Are there different ways of counting the Avatars?
The book I'm reading which says Rama is the Eighth is called "The Book of Ram" which is a translation of some parts of Tulsidas' Ramayana.
2006-10-31 07:47:21 · 5 answers · asked by Heron By The Sea 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Rama was always 7th incarnation. The book you are reading must be wrong.
However, people tried to include Buddha as 9th avatar of Vishnu in middle ages - by replacing Balarama. A lot of people followed Buddha, so the orthodox Hindus added Buddha as one of the avatars of Vishnu. Most of the temples doesn't show Buddha as one of the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Original Version:
The ten avataras are Matsyavatara (fish), Koorma (tortoise), Varaaha (boar), Narasimha (the man lion), Vaamana (the dwarf), Parasurama (the angry man), Rama (the perfect human), Balarama and Krishna (the divine statesman). The 10th avatar which is yet to appear is Kalki.
Popular Version:
http://www.sanatansociety.org/hindu_gods_and_goddesses/vishnu.htm
2006-10-31 07:52:18 · answer #1 · answered by enlight100 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
People generally have Idea of 10 main incarnations of Lord from the "Dasavatara Stotra" prayers of Jayadeva Goswami. But it is not stated there, that God has only 10 avataras.
Infact in Srimad Bhagavatam, there is mention of many other incarnations of God apart from the 10 like Narayana, Vishnu, Sankarshana etc. Also these incarnation and many others, keep appearing in every cycle of Creation and Destruction of this material world as Krishna promises in Bhagavad Gita.
In that prayer, Jayadeva Goswami specially prays to these 10 incarnations in the following order..
1. Mina Avatara
2. Kurma Avatara
3. Sukara Avatar
4. Nrisingha Avatar
5. Vamana Avatar
6. Parasurama Avatar
7. Ramachandra Avatar
8. Balarama Avatar
9. Buddha Avatar
10. Kalaki Avatar.
So there are 3 Rama's - Parasurama , Ramachandra and Balarama. All are mentioned as Rama. So please check if the mention of Rama in the book is as 8th Avatar, is actually referring to "Lord Balarama" rather than "Lord Ramachandra".
Krishna is not mentioned in this List. The Reason is mentioned in the Prayers. "Kesava Dhrita". Krishna also known as Kesava is the original source of All the incarnation. He is Avatari and not Avatar. So jayadeva goswami is actually praying the glories of Lord Krishna who has accepted all these forms.
Some people do not like to mention Buddha Avatara, Since Lord Buddha rejected the Vedic Literatures. But Vaisnava Acharyas like Jayadeva Goswami, accept Lord Buddha. Lord Chaitanya had explained that Lord Buddha rejected Vedas because People where misusing Vedas to promote animal killing in name of Religion.
2006-11-02 23:03:02 · answer #2 · answered by Parsu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shouldn't this question be in the mythology section with all of the other non-christian religious questions?
Just playing.
To tell the truth I have no clue. I haven't had much time to read lately.
2006-10-31 07:49:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
1. Translation error
2. Different author between the two text.
Either of these are possible.
2006-10-31 07:49:48 · answer #4 · answered by The Druid 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
fiction tends to get sloppy
2006-10-31 07:49:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋