Avatar

(avatāra)

Divine descent; the voluntary incarnation of God in a human or animal form

Full Meaning

Avatāra means "one who descends." In Hindu theology, Vishnu descends to earth whenever dharma declines — taking forms from fish to tortoise to man. The Bhagavad Gita's most famous verse (4.7–4.8) is the avatāra doctrine: "Whenever righteousness declines, I manifest myself." The word has entered English as "avatar" through digital culture.

Etymology

Ava (down) + √tṛ (to cross, to descend). A crossing down — the divine crossing from transcendence into form.

Usage in Sanskrit Texts

The ten principal avatāras of Vishnu (Daśāvatāra): Matsya (fish), Kūrma (tortoise), Varāha (boar), Narasiṃha (man-lion), Vāmana (dwarf), Paraśurāma, Rāma, Krishna, Buddha, and Kalki.

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत — Whenever righteousness declines, I manifest myself. (Bhagavad Gita 4.7)

Related Sanskrit Words

Vishnu · विष्णु Dharma · धर्म Krishna · कृष्ण Rama · राम

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