DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0122
no Vaishnavism. Ten Incarnations.
5. The Dwarf (Vamana). In the second (Treta) age of
the world1, Vishnu infused a portion of his essence into the
body of a dwarf to wrest from the tyrant-demon Bali (the
analogue of Ravana and Kansa, the two opponents of the
Rama and Krishna incarnations respectively) the dominion of
the three worlds. The apparently contemptible little dwarf
presented himself one day before the Tyrant, and solicited as
much land as he could step in three paces. No sooner was
his request granted than his form expanded, and he strode in
two steps over heaven and earth, but out of compassion left
the lower world in the demon's possession.
6. Rama with the axe (Parasu-rama). Vishnu infused a
portion of his essence into the axe-armed Rama, son of the
Brahman Jamadagni and descendant of Bhrigu, in the second
age, to prevent the military caste, or Kshatriyas, from tyran-
nizing over the Brahmanical. Parasu-rama is said to have
cleared the earth twenty-one times of the whole Kshatriya race.
7. In the seventh descent Vishnu infused half of his essence
into the great hero Rama, commonly called Rama-candra,
' the beautiful or moon-like Rama2.' This celebrated hero,
who afterwards became an object of worship throughout a
great part of India, was believed to have been manifested
as an incarnation of Vishnu at the close of the second or
Treta age to destroy the tyrant-demon Ravana who reigned
in Ceylon. India was never under one monarch, and in
ancient times its kings were simply petty princes and chief-
tains, who ruled over districts of more or less extended area,
and Oudh (Ayodhya) was probably one of the more powerful
principalities. As a historical fact Rama was no doubt one
of the four sons of a king of Oudh, named Dasa-ratha, of the
so-called Solar race, and therefore a Kshatriya. The real
1 This would be the third age reckoning backwards, and is therefore
called Treta.
2 In paintings he is often represented with a peculiar greenish com-
plexion. The exact significance of candra is not clear.
5. The Dwarf (Vamana). In the second (Treta) age of
the world1, Vishnu infused a portion of his essence into the
body of a dwarf to wrest from the tyrant-demon Bali (the
analogue of Ravana and Kansa, the two opponents of the
Rama and Krishna incarnations respectively) the dominion of
the three worlds. The apparently contemptible little dwarf
presented himself one day before the Tyrant, and solicited as
much land as he could step in three paces. No sooner was
his request granted than his form expanded, and he strode in
two steps over heaven and earth, but out of compassion left
the lower world in the demon's possession.
6. Rama with the axe (Parasu-rama). Vishnu infused a
portion of his essence into the axe-armed Rama, son of the
Brahman Jamadagni and descendant of Bhrigu, in the second
age, to prevent the military caste, or Kshatriyas, from tyran-
nizing over the Brahmanical. Parasu-rama is said to have
cleared the earth twenty-one times of the whole Kshatriya race.
7. In the seventh descent Vishnu infused half of his essence
into the great hero Rama, commonly called Rama-candra,
' the beautiful or moon-like Rama2.' This celebrated hero,
who afterwards became an object of worship throughout a
great part of India, was believed to have been manifested
as an incarnation of Vishnu at the close of the second or
Treta age to destroy the tyrant-demon Ravana who reigned
in Ceylon. India was never under one monarch, and in
ancient times its kings were simply petty princes and chief-
tains, who ruled over districts of more or less extended area,
and Oudh (Ayodhya) was probably one of the more powerful
principalities. As a historical fact Rama was no doubt one
of the four sons of a king of Oudh, named Dasa-ratha, of the
so-called Solar race, and therefore a Kshatriya. The real
1 This would be the third age reckoning backwards, and is therefore
called Treta.
2 In paintings he is often represented with a peculiar greenish com-
plexion. The exact significance of candra is not clear.