[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c9.4577 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.4577 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c9.4577 - **Language:** English ### [c9.4577](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4577) 3) Avatāras (Incarnations). When injustice and lawlessness abound in the universe, Viṣṇu will incarnate in the world in various forms and shapes, and will drive away injustice and will reinstate righteousness. The basis and the indeclinable semen virile of all the incarnations, is this spirit of the universe. All Devas, all human beings and all animals are created from a portion of this soul of the universe, which in itself is a portion. Brahmā, first incarnated as Sanatkumāra and lived the life of a Brahmin student of chaste abstinence. The second incarnation was connected with the creation of the earth. It was the incarnation as a hog to redeem the earth which was immersed in the world of Rasātala. The third incarnation was taken to create the sages and hermits. The Supreme God incarnated as the deva - hermit, Nārada and taught Pañcarātra, the Vaiṣṇava-śāstra explaining the ways of observing Karmans. Fourthly, Viṣṇu took the incarnation of Nara-Nārāyaṇas (two hermits) and performed tapas (penance), difficult to do. The fifth incarnation was that of Kapila who taught his disciple Āsuri, a Brahmin, Sāṅkhya (one of the six systems of Indian philosophy dealing with evolution). The next incarnation was taken, according to the request of Atri, as his son under the name Dattātreya. Seventhly he took incarnation as Yajña, the son to Prajāpati Ruci, by his wife Ākūti with the groups of devas (gods) such as Yāmas and others to sustain the Manvantara (age of Manu) of Svāyambhuva. The eighth incarnation was as the son of Bhagavān Nābhi by his wife Meru, and the ninth was, as the inner soul of Pṛthu, according to the request of the sages and hermits, with a view to change the earth to such a state that medicinal herbs may grow in plenty everywhere. The tenth was, as Matsya (Fish) in Cākṣuṣa Manvantara deluge; the eleventh, as turtle, to lift up the mountain Mandara; the twelfth as Dhanvantari, and the thirteenth was as Mohinī (Charming woman). The fourteenth was that of Man-lion, the fifteenth was that of Vāmana, the sixteenth that of Paraśurāma, the seventeenth, that of Vyāsa, the eighteenth, that of Śrī Rāma and the nineteenth was that of Rāma and the twentieth that of Kṛṣṇa in the dynasty of Vṛṣṇi. The twentyfirst was as Buddha in the beginning of the age of Kali. The twenty second incarnation was in the name of Kalki as the son of the Brahmin Viṣṇuyaśas. Each incarnation is explained in places where that word occurs. See under Avatāra. The avatāras of Mahāviṣṇu are numerous. Thousands and thousands of incarnations originate from Mahāviṣṇu as streams flow from a lake which overflows at all times. Hermits, Manus, Devas, Sons of Manus, Prajāpatis, all these are marks and portions of Mahāviṣṇu. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa, Sarga 15; Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 5; Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa, Sarga 40; Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 83; Devī Bhāgavata, Skandha 1; M.B. Śānti Parva, Chapter 121; Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 12; Bhāgavata, Skandha 10; Bhāgavata, Skandha 5; Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 272; Vana Parva, Chapter 149; Śānti Parva, Chapter 339). - [Previous: c9.4576](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4576) - [Next: c9.4578](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4578) - [Up: c9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9) ## Cites (5) - [Agnipurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.agni.5) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.1.15) — Vālmīki, Sanskrit - [Devībhāgavatapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.upa.sakta.devibhagavata) — Sanskrit - [Bhāgavatapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.bhagavata) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4577](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4577) · Pramāṇa