AN AVATAR REVISITED

In Hinduism, an avatar is an incarnation of God.  Avatars have appeared on earth many times in different ages, and in different forms, for the purpose of reestablishing the forgotten truths of religion.

Unlike embodied souls, the avatar is not born as a result of past deeds and tendencies, karma.  His birth is the result of choice.  He is conscious of his divine mission throughout his life, and is able to transmit divine knowledge by his mere touch, look, or wish.

The body or shape of an avatar is not earthly stuff, so to speak, but is composed of heavenly matter, called suddha sattva in Hinduism, and is a temporary manifestation only.

Avatars are countless.  Besides the popularly known figures, such as, for example, the Buddha and Sri Ramakrishna, any spiritual teacher is an avatar to some degree, being at least in part if not fully an embodiment of the divine.

The Hindu can accept Christ as an avatar, but according to Christian theologians familiar with the doctrine, Christ, "the Word made flesh," cannot in Christian teaching be considered an avatar.  Christ, they point out, was both human and divine, while an avatar is not human.

The avatar doctrine reached its fullest development during the Puranic period (A.D. 300-1200).  However, it is still found in modern times, as, for example, Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) is, in some circles, considered an avatar.