Gunavatara, Guna-avatara, Guṇāvatāra: 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)
Guṇāvatāra (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.
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).
Guṇāvatāra (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).
Guṇāvatāra (गुणावतार) refers to—Presiding deities of the material modes.
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’).
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Avatara, Guna.
Full-text: Guna, Presiding deities of the material mode, Shiva, Yuga, Manvantaravatara, Manvantara, Shaktyaveshavatara, Yugavatara, Shaktyavesha, Ban tuo jia.
Relevant text
Search found 14 books and stories containing Gunavatara, Guna-avatara, Guṇa-avatāra, Guṇāvatāra, Gunavataras; (plurals include: Gunavataras, avataras, avatāras, Guṇāvatāras, Gunavatarases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Krishna Sandarbha of Jiva Goswami (by Kusakratha Prabhu)
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 3.2.243 < [Chapter 2 - Description of the Lord’s Travel Through Bhuvaneśvara and Other Placesto Jagannātha Purī]
Verse 3.2.225 < [Chapter 2 - Description of the Lord’s Travel Through Bhuvaneśvara and Other Placesto Jagannātha Purī]
Verse 2.23.1 < [Chapter 23 - Wandering about Navadvīpa On the Day the Lord Delivered the Kazi]
Brahma Samhita (Jiva Goswami commentary) (by Srila Narayana Maharaja)
Shri Gaudiya Kanthahara (by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati)
Sri Krishna-Chaitanya (by Nisikanta Sanyal)
Chapter 10 - History of Divine Descents (Avataras) < [Volume I - Introductory]
Bhagavad-gita (with Vaishnava commentaries) (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verses 1.24-25 < [Chapter 1 - Sainya-Darśana (Observing the Armies)]
Verse 9.23 < [Chapter 9 - Rāja-guhya-yoga (Yoga through the most Confidential Knowledge)]
Verse 4.8 < [Chapter 4 - Jñāna-Yoga (Yoga through Transcendental Knowledge)]