In Part 1 of Introspecting lessons from the avatars of Lord Vishnu, I covered these avatars: Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, and Vamana. Let’s proceed to the next five avatars of Lord Vishnu:
1. Parashurama (the warrior-turned-sage)
Story
Parashurama, born as a Brahmin, had Kshatriya traits and received a powerful axe – Parasu from Lord Shiva as a boon. Once, a Kshatriya king, Kartivirya Arjuna, visited Parashurama’s ashram and stole his cow, Kamadhenu. Enraged, Parashurama killed Kartivirya Arjuna. Following the death of the king, his sons killed Parashurama’s father and destroyed their ashram. Then, Parashurama took an oath to destroy all the arrogant Kshatriyas from the face of the Earth.
Introspection
The ultimate goal of our lives is to gain happiness and peace. But there are a few tricky situations in life where you must take charge with a powerful stance. If you face arrogance as your challenge, you must deal with it with a strong force to eradicate that negative force of life. Patience is the key, but not all the time. Sometimes, you may have to deal with situations in a positively aggressive way.
2. Rama (the king)
Story
Rama, the main character of the epic Ramayana, is the son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. Owing to different situations, he had to go on an exile with his wife and brother. During the exile, his wife Sita is kidnapped by the demon Ravana. In order to rescue her, Rama wages a war with the help of the Vanara (monkey) army and defeats Ravana. Post his exile, he returns to Ayodhya and establishes himself as an ideal king nurturing peace and prosperity in his kingdom.
Introspection
There are several introspective takes on Lord Rama. But according to me, what is relatable at the moment is: know your real allies and your supporters. When you witness the world with kindness and open-mindedness, you can find your well-wishers around you. Another important take is: learn to set boundaries with society and uphold the respect of your well-wishers.
3. Krishna (The Stager of the Mahabharata)
Story
Lord Krishna, born to Devaki and Vasudeva in Mathura, was secretly raised by Yashoda and Nanda due to his uncle Kamsa. During the wedding of Devaki and Vasudeva, Kamsa learns of a prophecy that the eighth child born to Devaki is the cause of his demise. Thus, the eighth child, Krishna, raised in secrecy, proceeds to kill his uncle Kamsa. Growing up, Lord Krishna plays a pivotal role as the stager of the Kurukshetra war and in turn the epic, Mahabharata. His philosophical teaching moment on the battlefield to Arjuna becomes known to the world as the Bhagavad Gita. Lord Krishna is popular for his playful antics while creating miracles with all the steps of life.
Introspection
No matter how old you are, never forget the child in you. At every stage of life, do things that make your inner child feel alive. For instance, play with the waves of the ocean, dance in the rain, play with your pet, pick the hobbies that you loved as a child, etc. Keep the inner child alive, for life then becomes fulfilling, alive.
4. Buddha (the Enlightened One)
Story
This avatar is a controversial one as few do not agree that Buddha is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The story goes like this: Siddhartha Gautama, a prince, decides to renounce his worldly life in search of truth and liberation. After indulging in deep meditation, he finally attains enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and becomes Gautama Buddha (the Enlightened One). After that, he goes around the world preaching non-violence, compassion, and the path to achieve ultimate liberation.
Introspection
As the Buddha avatar, Lord Vishnu teaches us a great deal about humanity. With wars and violence rising like the tides of the ocean during a full moon, a very small part of the human population still remembers the power of humanity and kindness. While not everyone deserves your kind soul, spread the kindness to the ones who deserve it. It could be the stray animals, the greenery around you, good-natured humans, etc.
5. Kalki (The Future Avatar)
Story
The future avatar of Lord Vishnu that appears at the end of Kali Yuga, Kalki will be born in Shambala. Riding a white horse with a blazing sword, he is the means to end the cruelty and evil forces that would be at their peak during Kali Yuga, paving the way for the next cycle of Yugas starting with Satya Yuga.
Introspection
When you know that evil has engulfed your soul or the contamination of evil is spreading around you, know when to step out and take action for yourself. Be it a toxic work environment or your toxic relationships. Life is short and the time that you spend is lost forever. Instead of living through the horrors of hell, take charge, come out of it, and make a better living of the rest of your life.
That’s the end of all ten avatars. What are your learnings from the avatars of Lord Vishnu? Do share them.
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