Gunavatara, Guṇāvatāra, Guna-avatara: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Gunavatara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)Guṇāvatāra (गुणावतार) refers to “the three primary presiding deities of the three binding forces. Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva are together known as tri-mūrti”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).
Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad BhagavatamrtamGuṇāvatāra (गुणावतार) refers to:—A deity or demigod presiding over a mode of nature, such as goodness, passion, or ignorance. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).
Source: Prabhupada Books: Sri Caitanya CaritamrtaGuṇāvatāra (गुणावतार) or simply Guṇa refers to “incarnations that control the material qualities”, according to the Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta 2.20.246 (“The Science of the Absolute Truth”).—Accordingly, “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]”.
The Guṇāvatāras are three—Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and Lord Viṣṇu (Bhāg. 10.88.3). The avatāras who appear during the reign of each Manu, known as manvantara-avatāras, are listed as follows in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Eighth Canto, chapters 1, 5 and 13): (1) Yajña, (2) Vibhu, (3) Satyasena, (4) Hari, (5) Vaikuṇṭha, (6) Ajita, (7) Vāmana, (8) Sārvabhauma, (9) Ṛṣabha, (10) Viṣvaksena, (11) Dharmasetu, (12) Sudhāmā, (13) Yogeśvara and (14) Bṛhadbhānu. All together these are fourteen in number, and of these, Yajña and Vāmana are also counted among the līlā-avatāras. All these manvantara incarnations are sometimes called vaibhava-avatāras.
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
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