Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 20.246
Incarnations Have Different Roles
“There are incarnations that control the material qualities [guṇa-avatāras], incarnations who appear during the reign of each Manu [manvantara-avatāras], incarnations in different millenniums [yuga-avatāras] and incarnations of empowered living entities [śaktyāveśa-avatāras].
What the purport teaches
- The guṇa-avatāras control the material qualities. They are Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and Lord Viṣṇu.
- The manvantara-avatāras appear during the reign of each Manu and number fourteen. They are sometimes called vaibhava-avatāras; Yajña and Vāmana are also counted among the līlā-avatāras.
- The yuga-avatāras appear in different millenniums. The śaktyāveśa-avatāras are incarnations of empowered living entities.
Try this today
Write down the four categories named in the translation, with a short description of each.
Ask yourself
How does distinguishing these roles help you understand the different incarnations?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.