1) ADI PURUSH AVATAR (Incarnation as the Pre-eminent
man) : Lord Vishnu took his first incarnation as the pre-eminent
man, with a desire to commence creation. This first incarnation
of Lord Vishnu was full of all the sixteen Kalas (Supernatural powers).
Lord Brahma manifested from the navel of Lord
Vishnu in his (Lord Vishnu) state of Yoganidra (deep meditation).
The creation as well as the expansion of the creation commenced
from the organs of Lord Brahma. The first incarnation of Lord Vishnu
is all-powerful, which can be seen only by the yogins and sages
who have attained divine knowledge. This incarnation is also the
indestructible seed from which all the other incarnations manifest
themselves. During the time of final annihilation of the world,
every creation merges into him.
2) THE ETERNAL YOUTHS :Sanatkumar
was the 'Manasputra' (born by a wish) of Lord Brahma. Throughout
his life, he maintained celibacy; and engaged himself in the performance
of tremendous penance. He was the one from whom the Brahmins got
the inspiration regarding the values and importance of penance and
Celibacy.
3) VARAHA AVATAR (The
incarnation as a Boar) :Lord Vishnu took his third incarnation
as a boar. In this incarnation Lord Vishnu rescued the earth which
had submerged in the ocean, and brought it out from the ocean. The
whole creation started only after that. A demon by the name of Hiranyaksha
had abducted the earth and carried it to the 'Rasatala' (the second
lowest of the world). The earth is considered to be as a 'Woman'
and since it is a crime to abduct a woman therefore Lord Vishnu
in his incarnation of a boar killed the demon Hiranyaksha and liberated
the earth from his clutches.
4) NARADA
AVATAR (The incarnation as Sage Narada) :Lord Vishnu
took his fourth incarnation as Narada. Narada by becoming a 'Devarishi'
among all the sages, achieved liberation from all of his Karma's
(action). Narada was the one who gave discourses to the Vaishnavas
(followers of Lord Vishnu) on 'Pancharatra Tantra'.
Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Narada, showed that, the devotion
is the best mean of getting liberated from all the bondages of 'Karma's'.
He also said that a devotee of Lord Vishnu is the supreme among
the devotees in the same way as Devarishi Narada among the Sages.
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