Avatāra

Avatāra (devanāgarī: अवतार) is a Sanskrit word meaning "descent", and in Hindusim refers to a deliberate incarnation of a deity or supreme being on earth.

In H. P. Blavatsky words:

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.