History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c99.208

v7.c99.208

Avatāras (vide 'Bhāgavata', 'Buddha', 'Reincarnation'), 992-998; Agnipurāṇa describes the characteristics of the images of ten a 996; all ten avatāras of Viṣṇu had become recognized throughout India at least before 10th century A D. 996; are dwelt upon at great length in Purāṇas 992; Buddhists in the Mahāyāna teachings made Buddha go through many a. as Bodhisattva 993; conception of, may be traced to the Śat. Br. 992; conception of a. increased Dharmaśāstra material and gave rise to numerous vratas and festivals called Jayantīs 992, 998; derivation and meaning of the word 992; in modern times some persons pose or are made to pose as avatāras by their admirers 993; Indian theory of a. is connected with the theory of yugas 993; Kumārila (7th century A D.) did not regard Buddha as avatāra of Viṣṇu 997; Lakṣmī follows Viṣṇu in all avatāras 996; *Locus classicus* on a is Bhagavadgītā IV. 7-8, 993, none of the ten avatāras except Kṛṣṇa and possibly Rāma is expressly named in Bhagavadgītā 994; of Viṣṇu due to a curse of Bhṛgu 995n, one Pak Subuh who hails from Indonesia is suggested by Mr. J G. Bennett as an avatāra for whom mankind is waiting 993; reference to Buddha as avatāra in Bhāgavata 995n; references from Purāṇas to each of ten a. 998; ten a. of Viṣṇu in medieval and modern times named in Matsya and Varāha Purāṇas 993; thirtynine a of Vāsudeva in Ahirbudhnya-saṁhitā 996; thirty-three a. discussed by Dr. Katre 997; tithis of the appearance of, 262, 998n; Toḍānanda probably contains longest account of ten a. 998; twelve a. noted in Matsya and Padma 994, twenty-two a of Viṣṇu in Bhāgavata 903n, Vāmana and Kṛṣṇa a known centuries before Mahābhāṣya 997; Varāha avatāra m. in Gupta Inscription in the first year of Toramāṇa (about 500 to 510 A. D) 997n; Vāyupurāṇa mentions 28 a. of Maheśvara, last being Nakulī 996; verses on a similar to those in Gītā from Harivaṁśa, Vāyu, etc. 993n; worship of avatāras from Narasiṁha to Kalkin yields different rewards, acc. to Varāhapurāṇa 263, 996.