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6. MONOTHEISM & REINCARNATION
avatara hy asankhyeya hareh sattva-nidher dvijah
yathavidasinah kulyah sarasah syuh sahasrasah
Obrahmanas, the incarnations of the Lord are innumerable, like rivulets flowing from inexhaustible sources of water.
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.26 Dasavatara as given in Garuda Purana
1. Matsya, the fish 2. Kurma, the tortoise 3. Varaha, the boar 4. Narasimha, the half-man/half-lion 5. Vamana, the dwarf 6. Parashurama, Rama with the axe 7. Rama. 8. Krishna 9. Buddha some versions of the list contain no reference to
Buddha instead we have Balarama according to the Bhagavata Purana He is also counted as an avatar of
Vishnu by the majority of Vaishnava movements and is included as the ninth Dasavatara. 10. Kalki to come yet.
Theologically within Vaishnavism the many avatars have been categorised into a number of different types depending on their specific personality and role as described in scripture. Not all are recognised as 'full' or 'direct' incarnations of Vishnu. Some avatars are believed to be souls blessed with certain abilities of 'divine origin', although being a jiva themselves.
Bhagavata purana lists over 22 such avatars. It is still considered monotheistic since if you worship the partial incarnation you are worshipping the Fullness. After all, you can worship a part and still be worshipping the full.
A more realistic monotheism very similar to Christianity is found in Saivism. Siva has no incarnation. Originally there were the trinity in the godhead - Appan, Amma and Makan - Father, Mother and Son. Saivites believe God transcends form, and devotees often worship Siva in the form of a lingam (Formless Form), symbolizing all universe.
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