! and

vice and i&purity having #een rooted out! virtue and piety resu&ed their reign.

The Satya Yuga! 'era of truth( no0 set in! and the ti&e arrived 0hen there

appeared no longer any necessity for the presence of the Avatara upon this earth.

At the re7uest of the gods! he 0ent up the Hi&alayas! 0here! on the #anks of a

sacred river! in the presence of holy sages! he gave up his hu&an for&! and!

resu&ing his divinity! ascended to his throne in Paradise.

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The Incarnation is represented #y so&e as #earing in one hand! 3a ci&eter

#la;ing like a co&et!4 to signify the destruction of the i&pure! and in the other a

ring! e&#le&atical of the revolution of the cycles. He is also descri#ed #y other

authorities as leading a richly caparisoned 0inged 0hile horse! typical of therapidity of the fight of ti&e. The horse is portrayed as standing on the ethereal

regions 0ith three feet! holding the off for leg up in the air! ready to sta&p uponthe earth! 0hen the appointed ti&e should co&e for the dissolution of nature

'%I(.

The descriptions of the destroying Angle and of the White Horse in the

Apocalypse #ear so&e rese&#lance to those of the )alki Avatara.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞:. A city situated in the panchala division of ancient India! the country north and

0est of "elhi! #et0een the foot of the Hi&alaya and the /ha&#al< identified #yso&e 0ith su&#ulpur.

=. A country inha#ited #y people 0ho 0ere not Aryans< it is identified 0ith

agadha or south Behar. The )ikatas are a tre#le of a#origines 0ho lived to theeast of Saras0ati!4 they dre0 no &ilk to &i$ 0ith the so&a! and #y the& the

sacrificial kettle 0as never heated.4

?. Pro#a#ly the founder of the 9ain religion 0hich is an off shoot or after 1gro0th

of Buddhis&.

@. According to the %ishnu ParanJ! various )ahsttriya races 0ere degraded #y kingSagara! #y #eing deprived of esta#lished usages and the study of the %edas. Thus

separated fro& religious rites! and a#andoned #y the Brah&ins! these different

tri#es #eca&e lechchhas. According to the &odern signification of the ter&! they&ean foreigners! #ar#arians! 6 people not of Aryan race.

. According to Wilson! 3these people! the Sakai and Sacae of classical 0riters! the

Indo Soythians of Ptole&y! e$tended! a#out the co&&ence&ent of our era! along

the 0est of India! fro& the Hindu )oh to the &onths of the Indus.4 They 0erepro#a#ly Tuck and Tartar tri#es! and 0ere a&ong those recorded as con7uered #y

Sagara! 0ho co&pelled the& to shave the upper half of their heads. )ing%ikra&aditya 0as called Sakari!6 K the foe of the Sakas 1 pro#a#ly ! on account of

his having encountered and kept #ack these people.

C. A race of &en al0ays associated 0ith the tri#es living in the north60est! and

fa&ous for their horses! of 0hich they 0ere said to possess a fine #reed. They0ere also a&ong the tri#es con7uered #y Sagara.

D. A hilly tri#e for&erly seen in the &ountainous regions of 0estern India.

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I. odern Allaha#ad! it is said to have #een cele#rated for gold and 9e0els.

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II. A fa#ulous city #et0een the Hi&avat and He&aketu &ountains. According to

so&e! it is a country corresponding 3to Bengal Proper! 0ith of South Behar

and the 9ungle &ehals.4 According to /unningha&! Pauudra %arddhana os

represented #y Pu#na.III. Pro#a#ly the ado#e of #ar#arous tri#es 'pulindas(! 0ho live in 0oods and

&ountains! especially in /entral India. There 0ere so&e! 0ho! according tothe %ishnu ParanJ! lived in the deserts along the Indus.

I%. Surat! the people of 0hich 0ere the Surastrene of Ptole&y.%. The country of South Behar! 0here the Pali language 0as spoken.

%I. The country 0here the /anarese language is spoken! in the central of thePeninsula! including ysore! the na&e 3carnation4 is derived fro& this.

%II. The ancient na&e of Tellingana 1 the country of the Telugus.%III. Orissa.I. The country along the /oro&andel /oast! north of adras! the /alingae

pro$i&i &ari of Pliny.

. The country of Bengal Proper a#out Bhagulpur.I. Bengal! #ut not as it is no0 kno0n! for&erly it &eant the disctricts north of

the Bhagirathi 1 essore! )rishnagar! Q c.II. Pro#a#ly /oncan.III. Perhaps! )alapa ! the fa#ulous village 0here aru! ' a descendant of )usa(!

lived for a long ti&e! in order that he &ight! #y strength of devotion ! #e

a#le to #e the restorer of the )shattriya race in the solar dynasty.I%. Pro#a#ly! the lo0er part of the /oro&andel /oast 'a#out Tan9ore(! for&erly

called /hola&andala.%. The country of the Bar##aras. 3The anslogy to K#ar#arians.> 3Says Wilson!

3is not in sound only! #ut! in all the authorities! these are classed 0ith#orderers and foreigners and nations not Hindu.4

It 0ill #e o#served that #oth the representations of )alki as given a#ove do notagree e$actly 0ith the dra0ing given in this 0ork! 0hich is #ased on the )alkiPurana.

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#*ran+ation$

ay the king )alki! the hue of 0hose #ody is #lue like that of the rain6

charged cloud! 0ho rides on a horse s0ift as the 0ind! 0ho holds a s0ord in one of

his hands! 0ho is the cherisher of the people! the destroyer of the strength of the

race of )ali! the source of the true religion!6&ay he #ring do0n #lessing upon you

allM

6)alki Purana.

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83@ %@( %V%*%5% !75**(3

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*)E *EN %V%*%5%S #G5O7P$

IN the 0hole range of Hindu &ythological lore! there can hardly #e found#eing 0ho have #een kno0n to e$cel! in pro0ess! piety! love of virtue and hatred

of vice! the Avataras descri#ed in the foregoing pages! 0hose &ission 0as to rid

the earth of &onsters! de&ons and things of ini7uity! and to inaugurate a #etter

govern&ent and peace upon earth. Their achieve&ents are the&es of poe&s and

epics! songs and #allads. ayadeva! * one of the earliest and s0eetest lyric poets

of Bengal! 0hose nu&#ers flo0 as s&oothly and &elodiously as the rivulets of his

native land ! thus signs of the hero6gods in his Ode to the Ten Incarnations26

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*+A,ADEVA) the son of Bho9adeva and his 0ife Ba&a "evi! 0as #orn of a high

Brah&in fa&ily! in the village of )enduli! in the district of Beer#hoo&! Bengal.

-ro& an early age he #eca&e a staunch follo0er of %ishnu! and su#se7uently the

leader of a religious sect. He 0as &arried to Pad&avati. His Sanskrit 0ork entitled

the 3,ita6,ovinda4 in 0hich he descri#es the loves of Radha and )rishna is a

&arvel of s0eetness and gorgeons i&agery. He is kno0n to have #een one of the

five literary 3ge&s4 of the court of 8aksh&ana Sen! )ing of Bengal! and fro& thisfact it is ascertained that he flourished in the := th /entury A/. The follo0ing

pleasant and curious story is connected 0ith his life. "escri#ing the love6uarrels

#et0een Radha and )rishna! he put on one occasion the follo0ing 0ords of supplication to the offended Radha into the &outh of the guilty )rishna2 6 3As as

orna&ent for &y head! and an antidote to eh love6god>s poisonous darts!4 and he

0as going to co&plete the sentence! #y adding! 3place your generous feet on &y

head!4 0hen the i&propriety of using such an e$pression 0ith reference to his

adored deity occurred to hi&. He therefore left the latter part of the sentence

#lank! and 0ent to the river to perfor& his a#lutions. In the &eanti&e! )rishna!

fro& 0ho& nothing could #e hidden! seeing the fi$ in 0hich the poet 0as placed!

assu&ed the shape of ayadeva and entered his d0elling as having returned fro&

the #ath. The virtuous Pad&avati could not of course! recogni;e the deity in his

disguise! and )rishna! after partaking of the &eal prepared #y her! asked her for&anuscript 0hich has #een left unfinished. Pad&avati unsuspectingly #rought it tohi&. He took it and 7uietly filled up the #lank #y inserting the 0ords! 3place your

generous feet on &y head.4 When the poet returned fro& the river! he 0asastonished to find his 0ife finishing her &eals #efore hi&! contrary to the usual

practice of native ladies. On asking for and receiving his 0ife>s e$planation! the

conviction flashed across his &ind that it 0as )rishna hi&self 0ho had sanctified

his residence 0ith his divine presence! and had put in the sentence 0hich he 0as

hesitating to 0rite do0n. Hence the 0ritings of ayadeva! 0hich are intrinsically

s0eet! and his stainless life have #een invested 0ith a &ystical halo and sanctity

0hich can rarely #e found in this life and 0ritings of any his conte&poraries.

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*5%NS%*(ON∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

:. Thou recoverest the %eda in the 0ater of the ocean of destruction ! placing it

9oyfully in the #oso& of an ark fa#ricated #y thee O )esava! assu&ing the #odyof a fish < #e victorious ! O Heri ! lord of the universe M

=. The earth stands fir& on thy i&&ensely #road #ack! 0hich gro0s larger fro&

the callus occasioned #y #earing that vast #urden! O kesava! assu&ing the #ody

of a To$toise < Be victorious ! O Heri! 8ord of the 5niverse M

?. The earth ! placed on the point of thy tusk! re&ains fi$ed like the figure of a#lack antelope on the &oon! O )esava! assu&ing the for& of a Boar< Be

%ictorious ! O Heri! 8ord of the 5niverse M

@. The cla0 0ith a stupendous point on the e$7uisite lotus of thy lion>s pa0 ! is

the #lack #ee! that stung the #ody of the e&#o0elled Hiranya6/asipu! O

)esava! Assu&ing the for& of a an68ion 2 Be victorious ! O Heri ! 8ord of the

5niverse M

. By thy po0er thou #eguiles Bali! O thou &iraculous "0arf ! thou purifier of &en

0ith the 0ater ' of ,anga( springing fro& thy feet! O )esava! assu&ing the

for& of a "0arf 2 Be victorious ! O Heri ! 8ord of the 5niverse M

C. Thou #athest in pure 0ater! consisting of the #lood of )shatriyas! the 0orld !

0hose offences are re&oved! and 0ho are relived fro& the pain of other #irths!O )esava ! Assu&ing the for& of Parasu6Ra&a2 Be victorious ! O Heri ! 8ord of

the 5niverse M

D. With case to thyself ! 0ith delight to the )enii of the right regions! thou

scatterest on all sides in the plain of co&#at the de&on 0ith ten heads! O

)esava! assu&ing the for& of Ra&a6/handra 2 Be victorious ! O Heri ! 8ord of

the 5niverse M

E. Thou 0earest on thy #right #ody a &antle shining like a #lue cloud! or like the

0ater of a&una tripping to0ards thee through fear of thy furro0ingploughshare ! O )esava! assu&ing the for& of Balara&a 2 Be victorious ! O

Heri ! 8ord of the 5niverse M

F. Thou #la&est 'Oh! WonderfulM( the 0hole %eda! 0hen thou seest! O )ind6Hearted! the slaughter of cattle prescri#ed for sacrifice! O )esava! assu&ing

the #ody of Buddha2 Be victorious! O Heri! 8ord of the 5niverseM

:G.-or the destruction of all the i&pure! thou dra0est thy ci&eter like a #la;ing

co&et! 'ho0 tre&endousM( O )esava! assu&ing the #ody of )alki 2 Be victorious!

O Heri ! 8ord of the 5niverse M

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*)E *EN %V%*%5%S #G5O7P$

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) 6!N *O V(S)N73

# *ran+ation$O THO5 that held>st the #lessed %eda dry When all things else #eneath the floods 0ere hurled<Strong -ish6,odM Ark of enM aiM Hari! aiM Hail! )eshav! HailM Thou aster of the WorldM

The round 0orld rested on thy spacious nape<5pon thy neck! like a &ere &ole! it stood<

O thou that took>st for us the Tortoise6shape!Hali! )eshav! HailM Ruler of 0ave and 0oodM

The 0orld upon thy curving tusk sate sure! 8ike the oon>s dark disc in her crescent pale<O thou 0ho didst for us assu&e the Boar! I&&ortal /on7uerorM Hail! )eshav! HailM

When thou thy ,iant6-oe didst sei;e and rend!-ierce! fearful! long and sharp 0ere fang and nail!

Thou! 0ho the 8ion and the an didst #lend!8ord of the 5niverseM Hail! *arsingh! HailM

Wonderful "0arfM 6Who 0ith a threefold stride/heated )ing Bali 1 Where thy footsteps fall

en>s sins! O Wa&unaM are set aside.O )eshav! HailM Thou Help and Hope of allM

The sins of this sad earth thou didst assoil!The anguish of its creatures thou didst heal<

-reed are 0e fro& all terrors #y thy toil2Hail! Purshura&! hailM 8ord of the #iting steelM

To thee the fell Ten6Headed yielded life!Thou in dread #attle laid>st the &onster lo0M

Ah! Ra&aM dear to ,ods and &en that strife<We praise thee ! aster of the &atchless #o0M

With clouds for gar&ents glorious thou dost fare!%eiling thy da;;ling &a9esty and &ight!

As 0hen a&una sa0 thee 0ith the share!A peasant 1 et the )ing of "ay and *ight

erciful 1 heartedM 0hen thou ca&est as Boodh 1

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Al#eit Kt0as 0ritten in the Scriptures so6Thou #ad>st our altars #e no &ore i&#ruedWith #lood of victi&s2 )eshavM #ending lo0.

We praise thee! Wielder of the s0eeping s0ord!

Brilliant as curving co&ets in the gloo&!Whose keen edge s&ote the fierce #ar#arian horde<

Hail to thee! )eshavM Hail! and hear! and co&e!

And fill this song of ayadev 0ith thee!And &ake it 0ise to teach! strong to redee&!

And s0eet to living souls! Thou &ysteryMThou light of 8ifeM Thou "a0n #eyond the drea&M

-ishM that didst outs0i& the flood<TortoiseM 0hereon earth hath stood<BoarM 0ho 0ith thy tusk held>st high<The 0orld! that &ortals &ight not die<8ionM 0ho hast giants torn<"0arfM 0ho laugh>dst a king to scorn<Sole Su#duer of the "readedMSlayer of the &any 1headedMighty Plough&anM Teacher tenderMOf thine o0n the sure "efenderM5nder all thy ten disguisesndless praise to thee arises.

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The Ten Principal Avataras of the Hindus

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Transcript of The Ten Principal Avataras of the Hindus