Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

[[Sanskrit]] ''avatāraḥ'' [[descent]], from ''avatarati'' he descends, from ''ava''- away + ''tarati'' he crosses over  

[[Sanskrit]] ''avatāraḥ'' [[descent]], from ''avatarati'' he descends, from ''ava''- away + ''tarati'' he crosses over  

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 1784]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 1784]

The Sanskrit noun ''avatāra'' is derived from the verbal root tṝ "to cross over", joined with the prefix ava "off, away, down". The word doesn't occur in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas Vedas], but is recorded in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81%E1%B9%87ini Pāṇini] (3.3.120). ''Avatāra'' was initially used to describe different [[deities]], then around the 6th century AD it began to be used primarily to describe the [[manifestations]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu Vishnu]. While earlier texts mention deities taking on different forms, the [[Bhagavad Gita]] (4.5-9) is the first text to discuss the [[doctrine]] associated with the term even though the word ''avatāra'' itself is not mentioned.

The Sanskrit noun ''avatāra'' is derived from the verbal root tṝ "to cross over", joined with the prefix ava "off, away, down". The word doesn't occur in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas Vedas], but is recorded in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81%E1%B9%87ini Pāṇini] (3.3.120). ''Avatāra'' was initially used to describe different [[deities]], then around the 6th century AD it began to be used primarily to describe the [[manifestations]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu Vishnu]. While earlier texts mention deities taking on different forms, the [[Bhagavad Gita]] (4.5-9) is the first text to discuss the [[doctrine]] associated with the term even though the word ''avatāra'' itself is not mentioned.

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Avatars''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Avatars '''''this link'''''].</center>

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Avatars''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Avatars '''''this link'''''].</center>

*4:  an electronic image that [[represents]] and is [[manipulated]] by a computer user (as in a computer game)  

*4:  an electronic image that [[represents]] and is [[manipulated]] by a computer user (as in a computer game)  

==Description==

==Description==

In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hinduism], an '''avatar''' /ˈævətɑr/ (Hindustani: [əʋˈt̪aːr], from [[Sanskrit]] अवतार avatāra "[[descent]]") is a deliberate descent of a [[deity]] to [[Earth]], or a descent of the Supreme Being (e.g., Vishnu for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnavism Vaishnavites]), and is mostly translated into [[English]] as "incarnation", but more accurately as "appearance" or "[[manifestation]]".

In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hinduism], an '''avatar''' /ˈævətɑr/ (Hindustani: [əʋˈt̪aːr], from [[Sanskrit]] अवतार avatāra "[[descent]]") is a deliberate descent of a [[deity]] to [[Earth]], or a descent of the Supreme Being (e.g., Vishnu for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnavism Vaishnavites]), and is mostly translated into [[English]] as "incarnation", but more accurately as "appearance" or "[[manifestation]]".

The [[phenomenon]] of an ''avatar'' (descent of God in human and other forms) is observed in Hinduism, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayyavazhi Ayyavazhi], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism Sikhism] only. Thus Avataravada is one of the core principles of Hinduism along with Ekeshwaravada (One Supreme Divine Reality), [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veda Veda] Praman (Authority of the Vedas), [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80tman_(Hinduism) Atman], [[Karma]], Murti Puja, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa Ahimsa], and Punarjanma ([[Reincarnation]]).

The [[phenomenon]] of an ''avatar'' (descent of God in human and other forms) is observed in Hinduism, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayyavazhi Ayyavazhi], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism Sikhism] only. Thus Avataravada is one of the core principles of Hinduism along with Ekeshwaravada (One Supreme Divine Reality), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veda Veda] Praman (Authority of the Vedas), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80tman_(Hinduism) Atman], [[Karma]], Murti Puja, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa Ahimsa], and Punarjanma ([[Reincarnation]]).

The term is most often associated with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu Vishnu], though it has also come to be associated with other deities. Varying lists of ''avatars'' of Vishnu appear in Hindu [[scriptures]], including the ten [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashavatara Dashavatara] of the ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garuda_Purana Garuda Purana]'' and the twenty-two avatars in the ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavata_Purana Bhagavata Purana]'', though the latter adds that the incarnations of Vishnu are innumerable. The avatars of Vishnu are a primary component of Vaishnavism. An early reference to ''avatar'', and to avatar doctrine, is in the [[Bhagavad Gita]].

The term is most often associated with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu Vishnu], though it has also come to be associated with other deities. Varying lists of ''avatars'' of Vishnu appear in Hindu [[scriptures]], including the ten [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashavatara Dashavatara] of the ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garuda_Purana Garuda Purana]'' and the twenty-two avatars in the ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavata_Purana Bhagavata Purana]'', though the latter adds that the incarnations of Vishnu are innumerable. The avatars of Vishnu are a primary component of Vaishnavism. An early reference to ''avatar'', and to avatar doctrine, is in the [[Bhagavad Gita]].

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva Shiva] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha Ganesha] are also described as [[descending]] in the form of ''avatars''. The various manifestations of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devi Devi], the Divine Mother principal in Hinduism, are also described as ''avatars'' or incarnations by some scholars and followers of Shaktism. The ''avatars'' of Vishnu carry a greater theological prominence than those of other deities, which some scholars [[perceive]] to be imitative of the Vishnu avatar lists.

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva Shiva] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha Ganesha] are also described as [[descending]] in the form of ''avatars''. The various manifestations of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devi Devi], the Divine Mother principal in Hinduism, are also described as ''avatars'' or incarnations by some scholars and followers of Shaktism. The ''avatars'' of Vishnu carry a greater theological prominence than those of other deities, which some scholars [[perceive]] to be imitative of the Vishnu avatar lists.

In Sikhism, an ''avatar'' is a deliberate descent of a [[soul]] to earth in any form. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib Guru Granth Sahib] believes in the existence of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasavatara Dasavatara]. In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasam_Granth Dasam Granth], Guru Gobind Singh wrote three composition on historical ''avatars'' which include Vishnu Avatar, Brahma Avatar, and Rudra Avatar.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar]

In Sikhism, an ''avatar'' is a deliberate descent of a [[soul]] to earth in any form. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib Guru Granth Sahib] believes in the existence of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasavatara Dasavatara]. In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasam_Granth Dasam Granth], Guru Gobind Singh wrote three composition on historical ''avatars'' which include Vishnu Avatar, Brahma Avatar, and Rudra Avatar.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]