Page 44 - Complete Works of Dr. KCV Volume 1

know the whole history of the spirit. Perhaps it is incredible to us. But so many things are incredible - have always been.
The second important element of the Indian Time table considered by Prof. Haas is the theory of reincarnation. The soul incarnates constantly till it is finally released. Incarnation is the corollary to samsara. Freedom from reincarnation or punaravrtti is one of the aims if not the only aim of our life. Jnana alone can lead to the transcendence over samsara or crossing over samsara or death. When this is the case and the Hindus believe in this possibility, it is surprising to hear from Prof. Haas that it is an element that explains the regressive movement of Indian Time. But what he is attacking is not this but the Reincarnation of God or Avatara doctrine. Every Hindu knows that the avatara is a descent of God in popular reckoning, are Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parasu Rama, Kodanda Rama, Halayudha Rama, Krishna and Kalki. There has been the inclusion of Buddha latterly. Some ingenious writers immediately equated this with the biological evaluation or ascent of Man made popular in the 19th century and after. This metabiological view is unacceptable, for, though it can be conceded that the descent of God or the Highest spirit in any form will raise the form to a higher level of Consciousness yet it will not be right to say that it is the evolution of the Deity that we are witnessing. In the Puranas the purpose and meaning of the Avatara is for the restoration of Dharma in and to the plane - an act of Grace.
It is His beneficent willingness to take any kind of Form - which is in that order the perfect expression of His Sovereignty and Puissance, Virility and Transcendence, Beauty and Light - for the protection of His creatures. Nor is the view that some avataras exist at the same time as others capable of being refuted, for it is this supreme possibility that is seen in the Divine. The Divine Lord may project himself fully or partially, in His form as Avatara - Descending Divine, and for ever in some for certain definite Cosmic Purpose or act in multiple personalities also. This is the secret of the amsa-avataras. This view can only be understood if we understand the general theory of the Pancaratra which teaches the fourfold nature of the Divine - the Para - transcendent - Vasudeva - Narayana: the vyuhas (emanates) of Vasudeva - Samkarsana - Pradyumna - Aniruddha. The Avataras which are not limited to any number are also called the Vibhava