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Essay name: Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas

Author: Kum. Geeta P. Kurandwad
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit

The essay studies the Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas by exploring the significance of the ten principal incarnations of Lord Vishnu as depicted in various ancient Indian texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas. The research also investigates the social, political, philosophical, and religious impact.

Chapter 4 - Significance of Vaishnava Myths

Page:

6 (of 234)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


Download the PDF file of the original publication


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148
The assuming forms of various Avatāras is a short of the Lord's
sportive activity. The forms which live with us and with whom we
establish personal contacts, are Viṣṇu's Līlāvatāras.¹7
The divine manifestation is two fold: a) Primary and b) Secondary.
The primary being called Svarūpāvatāra is that where the Lord
Himself is acting as in the form of Kṛṣṇa. Here the divine contact is
direct. The secondary called Aveśāvatāra, however, is that where
He acts through some individual soul as in the form of Paraśurāma.¹
Here, the divine contact is indirect, for such manifestation is of
a tutelary character, co-existing with and presiding over, some
particular souls.
Again the manifestation may be either Amsa (partial) or Pūrṇa
(complete). According to the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Sri Kṛṣṇa is an
instance of a complete manifestation, whereas his other forms are of
the partial one.
19 God is never incomplete. If so, what is meant by a partial
manifestation is, as the Sattvata-tantra reveals, that the Lord
17. भावयत्ये� सत्वेन लोकान् वै लोकभावनः �
लीलावतारानुरतो दव - तिर्यङ� - नरादिष� �
[bhāvayatyeṣa satvena lokān vai lokabhāvana� |
līlāvatārānurato dava - tirya� - narādiṣu ||
]
Bhāgavata Purāṇa: 1.2.34.
18. एतत्ते कथित� देवि जामदग्नेर्माहात्मन�
शक्त्यवेशावतारस्� चरित� शार्ङ्गिणः प्रभोः �
[etatte kathita� devi jāmadagnermāhātmana�
śaktyaveśāvatārasya carita� śārṅgiṇa� prabho� ||
]
Padma Purāṇa, VI.269. 79-80
19. एत� चांशकलाः पुंस� कृष्णस्त� भगवा� स्वयम् �
[ete cāṃśakalā� puṃsa� kṛṣṇastu bhagavāna svayam ||
]
Bhāgavata Purāṇa, I.3.28

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