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 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.[12]

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 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.[12]

According to some scholars like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercy_Oduyoye Mercy Oduyoye], H. M. Vroom, and Noel Sheth, the common translation "[[incarnation]]" is somewhat misleading as the concept of an avatar corresponds more closely to the view of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docetism Docetism] in Christian theology, as different from the idea of God 'in the flesh' in [[mainstream]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christology Christology].

According to some scholars like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercy_Oduyoye Mercy Oduyoye], H. M. Vroom, and Noel Sheth, the common translation "[[incarnation]]" is somewhat misleading as the concept of an avatar corresponds more closely to the view of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docetism Docetism] in Christian theology, as different from the idea of God 'in the flesh' in [[mainstream]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christology Christology].

<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>

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1:  the [[incarnation]] of a Hindu deity (as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu Vishnu])

*1:  the [[incarnation]] of a Hindu deity (as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu Vishnu])

*2a :  an incarnation in [[human]] form

*2a :  an incarnation in [[human]] form

:b :  an embodiment (as of a [[concept]] or philosophy) often in a person

:b :  an embodiment (as of a [[concept]] or philosophy) often in a person

*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 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 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, 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, Ahimsa, and Punarjanma ([[Reincarnation]]).

The term is most often associated with 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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnavism Vaishnavism]. An early reference to avatar, and to avatar doctrine, is in the [[Bhagavad Gita]].

The term is most often associated with 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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnavism 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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaktism 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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaktism 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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism 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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism 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]]