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Avatar (Avatara) in Hindu mythology is an incarnation of a deity.
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In Hindu mythology Krishna is the supreme god, or to some people the only god. He was the eighth avatar of Vishnu and was sent into the world to kill the demon-king Kansa who had outlawed Vishnu- worship and upset the universal balance between good and evil.
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In Hindu mythology, Parashurama was the sixth avatar of Vishnu. He was the youngest son of a forest dwelling hermit with a family of sons. He was both a devout servant of the gods and a keen huntsman. In return for his prayers the gods gave him unerring skill with a bow, but demons afraid that he would use his archery against them stole his bow. Vishnu answered his prayers and entered him and gave him a battle-axe and told him to use it to fight the enemies of the gods. While Parashurama was praying on a mountain, his mother coming home saw two people making love in a forest pool and became sexually excited. Returning home her husband detected her impure thoughts and ordered each of his sons in turn to behead her, each refused and their father punished them by making them as stupid as the cattle they looked after. When
Parashurama arrived home with the battle- axe he understood his father's request, and cut off his mothers head. Immediately her head touched the floor she was restored to life cleansed of her impure thoughts, and
Parashurama's father rewarded him with immunity from death in war.
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In Hindu mythology, Vishnu is the second god of the triad. He appears as a manifestation of the sun, and is represented as having four arms. Whenever a great physical or moral disorder affects the world he sent a portion of his essence to set it right in the form of an avatar or incarnation.
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The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
©1993 - 2009 The Probert Encyclopaedia
Southampton, United Kingdom
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