“Parithranaya sadunam vinasayacha dushkritam Dharma samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge” declared the Lord in the Bhagavadgita. When Dharma declines and is in danger, the Lord takes avatar to re-establish Dharma and destroy the perpetrators of evil. During the Kruta, and Treta Yugas demons or rakshasas were not many. In Dwapara yuga these demons multiplied beyond our comprehension. Sisupala, Dantavaktra, Jarasandha and Kamsa dominated the Yuga with a host of other smaller devils who tormented mankind. Their torture exceeded to such an extent that the Lord had to take avatar to establish Dharma and destroy the evil doers. We are now in Kali Yuga where Dharma now stands on one leg only, highly unstable and likely to deteriorate further. It was alright that one Kamsa, Dantavaktra, Jarasandha and a host of other minor rakshasas were killed by the Lord in Dwapara Yuga. But what about Kali Yuga where there are too many Kamsas, Dantavaktras and Jarasandhas who exist in the form of human beings? If the Lord were to destroy evil in Kali Yuga, almost three fourths of humanity has to be destroyed! So, in Kali Yuga, killing or destroying the evil doers cannot be contemplated. That is the reason why the Lord has taken avatar as the darling of Eswaramba in Puttaparthi, a small hamlet in the district of Anantapur in Andhra pradesh! He has taken up the onerous task of reformation and transformation of the evil propensities in every individual in society.
What is the stand of the Avatar on avatar? How does he think about it? It is very interesting and instructive to hear what Swami says about avatarhood in general. “ God is not a separate entity. Man is the image of God. ‘Daivam manusha rupena' declare the scriptures. It means that God appears in human form…It is to show humanity how human !Ife can be divinised that avatars come from time to time.” Swami says that it is not the task of the Avatar to relieve the sorrows and troubles of mankind. They suffer or enjoy as a result of their good or bad deeds in their previous innumerable births. In other words they are caught in the web of their own Karma that chases them relentlessly. When the Avatar comes down in human form, is he not bound by his Karma? The answer is that the Lord has no Karma at all! He is “ Karmatheeta”—one who is beyond Karma and transcends it. Swami says that avatar takes place due to the sincere yearning of devotees and the righteous as well as the wicked deeds of the evil doers as in the case of the child devotee Prahlada and his cruel father Hiranyakasipu. The Avatar's mission is solely to save mankind. “ HE is the Master of Creation. He knows the past, present and the future of all. 'HE' leads and liberates.” (SSS Vol 7) The advent of the Avatar is not recognized even by the parents and kith and kin except a few sages! Not many knew that Sri Rama and Krishna were avatars! The Avatar envelopes then in His Maya or illusion!
What is the real nature of the Avatar? He is “ Ananda Swarupa” always overflowing with the spirit of delight and joy. Swami says, “ Just as the ocean rises and surges up when there is full moon in the sky, in the same way when I look at the devotees, My heart overflows with limitless, boundless love for them.” (SSS Vol 3) Is the Avatar inaccessible to the ordinary man? Certainly not. The Avatar behaves in a human way to make mankind feel friendship. But at the same time He rises to superhuman heights inspiring man to reach those heights. Why human form? It is because only human being can understand God in the form of a man. The object of the Avatar is to open the path of Divinity and shower His grace on humanity! There is another important reason for the advent of the Avatar. A few inherent qualities of man have to be utilized properly. “ God seeks to come in human form so that He could utilize the intelligence, discrimination, detachment, etc. that the human body alone is capable of exercising.” The Avatar may exhibit a part of his glory or come with His full Divinity. “ The Avatar might manifest only that part of Divine glory as is essential for the task which brought the form, or He might exceed the limited purpose for which He came and shine in full grandeur.” (SSS Vol 4)
Swami speaks of different forms in which he appears when he transforms himself. They are 1 Nityavataram 2 Viseshavataram 3 Aviseshavataram 4 Leelavataram and 5 Poornavataram which is also called Amsavataram. The first three avatars have only five to nine aspects or kalas. It is only the Poornavataram that has all the sixteen aspects or kalas of the Divine. God , when he comes as an Avatar chooses the time, place as well as the clan and family for his advent. Thus Krishna was born at night to Devaki and Vasudeva of Yadava clan in the prison. The Bhagavata Purana describes how the Lord was born with four hands and full glory! But immediately with his astonishing Maya he became an ordinary innocent child in her arms!
God takes Avatar only when the anguish of his great devotee reaches His ears! That is how HE ran towards Gajendra without his spouse Lakshmi Devi and the other train! Similarly, when Prahlada told his father that Lord Vishnu is omnipresent, He was ready in every object in the world awaiting Hiranyakasipu! The Avatar has no attachment or hatred for any one. He is the embodiment of pure Love for all. His mission is to protect and re-establish Dharma. He supports the righteous and admonishes the wrong. The greatness and speciality of Swami is that He is a mighty Transformer! He has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of erring mortals and showed them the path of Spirituality. Drunkards have turned over a new leaf and smokers have kicked the butt! Non vegetarians have become vegetarians and others have taken to meditation and yoga! Above all Swami’s inspiring curt sayings “Love All, Serve All, Help Ever, Hurt Never” and many others are the “Taraka Mantras” that shall liberate the entire humanity! The Seva ideal introduced by Swami has revolutionized the society and a new era of Love and selfless sacrifice has come into being! This Sai Avatar has achieved what no other avatar has attempted or done!
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What is the stand of the Avatar on avatar? How does he think about it? It is very interesting and instructive to hear what Swami says about avatarhood in general. “ God is not a separate entity. Man is the image of God. ‘Daivam manusha rupena' declare the scriptures. It means that God appears in human form…It is to show humanity how human !Ife can be divinised that avatars come from time to time.” Swami says that it is not the task of the Avatar to relieve the sorrows and troubles of mankind. They suffer or enjoy as a result of their good or bad deeds in their previous innumerable births. In other words they are caught in the web of their own Karma that chases them relentlessly. When the Avatar comes down in human form, is he not bound by his Karma? The answer is that the Lord has no Karma at all! He is “ Karmatheeta”—one who is beyond Karma and transcends it. Swami says that avatar takes place due to the sincere yearning of devotees and the righteous as well as the wicked deeds of the evil doers as in the case of the child devotee Prahlada and his cruel father Hiranyakasipu. The Avatar's mission is solely to save mankind. “ HE is the Master of Creation. He knows the past, present and the future of all. 'HE' leads and liberates.” (SSS Vol 7) The advent of the Avatar is not recognized even by the parents and kith and kin except a few sages! Not many knew that Sri Rama and Krishna were avatars! The Avatar envelopes then in His Maya or illusion!
What is the real nature of the Avatar? He is “ Ananda Swarupa” always overflowing with the spirit of delight and joy. Swami says, “ Just as the ocean rises and surges up when there is full moon in the sky, in the same way when I look at the devotees, My heart overflows with limitless, boundless love for them.” (SSS Vol 3) Is the Avatar inaccessible to the ordinary man? Certainly not. The Avatar behaves in a human way to make mankind feel friendship. But at the same time He rises to superhuman heights inspiring man to reach those heights. Why human form? It is because only human being can understand God in the form of a man. The object of the Avatar is to open the path of Divinity and shower His grace on humanity! There is another important reason for the advent of the Avatar. A few inherent qualities of man have to be utilized properly. “ God seeks to come in human form so that He could utilize the intelligence, discrimination, detachment, etc. that the human body alone is capable of exercising.” The Avatar may exhibit a part of his glory or come with His full Divinity. “ The Avatar might manifest only that part of Divine glory as is essential for the task which brought the form, or He might exceed the limited purpose for which He came and shine in full grandeur.” (SSS Vol 4)
Swami speaks of different forms in which he appears when he transforms himself. They are 1 Nityavataram 2 Viseshavataram 3 Aviseshavataram 4 Leelavataram and 5 Poornavataram which is also called Amsavataram. The first three avatars have only five to nine aspects or kalas. It is only the Poornavataram that has all the sixteen aspects or kalas of the Divine. God , when he comes as an Avatar chooses the time, place as well as the clan and family for his advent. Thus Krishna was born at night to Devaki and Vasudeva of Yadava clan in the prison. The Bhagavata Purana describes how the Lord was born with four hands and full glory! But immediately with his astonishing Maya he became an ordinary innocent child in her arms!
God takes Avatar only when the anguish of his great devotee reaches His ears! That is how HE ran towards Gajendra without his spouse Lakshmi Devi and the other train! Similarly, when Prahlada told his father that Lord Vishnu is omnipresent, He was ready in every object in the world awaiting Hiranyakasipu! The Avatar has no attachment or hatred for any one. He is the embodiment of pure Love for all. His mission is to protect and re-establish Dharma. He supports the righteous and admonishes the wrong. The greatness and speciality of Swami is that He is a mighty Transformer! He has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of erring mortals and showed them the path of Spirituality. Drunkards have turned over a new leaf and smokers have kicked the butt! Non vegetarians have become vegetarians and others have taken to meditation and yoga! Above all Swami’s inspiring curt sayings “Love All, Serve All, Help Ever, Hurt Never” and many others are the “Taraka Mantras” that shall liberate the entire humanity! The Seva ideal introduced by Swami has revolutionized the society and a new era of Love and selfless sacrifice has come into being! This Sai Avatar has achieved what no other avatar has attempted or done!
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