Whenever there is a decay of Dharma and rise of Adharma, then I embody Myself. To protect
the good, to destroy the wicked and to establish Dharma, I am born age after age.
- Bhagavad Gita IV: 7, 8
Like water, Dharma also finds its level. When an individual commits an Adharma towards
another, he will be made to compensate the other for it in some form or other, in this or in a
subsequent life. Sin and retribution are inalienable action and reaction. That is a law of nature.
When that Adharma exceeds individual limits and spreads it wings to cover large sections of
society, and a few ordinary virtuous mortals are unable to meet the challenge, God descends on
earth in the form of an incarnation or Avatar to neutralize that collective Adharma. There is
nothing accidental or extraordinary in this. It is only the operation of law referred to above on a
very comprehensive scale to extend its effect to all the groups of society that deserves it. The
combined Karma of all the individual souls of the society gets embodied in this incarnation. An
incarnation is an agent of the Supreme Godhead, sent into our midst; with full authority and
power to set in order all lapses and aberrations in the practice of Dharma.
But in this process, two significant departures of the Lord from His supreme station of
spectatorship deserve special mention for our enlightenment.
“Prakita’ or “Mayasakti” is a creature of Eswara, the lord. At the time of His incarnation on
earth, He manipulates ‘Prakriti’ and appears to be born and growing, through in reality. He is
unborn and eternal.
Secondly, though in His original state He is above all Karma, in an incarnation he moves in
actual flesh and blood among us as influenced by Karma but as an ideal Jivatma. He does this
among other things, to bring Himself nearer to His devotee’s understanding of Him – nearer than
a mere concept of God, or scriptural ideal to reach an unseen perfect personality of an epic.
Om Shantih Shantih Shantihi
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu