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'''Avatāra''' (devanāgarī: अवतार) is a [[Sanskrit]] word meaning "descent", and in [[Hinduism]] refers to a deliberate incarnation of a deity or supreme being on earth.
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In [[H. P. Blavatsky]] words:
 
<blockquote>'''Avatâra''' (Sk.) Divine incarnation. The descent of a god or some exalted Being, who has progressed beyond the necessity of Rebirths, into the body of a simple mortal. Krishna was an avatar of Vishnu. The Dalai Lama is regarded as an avatar of Avalokiteswara, and the Teschu Lama as one of Tson-kha-pa, or Amitâbha. There are two kinds of avatars: those born from woman, and the parentless, the anupapâdaka.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Theosophical Glossary'' (Krotona, CA: Theosophical Publishing House, 1973), 44.</ref></blockquote>
 
== In Hinduism ==
 
An Avatāra is a "descent" or incarnation of a deity. There are several avataras mentioned in the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] literature. Early writings talk about avataras of Prajāpati ([[Brahmā]]), while later on they are mainly assigned to [[Viṣṇu|Vishnu]]. In the many of the Purānas there are ten incarnations, assumed to save the world from some danger or trouble. They are [[Matsya]] (the fish), Kūrma (the tortoise), Varaha (the boar), Nara-sinha (the man-lion), Vāmana (the dwarf), Parasu-rāma (Rāma with the axe), Rāma-chandra (the moon-light Rāma), [[Krishna]] (the black or dark coloured), [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]], and Kalki (the white horse).<ref>John Dowson, ''A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology'', (London, Routedge & Kegan Paul Ltd, 1968), 35-38.</ref>
 
=== Kalki Avatar ===
 
In [[Hinduism]], '''Kalki''' (Devanagari: कल्कि) is the tenth and final Maha Avatar (great incarnation) of [[Vishnu]], who will bring to an end the present age of darkness and destruction known as [[Kali Yuga]]. He will establish a new era based on truth, righteousness, humanism and goodness, called [[Krita Yuga]] (or Satya Yuga). The origins of the name Kalki probably lie in the [[Sanskrit]] word "kalka" which refers to mud, dirt, filth, or foulness and hence denotes the "destroyer of foulness", "destroyer of confusion", "destroyer of darkness", or "annihilator of ignorance".<ref>[http://www.ismaili.net/Source/nikakalki.html The Kalki Purana]</ref>
 
== Notes ==
 
<references/>
 
==Further reading==
 
*[http://www.theosophy.ph/encyclo/index.php?title=Avat%C4%81ra# Avatāra] at Theosopedia
 
[[Category:Sanskrit terms]]
[[Category:Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:Hindu concepts]]
[[Category:Concepts in The Secret Doctrine]]

Latest revision as of 23:54, 30 June 2017

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