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14. THE CONCEPT OF AVATARS
The mythological story goes that the two demigod gate-keepers/dwarapalakas (Jaya and Vijaya) of the abode of Vishnu, known as Vaikunta (meaning place of eternal bliss), barred revered sages from entering Vishnu's abode because Vishnu was sleeping at the time. The sages cursed the Jaya and Vijaya to be born as mortals and roam the earth (Bhuloka). The gatekeepers reported back to Vishnu of the incident that had taken place. He told them that he could not take back the curse, but could give them options on how the curse would be lived out. He gave them the option either to be born several many times as great devotees of the Lord Vishnu, or a few times as powerful individuals that were the sworn enemies of the Lord Vishnu, and to die at the hands of Lord Vishnu. The dwarapalakas chose to be born a few times as enemies of Lord Vishnu, and took the form of the demons Madhu and Kaitabh, Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu, Ravana and Kumbakarna, and Kamsa(in another version dantavakra) and Shishupala.
Vishnu wanted to someone to fight with. He cannot really fight with someone who is weak and puny. So the two gatekeepers - those strong watchmen at the gate of heaven - are send out to be born as Asuras - the Demons and the whole scenario is set up so that Vishnu can take the playful forms and kill them over and over again. It is like children playing in their early childhood. It is their means of growing up and becoming. It is just the thrill of killing and fighting. In most cases we can see that there is no moral reason for the incarnation, there is no justice in the killing and foul play; trickery and legalism are used. Evidently it puts God in a poor light. The ostentious reasons given as decay of righteousness, justice and dharma are not the real reason for Vishnu incarnation. Those conditions are created intentionaly for the sole purpose of glorification of Vishnu. (Why should God want to be glorified?) It is similar to the five point Calvinistic thought where God creates a class of people to be put in hell and another to put in heaven. Vaishnavism is thus historically a Calvinistic development within the Early Indian Christianity which went wild.
This is in sharp constrast with the concept of incarnation within the historic Christianity where incarnation is for the sole purpose of redemption. Judgement and punishment are part of the process and are always justified as it is a consequence of the free will of sentient beings. The on going ages are intended to give as much time as needed to bring in total salvation based entirely on love. God is love and his actions are based only on love. His actions are always just. It is this supreme self sacrificing love that is expressed in the incarnation of Jesus.
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