Rama-Kṛṣṇa and Avatāra - 1

Rama darbar (Rama's court), Chamba painting, 1775–1800. Rama and Sita on the throne with Rama's brothers behind. Hanuman with Sugriva and Jambavan pay their respects.*

रामकृष्णादयो ये ह्यवतारा रमापतेः।तेऽपि जीवांशसंयुक्ताः किंवा ब्रूहि मुनिश्वर॥ १॥

Maitreya asks Parāśara whether Rāma, Kṛṣṇa, and other avatāras of Viṣṇu possess jīvāṁśa, he is probing the nature of divine incarnations and their relationship to human existence. Are these avatāras fully divine, or do they share in the human experience with an individual soul? This question touches on the mystery of how the infinite (Paramātma) can manifest in the finite (Jīvātmā) to guide and uplift humanity. The term "avatāra," with its etymological roots, encapsulates this descent of the divine into the world to rescue, guide, and ultimately lead souls back to their divine source.

Meaning

• रामकृष्णादयः (rāmakṛṣṇādayaḥ): Rāma, Kṛṣṇa, and others (i.e., other avatāras).

• ये (ye): Who are.

• ह्यवताराः (hyavatārāḥ): Indeed, incarnations (avatāras).

• रमापतेः (ramāpateḥ): Of Ramāpati (Viṣṇu, the consort of Ramā/Lakṣmī).

• तेऽपि (te'pi): They also.

• जीवांशसंयुक्ताः (jīvāṁśasaṁyuktāḥ): Possessed of the essence of jīva (soul essence).

• किंवा (kiṁvā): Or.

• ब्रूहि (brūhi): Please tell/speak.

• मुनिश्वर (muniśvara): O great sage.

Rāma and Kṛṣṇa are highly renowned avatāras (incarnations) of Viṣṇu. Rāma, the hero of the Ramayana, represents dharma (righteousness), while Kṛṣṇa, the principal figure of the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita, represents heavenly wisdom and cosmic play.

The term "avatāra" is derived from the Sanskrit roots "ava" (down) and "tāra" (to cross or carry across), which literally means "descent." An avatāra is the divine descent of a deity, usually Viṣṇu, into the mortal realm to restore dharma and protect the pious. An avatāra transports souls (jīvas) from worldly existence (samsāra) to liberation (mokṣa).

Jīvāṁśa or Jīvātmāṁśa is the individual soul (jīva) or part of the divine soul (ātmā) that exists within all living beings. Maitreya's query about avatāras is whether heavenly incarnations like Rāma and Kṛṣṇa have a soul like humans or are totally divine (Viṣṇu-tattva).

Ramā translates to "the consort of Ramā" (Lakṣmī). Ramā-pati is a term for Viṣṇu, the consort of Ramā or Lakṣmī. It is related with the bīja mantra śrīṁ (श्रीं). This syllable represents wealth, abundance, and divine grace, traits associated with Lakṣmī and, by extension, Viṣṇu.

Avatāra has profound philosophical importance in Hinduism. Each avatāra of Viṣṇu is thought to fulfil a specific purpose, such as preserving justice, eliminating evil, and liberating souls. The avatāras transport the soul through the cycle of birth and rebirth, much like a boat. The "seven oceans" depict life's wide and varied experiences, as well as the challenges that the soul must face. The avatāra guides the soul through trials to achieve union with the divine (yoga with Paramātma).The avatāra serves as both the liberator (mokṣa) and the saviour (tāra).

• Image: By Image: http://collections.lacma.org/sites/default/files/remote_images/piction/ma-31208250-O3.jpgGallery: http://collections.lacma.org/node/198599 archive copy at the Wayback Machine, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27261165

Om Tat Sat