47
votes
Accepted
Is Jesus an avatar of Lord Vishnu?
According to Bhavishya Purana, Jesus is reincarnation of one of the greatest Bhaktas of lord Vishnu known as Dhruva Rishi. That's why he was born out of kumari garbha (virgin's womb) under Pole star (...
33
votes
Accepted
Are there any temples for Matsya, Kurma, and Varaha avatars?
Yes, there are temples for all three.
Matsya
Most temples to Matsya are in South India. First of all, there is the Vedanarayana Swami Temple in Nagalapuram, a village in Andhra Pradesh. Matsya is ...
31
votes
Is Jesus an avatar of Lord Vishnu?
Jesus is not an avatar of Vishnu. Avatar is not same as prophet. An avatar is significantly different from a prophet in that every human can attain the consciousness of an avatar while a prophet is a "...
29
votes
Accepted
What were the previous births of the characters of Mahabharata?
This chapter of the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata describes exactly who incarnated as each of the major characters in the Mahabharata. It's too long a chapter to quote the whole thing here, so let me ...
28
votes
Is Gautama Buddha an avatar of Lord Vishnu?
Putting aside what people say and believe if you go through the scriptures then you will find that Buddha was an incarnation of Vishnu.
The two prominent scriptures about Vishnu portray Buddha as His ...
25
votes
Accepted
Why did Lord Shiva fight with Lord Vishnu?
There are multiple incidents you could be referring to:.
The story depicted in the TV serial you linked to is (loosely) based on a story told in this excerpt from the Shatarudra Samhita of the Shiva ...
19
votes
Accepted
What is the story of Kalki (tenth avatar of God Vishnu)?
The Appearance of Lord Kalki (the Avatar or incarnation of Godhead) is foretold in the "Srimad Bhagavatam" 12th Canto and described also in detail in the "Brahmanda-purana". Therein it gives ...
18
votes
What is chronological timeline (in Manvantara and Mahayuga) of Lord Vishnu incarnations/avatar?
Lord Vishnu's incarnations are innumerable, as time is cyclic. However, we know some incarnations such as 24 incarnations mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam or famous Dasavatara.
Chapter 47 of Matsya ...
17
votes
Accepted
Why did Vishnu take on an avatar that was half human and half lion?
The reason that Vishnu went through all that rigmarole is described in the Srimad Bhagavatam. To avenge the death of his brother Hiranyaksha at the hands of Vishnu in his Varaha (boar) incarnation, ...
17
votes
Accepted
Is Balarama an Avatar of Vishnu or Adiseshan (or both)?
The reason that Balarama is called an incarnation (avatara) of Vishnu is that the serpent Adiseshan is himself a form of Vishnu. Here is how Balarama's birth is described in the Srimad Bhagavatam:
...
17
votes
Accepted
Why Jesus Isu Christ, Guru Nanak, Buddha and Muhammad should not be considered as Lord Vishnu's avatars?
You have realised the correct thing. But the reason they should not be considered as avatars of Vishnu is because it has not been explicitly mentioned in the scriptures.
It is the scriptures which ...
17
votes
Accepted
The Oracle said that the eighth son of Devaki would kill Kansa, then why did he kill seven sons?
The reason was the fear and insecurity created in Kamsa's mind after meeting with sage Narada.
After hearing a prophecy by an unembodied voice (Akash vani. It was not by a sage) that eighth son of ...
16
votes
When will the Kalki avatar be born?
Wikipedia quotes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalki
South Indian astrologers have analyzed Puranas extensively to try and foretell the time of birth of Kalki. The signs described in the Kalki Purana ...
15
votes
Why did Lord Shiva take 44 avatars if his primary role is to be the destroyer?
First of all there is not anything like 44 Avatars of Shiva. There are many (actually infinite) Avatars of Lord Shiva. Also as you have asked "What is the need of his avatar if his function is to ...
14
votes
Accepted
What is the story of Sharaba?
If you want to learn about the incarnations of Shiva, you can read the Shatarudra Samhita of the Shiva Purana, which mentions numerous incarnations including the following: Vrishabha the bull, whom I ...
14
votes
Accepted
Were there any incarnations of Lord Brahma?
Yes, Brahma has taken incarnations. Here are two of them:
Chandra: As I discuss in this answer, there was once a Brahmana named Kaushika who received a curse from the sage Mandavya that he would die ...
14
votes
Accepted
What scriptures mention Shiva's Dakshinamurthi form?
Dakshinamurty form of Lord Shiva is described in Suta Samhita of Skanda Purana in Mochak Kathanam of Mukti Khanda. Here is the description of form:
गड़्गाधरं शिवं शान्तं लसत्केयूरमण्डितम् ।
सर्वा...
13
votes
What are the Avatarams of Vishnu described in the Yuddha Kanda of the Ramayana?
I. Rtadhama, the Vasu Prajapati
I have two candidates, both of whom make sense to me. Let me know in the comments.
-Varuna
Varuna is Lord of Waters, cognate with the more well known Apa Vasu (Apa = ...
13
votes
Accepted
Why do Gods take avatar?
This is indeed a very good question. But unfortunately no specific reason can be pointed out as the sole cause for God's incarnations:
हरि अवतार हेतु जेहि होई। इदमित्थं कहि जाइ न सोई।। [Ramcharit ...
13
votes
Accepted
What are the exact ten avatars of Vishnu?
This isn't a proper answer, but then again I don't think there can be a proper answer. The notion of Dasavatharam isn't a notion that's found in Hindu scriptures; there are countless avatarams of ...
13
votes
Anshavatar and Purnavatar - are there different types of avatars?
Yes, It certainly has a scriptural basis and there are such types of Avatars. Narada says in Garga Samhita - Goloka Khanda - First Chapter
श्रीबहुलाश्व उवाच -
कतिधा श्रीहरेर्विष्णोरवतारो ...
13
votes
During his lifetime, did Rama know that he was a God?
Yes, Lord Rama knew that he was an incarnation. There is an incident at the time of Sita Swayamvar where when he accidently broke Lord Shiva's bow. Lord Parshuram, who was also an incarnation of Lord ...
13
votes
Wouldn't most of the incarnations of Devi be of Sati, not Parvati?
This question arises when one assumes that Lord Shiva (actually Shankara) is married to Sati and Parvati only one time.
Actually same Lord Shiva is married to many Sati and many Parvati just like in ...
13
votes
Accepted
Why only Lord Vishnu incarnates on earth?
No. Shiva and Brahma also incarnated on earth. It is indeed Shiva who takes Yogavatar at end of every Dwapara Yuga and beginning of Kali Yuga.
Most famous Avatar of Brahma is Chandra or Moon God which ...
13
votes
Accepted
Will Lord Kalki be aware that He is Vishnu avatara?
Yes. Lord Kalki will be aware of His divinity. Like Sri Krishna, Lord Kalki will also take birth with four arms and upon request, He assumes two armed form. Here's how Chapter 2 of Kalki Purana ...
13
votes
Are there any scriptures that portray Lord Rama to be the source of all incarnations including Lord Vishnu?
Yes there are verses in scriptures which Declare Lord Rama as source of all Incartions.
Salutations to that Rama who is most superior, the primal Lord of Universe and free from all the vices. Brahma, ...
13
votes
Accepted
Does Shaiva or Shakta Agama believe the Dashavatar of lord Vishnu
The Todala Tantram, which is a ShAkta Agama, talks about the 10 AvatAras of Lord Vishnu. The text also equates one MahAvidyA deity with one AvatAra.
The last chapter equates Vishnu’s ten ...
12
votes
What are the exact ten avatars of Vishnu?
Bhrigu rishi cursed Vishnu to take repeated births on earth (Devi Bhagavata, 4.12.8,9) for which He is taking innumerable incarnations here and we are having a problem to decide what are the exact ...
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