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Tariq Mahmood, Toronto, Canada
Within the vast religion of Hinduism, with its many varying beliefs, a central tenet (as in all religions) is the worship of God. Many deities exist within Hinduism; however, a large number of Hindus also believe that all these deities are just manifestations of the true God, Brahman.
Most Hindus believe in three central deities:
1. Brahma the Creator
2. Vishnu the Preserver
3. Shiva the Destroyer
Some Hindus regard these three as different aspects of one divine being, Brahman. As such, many describe their faith as monotheistic (belief in one God) or monistic (belief in one shared existence). Others emphasise the supremacy of one deity over another. Despite these variations, Hinduism retains a clear belief that all divine forms ultimately stem from one source.
The main god associated with the concept of ‘avatars’ is Vishnu, the Preserver. It is believed that Vishnu has ten manifestations, each of which was meant to establish righteousness and order. Vishnu’s avatars are:
1. Matsya [The Fish]: Helped the first man survive a flood.
2. Kurma [The Tortoise]: Helped churn the ocean to obtain treasures.
3. Varaha [The Boar]: Raised the earth from out of the sea with his tusks, after it was dragged down by a demon.
4. Narasimha [The Lion]: He emerged to kill the demon king Hiranyakashipiu, who had found a weapon which stopped anyone from killing him.
5. Vamana [The Dwarf]: When the demon Bali ruled the universe, Vamana defeated Bali by making himself seem small and weak. Bali respected Vamana upon finding out that he was Vishnu’s reincarnation.
6. Parashurama [The Warrior Sage]: Comes into the world to kill evil Kshatriyas to avenge his father, and to restore social order.
7. Lord Rama [The Perfect Man]: Some traditions consider him supreme. He was sent by the gods to defeat the multi-headed demon, Ravana.
8. Lord Krishna [The Divine Statesman]: There are many different stories regarding Krishna. Most famously, he recited the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna whilst on a battlefield. He is seen as a divine lover, representing happiness, righteousness and compassion. Some traditions consider him supreme.
9. Balarama [Krishna’s Elder Brother]: Though rarely worshipped alone, Balarama appears in many tales alongside his brother. Some believe the 9th avatar is Buddha, not Balarama.
10. Kalki [The Mighty Warrior]: He has not yet appeared, but will come at the end of ‘Kali Yuga’ [the current time period] to rid the world of oppression. He will sit atop a white horse.
Interestingly, some gods do not fall within this system of ‘avatars’ but are still seen as manifestations of gods. For example, Ganesha is seen as a ‘son’ and manifestation of Shiva and Parvati, whilst Hanuman [the monkey god] is seen as a divine supporter of Rama. Similarly, female deities are often called ‘eternal consorts’ and are deemed inseparable from their husbands.
From an Islamic perspective, one might understand these evolving conceptions of the Divine as indicative of a gradual departure from an originally monotheistic understanding – a theme echoed in the Islamic view of other ancient faiths.
Sources:
1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zmtj2nb/revision/1
2. https://www.learnreligions.com/avatars-of-vishnu-p2-1769984
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