Avatara-s

Author: Annie Besant
Publisher: Theosophical Publishing
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 137
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8170593654

Description

Through immensely long ages or Kalpa-s, climbing steadily the ladder of evolution, the Liberated Ones merge with eternal Life. Within them burns the flame of love for everything that exists. It is they who, from time to time, descend into manifested forms (avatara-s) to accelerate the course of evolution. So says Annie Besant, who had a profound knowledge of Hindu religious philosophy and traition, while answering the question: ‘What is an avatara’? In a series of four lectures delivered in 1899.

She examines such intricate questions as the distinction between the complete manifestation (purnavatara) and the partial one (amsavatara), and how an avesa differs from an avatara. Her mystical interpretation of the well-known ten avatara-s of Vishnu (the second Person of the trinity, who is the source of all avatara-s) throws much light on the subject and shows how through the ages, divine manifestations enabled life to reach ever higher levels.

The life of Sri Krshna is explained as displaying seven aspects:
1. The means to evoke deep devotion and love
2. Destroyer of forces obstruction evolution
3. As Statesman
4. Friend
5. World Teacher
6. Tester of human Nature
7. The Supreme Being outside which nothing exist

Contents

Publisher's Note

What is an Avatara?

The Source and Need for Avatara-s

Some Specioal Avatara-s

Sri Krishna