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VARAHA
Varaha (the boar) is the
third incarnation of Vishnu. Its images are divided into two main
groups – those entirely in animal form and those having an animal’s
head on a human body with four arms. As is with most of the Vishnu
incarnations, two hands hold the wheel and the conch-shell and the
other two may hold a sword, a made or a lotus, or they may be in the
protection and boon giving modes. In the illustration on the
opposite page Varaha is shown with one hand holding a mace and the
other in a protective mode. There is the same conflicting account of
this as of the two preceding incarnations Matsya and Kurma, while
some books describe it as an incarnation of Vishnu, others describe
it as that of Brahma.
Vishnu turned himself into
a boar (Varaha) and descended to the bottom of the ocean to rescue
the earth which had been abducted and hidden there by a demon. After
a long struggle Vishnu (as the boar) slew the demon, rescued the
earth and brought it to the surface and made it ready to support
life by modeling the mountains and shaping the continents. In this
way the world was brought into being once again to begin another
kalpa or cycle. The extrication of the world from the deluge of sin
is symbolized by this legend and is a creation
myth.
NARASIMHA
Narasimha, the fourth
incarnation of Vishnu, is in the form of half-man (Nara) and
half-lion (Simha), having four hands. Two hands carry a wheel and a
conch-shell and two are in the boon giving and protection modes or
tearing at the stomach of the demon-king. Vishnu assumed this form
in order to overcome a demon king who could not be slain by a man or
by a beast, either inside or outside a palace, by day or by night.
Adopting the form of a lion-headed man, Vishnu approached the palace
at dusk and hid himself in a pillar at the entrance, out of which he
sprang and killed the demon-king, Hiranyakashipu. According to some
scriptures the incident took place inside a pillar, while according
to others Narasimha placed the demon on his lap and tore out his
entrails.
The symbolism here is of
the lion-like characteristics of fierceness, bravery and
independence that claim almost universal
admiration.
Festival: Narasimha
Jayanti
Held in April-May,
Narasimha Jayanti celebrates the killing of the demon king
Hiranyakashipu by Vishnu in the form of Narasimha. People observe a
fast and meditate on Narasimha on this day and seek his blessings to
have the qualities of devotion like that of Prahlad. People give to
the poor on this day in charity.
VAMANA
The fifth incarnation of
Vishnu, is usually represented as a dwarf (Vamana) holding a
water-pot in one hand and an umbrella in the other. He wears a ring
of kusha grass on his third finger and occasionally carries a book.
He has long hair, he wears ear ornaments and covers his body with a
deer-skin or loin cloth. In his first fourth incarnations Vishnu
appears in either a animal form or in a half-human half-animal form.
The later incarnations starting from Vamana are all in human form.
The first of them, Vamana, is perhaps significantly a dwarf, thus
symbolizing the underdeveloped stage of mankind.
The story behind Vamana
concerns Bali, the great-grandson of Hiranyakashipu. Bali’s rule was
so successful that his reputation began to overshadow that of Indra
who was obliged to seek Vishnu’s help in order to regain his
supremacy. Not wishing to use harsh measures against such a
praiseworthy ruler, Vishnu resorted to a stratagem. He disguised
himself as a dwarf and asked Bali to give him a piece of land three
paces wide on which he could sit and meditate. Bali granted the
request and Vishnu then used his supernatural powers to take
possession of heaven and earth in two steps thus depriving Bali of
his kingdom.
But, in recognition of
Bali’s generosity, Vishnu refrained from taking the third step and
gaining the netherworld as well but installed Bali as its monarch.
The story of Vishnu’s dwarf is a creation myth symbolizing the power
of Vishnu to cover the universe.
Festival: Vamana
Dwadeshi
Celebrated in
August-September. The worship of Vishnu and Bali is recommended on
this day. It is said that those who observe the day in due form and
give freely to Brahmins will be reborn as kings who will possess the
celestial kingdom, like Bali.
PARASHURAMA
Parashurama, is almost
always shown with an axe in his right hand. He is also shown as
having four hands carrying a battle axe, a sword, a bow and an
arrow. In this, his sixth incarnation Vishnu appears for the first
time in a completely human form but at the same time he maintains
his status as a deity.
As the story goes,
Kshatriya king had stolen Parashurama’s father’s wish-granting cow,
Kamadhenu. Parashurama took his revenge for the theft by killing the
thousand-armed king. But, in retaliation, the king’s sons killed
Parashurama’s father. Vishnu took the form of Parashurama, not only
to get revenge but to rid the world of oppression by the
kings/Kshatriyas, which he did in the course of twenty-one battles.
The story of this incarnation evidently points to a time in Indian
history when there was a severe and prolonged struggle for power
between the Kshatriyas and the
Brahmins.
The story behind the name
concerns the sage’s son, Rama, a brilliant archer, who did penance
in the Himalayas to Shiva in gratitude for having this skill
conferred on him. Shiva was pleased with his devotion and when
fighting broke out between gods and demons, ordered Parashurama to
defeat the demons. Parashurama showed reluctance. Shiva then gave
him reassurance and he managed to defeat the demons. On completing
the task Shiva gave Parashurama many gifts and weapons, including a
magnificent axe (Parashu) after which he has known as Parashurama
(Rama with the axe).
Festival: Parashurama
Jayanti
On this sacred day, also
known as Akshya Tritiya, apart from Parashurama, Lord Vishnu is also
worshipped. Fasting, austerities and prayers are the highlights of
this day.
RAMA
Rama or Ramachandra, the
seventh incarnation of Vishnu, is normally shown as standing, having
two arms, with one of which he holds a bow. He usually has his wife
Sita by his right side, holding a blue lotus. His brother Lakshman,
shorter than Rama, stands by his left side, holding a bow and arrow.
Hanuman, the monkey god, is usually shown kneeling a little in front
and by Rama’s right.
Though a comparatively
minor incarnation whose task it was to kill a ten-headed demon,
Ravana, who held his wife captive, Ramachandra has deeply influenced
the Indian psyche and has risen to be a deity whose life is a
subject for literature and an example of moral
excellence.
As the hero of the great
epic of India, Ramayana, he has also passed into the mythology of
countries other than India whose cultures have been influenced by
it. Rama is also considered a saviour and friend and is said to have
the power of intercession for the dead. When a dead body is carried
for cremation, the pall-bearers loudly repeat the words ‘Ram nam
satya hai’ (Rama’s name is truth). Rama represents the qualities of
fidelity, gentleness and steadfastness. In the same way his wife
Sita (incarnation of Lakshmi, wife of Vishnu), is regarded as the
embodiment of all that is most admired in India womanhood –
faithfulness and affectionate compliance. They are looked upon as an
example of constancy in marriage.
Festival:
Ramanavami
Celebrating the birth of
Rama, this festival is held in March-April all over India. At this
time, temples dedicated to him are beautifully decorated with lights
and flowers priests recite the Ramayana and highlight the important
aspects of the life and character of Rama. The name of Rama is
recited constantly as that is supposed to purify the
heart.
KRISHNA
Krishna, the eighth
incarnation of Vishnu, is considered the most important of the ten
incarnations. He is usually shown as blue or black-skinned, having
two hands and playing the flute. In paintings he is shown standing
on one leg with the other crossed in front, resting on its toes. He
usually wears colourful garments and is richly ornamented. He may
hold a conch-shell or a curved stick in his hand. By his side would
be his consort Radha and usually some cows (he was born as a
cow-herd). In the paintings he is shown as dancing with the
cowherds, girls (gopis), as a child eating butter, or as Arjuna’s
charioteer addressing him in the battlefield.
Vishnu manifested himself
as Krishna so as to kill the evil king Kansa. The king had been
forewarned that the eighth child of Devaki would kill him, so he
imprisoned Devaki and slaughtered her new born babies one by one.
The seventh child, Balarama was saved by his kinsmen. When the
eighth child was born, there was a big storm; the doors burst open,
the guards fell asleep and Vasudeva (Krishna’s father) walked out of
the prison, taking the baby Krishna with him to Yashoda with whom he
spent his childhood.
This incarnation of Vishnu
has accumulated a great variety of myths. Krishna shows all the
aspects of human development usually associated with childhood,
adolescence and adulthood. There are few stages in a mortal
worshipper’s life, a counterpart of which cannot be found somewhere
in the stories relating to the activities of Krishna. Although many
of the stories about him concern his superhuman deeds, he also
reveals human characteristics. The flute playing adds to the
pastoral character of many of his stories and the effect it has on
the gopikas provides a rich source of speculation on its symbolism
which is apparent in a lot of poetry and in many dance forms,
notably Kathakali in South India.
Why is Krishna Coloured
Blue?
One of the theories is
that Vishnu, because of his association with water, is depicted
blue; therefore all his incarnations, including Krishna, are shown
as such. In Hinduism, persons who have depth of character and the
capacity to fight evil are depicted as blue skinned. Another theory
refers to Vishnu implanting two hairs, one black and the other white
in Devaki’s womb (which miraculously got transferred to Rohini’s)
and as a result, from the black hair Krishna took birth, with a dark
skin, and from the white hair his brother,
Balarama.
Festival: Janmashtami
Celebrating the birth of
Lord Krishna, Janamashtami is held in August-September all over
India. Temples are decorated, bells are rung, the conch-shell is
blown and Sanskrit hymns sung in His praise. Devotees observe a fast
for twenty-four hours which is broken at midnight, the time when
Lord Krishna was born. The idol at that time is washed with milk and
His name is chanted 108 times. In most places and particularly in
Mathura and Brindaban, tableaux (jhankis) depicting episodes from
Krishna’s life are the highlights of the day. Special sweets are
prepared for this festival.
BUDDHA
Buddha, the ninth
incarnation of Vishnu, appears at the start of the present age. He
has short curly hair and his feet and palms have marks of the lotus.
Calm and graceful in appearance, he is seated on a lotus flower. The
lobes of his ears are shaped like a pendant and he is shown wearing
a yellow robe. The hands are in a boon giving and protection
mode.
This incarnation is
symbolic of the uneasiness that the Hindu priests felt for the
Buddhists and their teachings which were becoming very popular with
the masses. The Bhagwat-Purana says that ‘as Buddha, Vishnu deludes
the heretics’. As Buddha, Vishnu advised the demons to abandon the
Vedas, whereupon they lost all their powers and enabled the gods to
establish their supremacy. The doctrines supposedly put forward by
Buddha are far removed from Buddha’s teachings as understood by his
followers. Ironically, the Buddhists did in some sense turn to Hindu
belief. The mythology and cosmology that became attached to Buddhism
as it became a popular mass religion were rooted in Hindu belief and
the Hindu gods inhabited some of the lower heavens of the Buddhist
cosmos.
Festival: Buddha
Purnima
It is celebrated in April-May. Three
great events in Buddha’s life on the same day has made Buddha
Purnima the most important festival in the Buddhist world. It is
celebrated all over the world with great piety, devotion and
fervour. Buddha’s images and portraits are taken out in a procession
on this day.
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