Expansions of the Lord Gauranga Krishna

Posted by Bhakta Jan Mares at veda.harekrishna.cz

 

   1. Introduction

   2. Dashavataras

   3. Purusha-avataras

   4. Lila-avataras

   5. Guna-avataras

   6. Manvantara-avataras

   7. Yuga-avataras

   8. Shaktyavesha-avataras

   9. Recognizing the real Avatara

  10. Chart of All Expansions

 

1. Introduction

 

Lord Gauranga explained to Sanatana Gosvami that the expansions of Lord Krishna who come to the material creation are called avataras. The word 'avatara' means 'one who descends' (from Sanskrit avatarati) and in this case the word specifically refers to one who descends from the spiritual sky. In the spiritual sky there are innumerable Vaikuntha planets, and from these planets the expansions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead come into this universe.

 

Sometimes the word 'incarnation' (lit. 'one who entered flesh', ie. accepted a material body) is used but this word from the theological point of view does not refer to the Lord. Shrimad Bhagavatam 5.5.19 describes the body of the Lord as 'durvibhavya', materially inconceivable, since it may sometimes seem to be material or the Lord may manifest a material body for some purpose if it is required in the lila (like when He 'left His body' at the end of Dvaraka-lila). This type of body shouldn't be mistaken as a usual human body. Also, humans and other jivas cannot themselves manifest avataras (if they are endowed with specific potency, they are called saktyavesa-avataras though). Using this word for icons in internet forums, etc., is therefore incorrect. ;)

 

There are six kinds of incarnations: (1) the purusa-avataras, (2) the lila-avataras, (3) the guna-avataras, (4) the manvantara-avataras, (5) the yuga-avataras, and (6) the saktyavesa-avataras.

 

Lord Gauranga explains some of them to Sanatana Gosvami just to give him an idea of how the Lord expands and enjoys. These conclusions are also confirmed in Shrimad-Bhagavatam (1.3.26). There it is said that there is no limit to the incarnations of the Supreme Lord, just as there is no limit to the waves of the ocean.

 

2. Dashavataras

 

Q: Lord Buddha described as one of the Dasavataras and as a saktyavesa avatara. Which is correct? What kind of avatar is Lord Ramacandra?

 

A: Both are correct. The word "dasavatara" or "dasa-avatara" denotes not a category of avataras like yuga-, lila-, manvantara-, or other avataras but the most famous list of ten avataras (in Sanskrit "dasa" = "10"). This list is to be found e.g. in Garuda Purana 1.86.10-11 (or, according to other numbering, 2.30.37). There are other lists as well, like 25 avataras in Bhagavata Purana 1.3 but these ten are the most popular ones. They are often depicted by artists and celebrated by poets like Jayadeva Gosvami in his Dasavatara-stotra.

 

Saktyavesa-avataras is a category of avataras who are not visnu-tattva but jiva-tattva (jivas, or living beings, empowered for a special mission).

 

The system of avatara categories is quite complex and some avataras belong to more than one category. If you wish to delve into this technical topic, consult books like Chaitanya-charitamrita by Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, Laghu-bhagavatamrta by Rupa Gosvami, etc.

 

Dasavataras are practically all lila-avataras (some are more than that, like Krishna, who is avatari, the source of all avataras). Shri Rama is the famous lila-avatara, also listed among those 25 in Bhagavata Purana. His lila is described in the epic Ramayana.

 

3. Purusha Avataras and Their Expansions

 

Krishna first incarnates as the three purusa-avataras, namely the Maha-Vishnu or Karanodakasayi avatara, the Garbhodakasayi avatara and the Ksirodakasayi avatara. This is confirmed in the Satvata-tantra:

 

visnos tu trini rupani

purusakhyany atho viduh

ekam tu mahatah srastr

dvitiyam tv anda-samsthitam

trtiyam sarva-bhuta-stham

tani jnatva vimucyate

 

"For material creation, Lord Krishna's plenary expansion assumes three Vishnus. The first one, Maha Vishnu, creates the total material energy, known as mahat-tattva. The second, Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, enters into all the universes to create diversities in each of them. The third, Ksirodakasayi Vishnu, is diffused as the all-pervading Supersoul in all the universes and is known as Paramatma. He is present even within the atoms. Anyone who knows these three Vishnus can be liberated from material entanglement." (Satvata-tantra quoted in Bg. 7.4 purport)

 

Krishna is the original Personality of Godhead. His expansion is Balarama, who expands the original catur vyuha or quadruple expansions.

 

1) Vasudeva 2) Sankarsana 3) Pradyumna 4) Aniruddha

 

These original catur vyuha expansions reside in Mathura and Dvaraka. From them twenty four forms of Vishnu expand. They are named differently according to the arrangement of the conch, disc, lotus and club in Their hands. All of these twenty four forms reside in each Vaikuntha planet with the predominating Deity of that planet. From the original catur vyuha the second catur vyuha expands. In this second catur vyuha the form of Sankarsana is also called Maha Sankarsana. It is from Maha Sankarsana that Maha Vishnu becomes manifested.

 

KRISHNA OR GAURANGA

Original Personality of Godhead

|

BALARAMA OR NITYANANDA

First expansion

|

ORIGINAL CATUR VYUHA

Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha

|

SECOND CATUR VYUHA

Vasudeva, Sankarsana,¿ Pradyumna, Aniruddha

(each expand into three and³then another two expansions)

|

(Maha Sankarsana)

|

MAHA VISNU

 

1) MAHA VISNU lies on the Causal Ocean which appears in one corner of the spiritual world. He manifests the mahat tattva (or the sum total of material energy). It is into this mahat tattva that He exhales all of the seedlike universes through the pores of His skin. These seedlike universes then expand as the different material elements form coverings around them. Each of the coverings is ten times thicker than the previous covering and form a shell-like covering. When Maha Vishnu impregnates the living entities by His glance into the material nature it begins to manifest its various energies.

 

2) When the universes have thus developed in the womb of material nature, Maha Vishnu expands as GARBHODAKASAYI VISNU, Who enters into each universe with the living entities of that particular universe and thus activates each universe by His presence. He lies down on Ananta Sesa who lies on the Garbha ocean, which is the perspiration from the Lord's body and half fills the universe. From His navel comes a lotus bud which is the total form of the living entities' fruitive activity. The lotus grows dissipating the darkness of the universe. On top of the lotus Brahma, the first living being appears. Situated on the lotus, Brahma could not understand anything. He began entering the stem and climbed down to find its origin. Not finding anything, Brahma again returned to the top of the lotus where he heard the word ta-pa (austerity). Hearing the sound Brahma underwent penance for one thousand celestial years; (6x30x12x1000 earthly years). Being very pleased with Brahma's tapasya, the Lord manifested the Vaikuntha planets to him. Seeing Vaikuntha, Brahma became very happy and bowed to the Lord. Being very pleased with Brahma the Lord shakes his hand and reveals how to create the universe.

 

3) To maintain the universe Garbhodakasayi Vishnu expands as KSIRODAKASAYI VISNU, Who is the all-pervading Supersoul (Paramatma). By His entering into every atom He maintains the whole universe. His abode is Svetadvipa, an island in the ocean of milk.

 

Krishna's energies can also be divided into three: His energy of thinking feeling and acting. When He exhibits His thinking energy, He is the Supreme Lord; when He exhibits His feeling energy, He is Lord Vasudeva; when He exhibits His acting energy, He is Sankarsana Balarama. Without His thinking, feeling and acting, there would be no possibility of creation. Although there is no creation in the spiritual world - for there the planets are beginningless - there is creation in the material world. In either case, however, both the spiritual and material worlds are manifestations of the energy of acting, in which Krishna acts in the form of Sankarsana and Balarama.

 

References: SB 1.3.1-5, 2.9.4-9, 3.8.11-21, 10.46.31.

 

4. Lila Avataras (Pastime Avataras)

 

During Brahma's one day there are twenty-five Lila-avataras also known as Kalpa avataras because they appear in every Kalpa. Out of these, the incarnation of Hamsa and Mohini are not permanent, but Kapila, Dattatreya, Rsabha, Dhanvantari and Vyasa are five eternal forms, and they are more celebrated. The incarnations of the tortoise Kurma, the fish Matsya, Nara-narayana, Varaha, Hayasirsa, Prsnigarbha, and Balarama are considered to be vaibhava-avataras.

 

1) Catursana - The four Kumaras, sons of Lord Brahma

 

They appeared in the beginning of creation and are specifically empowered to distribute transcendental knowledge. They are empowered with the Lord's jnana-sakti and therefore they are also known as saktyavesa-avataras.

 

2) Narada Muni - The son of Lord Brahma

 

He is empowered with the Lord's bhakti-sakti and therefore he is also saktyavesa-avatara.

 

3) Varahadeva - Sukara or the Boar incarnation

 

The Boar incarnation appeared in two different millenniums. During the period of Svayambhuva Manu, the earthly planet remained submerged in the water of devastation, so the Lord appeared as a white boar and lifted the earth and set it properly. During the period of Caksusa Manu Lord Boar was red and He killed the demon Hiranyaksa.

 

4) Matsya - The Fish incarnation

 

He appeared to show special mercy to Satyavrata Muni. After the period of Caksusa Manu when there was a partial inundation, he also protected Satyavrata Muni (who later became Vaivasvata Manu) by keeping him safe on a boat.

 

5) Yajna - The son of Prajapati Ruci and Akuti

 

During the period of Svayambhuva Manu there was no qualified Indra. So the Lord appeared as Yajna and took that position.

 

6) Nara Narayana - The twin sons of King Dharma and Murti

 

They are partial expansions of Krishna and Arjuna. Nara and Narayana Rsis exhibited the Lord's renunciation.

 

7) Kapiladeva - The son of Kardama Muni and Devahuti

 

He explained the original (personal) Sankhya philosophy. Kapiladeva exhibited the Lord's transcendental knowledge.

 

8) Dattatreya - The son of Atri Muni and Anasuya

 

He is a combined incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Brahma and Siva. He spoke on the subject of transcendence to Alarka, Prahlada, Yadu, etc.

 

9) Hayasirsa - Lord Hayagriva

 

At the end of the millennium ignorance personified took the form of a demon, stole the Vedas and took them to the planet Rasatala. At that time the Lord, at the request of Brahma, retrieved them after assuming the form of a horse.

 

10) Hamsa - The Swan incarnation

 

Due to bewilderment, Brahma, could not answer some questions put forward by his sons. At that time the Lord appeared as a swan and answered the questions.

 

11) Prsnigarbha - The incarnation who appeared before Dhruva

 

He created the planet known as Dhruvaloka for the habitation of Dhruva Maharaja.

 

12) Rsabha - The son of King Nabhi and Merudevi

 

His oldest son was Bharata Maharaja of which the earth was named after as Bharat-varsa. He instructed his sons to follow the path of perfection by tapasya (asceticism).

 

13) Prthu - The incarnation of the Lord's ruling force

 

Due to the demonic nature of King Vena, the sages killed him by a curse. They prayed for the Lord to appear and churned the two arms of the dead body according to a specific method and the Lord appeared as Prthu.

 

14) Nrsimhadeva - The half-man half-lion incarnation

 

He appeared to protect Prahlada by killing his demoniac father Hiranyakasipu.

 

15) Kurma - The Tortoise incarnation

 

He appeared to become the resting place of the Mandara Hill, used as a churning rod by the demons and demigods to produce nectar.

 

16) Dhanvantari - The father of Ayurveda

 

He appeared from the ocean of milk with the pot of nectar.

 

17) Mohini - The Lord's form of a beautiful woman

 

The Lord tricked the demons by appearing in the form of a beautiful woman and asked the demons for the nectar and distributed it to the demigods.

 

18) Vamanadeva - The dwarf incarnation, son of Kasyapa Muni and Aditi

 

Assuming the form of a dwarf brahmacari the Lord visited the fire sacrifice of Bali Maharaja. He begged three steps of land and with those steps He took the whole universe. He is the son of Kasyapa and Aditi.

 

19) Parasurama - Bhrgupati, the son of Jamadagni Muni and Renuka

 

He annihilated the ksatriyas twenty-one times because of their rebellion against the brahmanas.

 

20) Raghavendra - Lord Ramacandra, son of King Dasaratha and Kausalya

 

He came to perform pleasing work for the demigods, protect His devotees and kill Ravana and his followers. The Lord assumed the form of a human being and exhibited superhuman powers by controlling the Indian Ocean.

 

21) Vyasadeva - The son of Parasara Muni and Satyavati

 

He divided the one Veda into several branches and sub-branches, seeing that the people in general were becoming less intelligent.

 

22) Lord Balarama - The first plenary expansion of the Lord

 

He acts as Lord Krishna's older brother in Their pastimes in Vrndavana.

 

23) Lord Krishna - The original form of the Lord

 

Both Balarama and Krishna appeared in the family of Vrsni (Yadu dynasty) and in doing so removed the burden of the world.

 

24) Buddha - The son of Anjana

 

He appeared in the province of Gaya in the beginning of Kali-yuga to delude those who are inimical to the faithful. He also appeared to stop animal slaughter in the name of Vedic sacrifices by preaching non-violence and by not accepting Vedic authorities. There is also another Buddha incarnation mentioned in another Kali-yuga when Lord appeared to bewilder the demons who were destroying the inhabitants of other planets by flying unseen in space ships made by the demon Maya.

 

25) Kalki - The son of brahmana Vishnu-yasa

 

He will appear in the village Sambhala at the end of Kali-yuga. He will mount a horse, Devadatta, and taking His sword, will kill millions upon millions of degraded barbarian humans. He will also commence Satya-yuga.

 

5. Guna Avataras

(Incarnations of the qualitative modes of nature)

 

They are Brahma (rajo-guna), Vishnu (sattva-guna) and Siva (tamo-guna). Brahma is one of the living entities, but due to his devotional service he is very powerful. This primal living entity, master of the mode of material passion, is directly empowered by the Garbhodakasayi Vishnu to create innumerable living entities. In Brahma-samhita (5.49) Brahma is likened to valuable jewels influenced by the rays of the sun, and the sun is likened to the Supreme Lord Garbhodakasayi Vishnu. If in some kalpa there is no suitable living entity capable of acting in Brahma's capacity, Garbhodakasayi Vishnu Himself manifests as Brahma and acts accordingly.

 

Similarly, by expanding Himself as Lord Siva, the Supreme Lord is engaged when there is a need to annihilate the universe. Lord Siva, in association with maya, has many forms, which are generally numbered at eleven. (They are not, technically speaking, avataras since this term is used only for Shri Vishnu's manifestations. Hanuman could be called an expansion of Siva, Siva-amsa or so. He is not a jiva.) Lord Siva is not one of the living entities; he is a transformation of Krishna Himself. The example of milk and yogurt is often given in this regard - yogurt is a preparation of milk, but still yogurt cannot be used as milk. Similarly, Lord Siva is an expansion of Krishna, but he cannot act as Krishna, nor can we derive the spiritual restoration from Lord Siva that we derive from Krishna. The essential difference is that Lord Siva has a connection with material nature, but Vishnu or Lord Krishna has nothing to do with material nature. In Shrimad-Bhagavatam (10.88.3) it is stated that Lord Siva is a combination of three kinds of transformed consciousness known as vaikarika, taijasa and tamasa.

 

The Vishnu incarnation, although master of the modes of goodness within each universe, is in no way in touch with the influence of material nature. Although Vishnu is equal to Krishna, Krishna is the original source. Vishnu is a part, but Krishna is the whole. This is the version given by Vedic literatures. In Brahma-samhita the example is given of an original candle which lights a second candle. Although both candles are of equal power, one is accepted as the original, and the other is said to be kindled from the original. The Vishnu expansion is like the second candle. He is as powerful as Krishna, but the original Vishnu is Krishna. Brahma and Lord Siva are obedient servants of the Supreme Lord, and the Supreme Lord as Vishnu is an expansion of Krishna.

 

6. Manvantara Avataras

 

There are fourteen manvantara-avataras who appear during the fourteen ruling periods of Manus (manvantaras) in one day of Brahma (kalpa). They are unlimited in number. Each manvantara is presided over by different Indra. Presently the rule of the 7th Vaivasvata Manu is going on and we are in the 28th Chatur Yuga. Each Manu has around 71 Chatur Yugas (Cycle of four yugas each of total 4,320,000 years). In that way there are 14 Manus i.e. 1000 Chatur Yugas (71 x 14) in 12 hours of Brahma which is our 4,320,000,000 years. The original source of all expansions and incarnations Lord Krishna or Lord Gauranga, who are both the same Person, advent only once in 24 hours of Shrila Brahma which is once in our 8,640,000,000 years. Brahma lives for a total of 100 years which is around our 8,640,000,000 x 365 x 100 = 315,360,000,000,000 years after there is a complete annihilation when all the universes enter again into the body of Lord Karanodakashayi or Maha Vishnu, the first Purusha Avatara of Lord Gauranga Krishna.

 

1. Svayambhuva Manu: Father Brahma, Avatara Yajna, Indra Yajna.

2. Svarocisa Manu: Father Agni, Avatara Vibhu, Indra Rochana.

3. Uttama Manu: Father Priyavrata, Avatara Satyasena, Indra Satyajit.

4. Tamasa Manu: Father Priyavrata, Avatara Hari, Indra Trisikha.

5. Raivata Manu: Father Priyavrata, Avatara Vakuntha, Indra Vibhu.

6. Chakshusha Manu: Father Priyavrata, Avatara Ajita, Indra Mantradruma.

7. Vaivasvata Manu: Father Chakshu, Avatara Vamana, Indra Purandara.

8. Savarni Manu: Father Vivasvan, Avatara Sarvabhauma, Indra Bali.

9. Daksha Savarni Manu: Father Varuna, Avatara Rishabha, Indra Adbhuta.

10. Brahma Savarni Manu: Father Upashloka, Avatara Vishvakshena, Indra Shambhu.

11. Dharma Savarni Manu: Father Upashloka, Avatara Dharmasetu, Indra Vaidhrita.

12. Rudra Savarni Manu: Father Upashloka, Avatara Svadhama, Indra Ritadhama.

13. Deva Savarni Manu: Father Upashloka, Avatara Yogeshvara, Indra Divaspati.

14. Indra Savarni Manu: Upashloka, Avatara Brihadbhani, Indra Suchi.

 

Out of these fourteen manvantara-avataras, Yajna and Vamana are also lila-avataras. These fourteen manvantara-avataras are also known as vaibhava-avataras.

 

In SB 3.11.27 and 4.24.42 p. manvantara-avataras are confused with Manus as seen also from SB 1.3.5 p. Yajna is the manvantara-avatara in Svayambhuva Manu's reign, Vibhu is the manvantara-avatara in Svarocisa Manu's reign, and so on as per SB 8.13, CC 2.20.246 p., 2.20.319.

 

During each manvantara, in the Dvapara-yuga of each divya-yuga (maha-yuga), different sages accept the position of Vyasa or the compiler of the Vedas, Puranas, etc. In the Vaivasvata manvantara there were until now 28 Vyasas (Vishnu Purana 3.3 - 3.4.5):

 

1) Brahma

2) Prajapati or Manu

3) Usana, Sukracarya

4) Brhaspati

5) Savitri

6) Yamaraja

7) Indra

8) Vasistha

9) Sarasvata

10) Tridhama

11) Trivisana

12) Bharadhvaja

13) Antariksa

14) Vapra 15) Trayyaruna

16) Dhananjaya

17) Krtanjaya

18) Rina

19) Bharadvaja

20) Gautama

21) Uttama

22) Vena

23) Somasusmapana

24) Riksa or Valmiki

25) Sakti, father of Parasara Muni

26) Parasara Muni

27) Jaratkaru

28) Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa (Shri Narayana Himself)

 

In the next Dvapara-yuga the Vyasa will be Asvatthama, the son of Drona.

 

7. Yuga-avataras

 

The four yuga-avataras are also described in Shrimad-Bhagavatam. In the Satya-yuga, the incarnation of God is white; in the Treta-yuga He is red; in the Dvapara-yuga, He is blackish; and in the Kali-yuga He is also blackish, but sometimes, in a special Kali-yuga, His color is yellowish as in the case of Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

 

This particular incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is foretold in Shrimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32):

 

krishna-varnam tvisakrishnam

sangopangastra-parsadam

yajnaih sankirtana-prayair

yajanti hi sumedhasah

 

"In the age of Kali the Lord incarnates as a devotee, yellowish in color, and is always chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Although He is Krishna, His complexion is not blackish like Krishna's in Dvapara-yuga but is golden. It is in Kali-yuga that the Lord engages in preaching love of Godhead through the sankirtana movement, and those living entities who are intelligent adopt this process of self-realization."

 

8. Shaktyavesha Avataras

 

There is no limit to the saktyavesa-avataras. The saktyavesa incarnations are of two kinds - direct and indirect. When the Lord Himself comes, He is called saksat, or a direct saktyavesa-avatara, and when He empowers some living entity to represent Him that living entity is called an indirect or avesa incarnation.

 

Examples of direct or saksad-avataras are the Sesa incarnation and the Ananta incarnation. In Ananta the power for sustaining all planets is invested, and in the Sesa incarnation the power for serving the Supreme Lord is invested.

 

Examples of indirect avataras are the four Kumaras, Narada, Prthu and Parasurama. These are actually living entities, but there is specific power given to them by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When a specific opulence of the Supreme Lord is invested in specific entities, they are called avesa-avataras. The four Kumaras specifically represent the Supreme Lord's opulence of knowledge. Narada represents the devotional service of the Supreme Lord. Devotional service is also represented by Lord Gauranga, who is considered to be the full representation of devotional service. In Brahma the opulence of creative power is invested, and in King Prthu the power for maintaining the living entities is invested. Similarly, in Parasurama the power for killing evil elements is invested.

 

As far as vibhuti, or the special favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is concerned, it is described in the Tenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita that a living entity who appears to be especially powerful or beautiful should be known to be especially favored by the Supreme Lord.