[Advaita-l] [advaitin] Sri Krishna incarnated as Ganesha - Brahmavaivarta Purana

[Krishna Kashyap]

*Incarnations of Hari (Vishnu): A Comprehensive Overview*
Understanding the Bhagavad Gita Context

The Bhagavad Gita's Vibhuti Adhyaya (Chapter 10) contains verses like:

*Verse 10.24:* पुरोधसां च मुख्यं मां विद्धि पार्थ बृहस्पतिम् | सेनानीनामहं
स्कन्द: सरसामस्मि सागर: || 24||

*"O Arjun, amongst priests, I am Brihaspati; amongst warrior chiefs, I am
Kartikeya; and amongst reservoirs of water, know Me to be the ocean."*

*Verse 10.23:* रुद्राणां शङ्करश्चास्मि वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम् | वसूनां
पावकश्चास्मि मेरु: शिखरिणामहम् || 23||

*"Amongst the rudras know Me to be Shankar; amongst the semi-celestial
beings and demons I am Kuber. I am Agni amongst the vasus and Meru amongst
the mountains."*

*Key verse 10.41:* यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा | तत्देवावगच्छ
त्वं मम तेजोंऽशसम्भवम् || 41||

*"Whatever you see as beautiful, glorious, or powerful, know it to spring
from but a spark of My splendor."*

*These statements indicate divine presence in all manifestations of
excellence and power, rather than direct incarnations.*
Traditional Avatara Classifications 1. *Dashavatara (Ten Primary
Incarnations)*

The most widely recognized list across Vaishnava traditions:

   1. *Matsya* (Fish)
   2. *Kurma* (Tortoise)
   3. *Varaha* (Boar)
   4. *Narasimha* (Man-Lion)
   5. *Vamana* (Dwarf)
   6. *Parashurama* (Warrior with Axe)
   7. *Rama* (Prince of Ayodhya)
   8. *Krishna*
   9. *Buddha* (or Balarama in some lists)
   10. *Kalki* (Future Warrior)

2. *Chaturvyuha (Four Primary Emanations)*

>From Pancharatra Agamas:

   - Vasudeva
   - Samkarshana
   - Pradyumna
   - Aniruddha

3. *Extended Lists (22-24 Avataras)*

The Bhagavata Purana provides comprehensive lists including:

   - The Four Kumaras
   - Narada, Kapila, Dattatreya
   - Yajna, Rishabha, Prithu
   - Dhanvantari, Mohini
   - Vyasa
   - *Plus the traditional Dashavatara*

*Important note:* The Bhagavata Purana states "avatārā hy asaṅkhyeyā"
- *incarnations
are innumerable*.
4. *Pancharatra Enumeration (39 Avataras)*

Some Pancharatra Agamic texts enumerate 39 specific avataras, including:

   - Traditional Dashavatara
   - Chaturvyuha forms
   - Additional Vyuhantara manifestations
   - The 12 names of Vishnu as distinct forms

Important Distinctions *Ganesha and Kartikeya as Avataras*

While some Puranas (Brahmavaivarta, Skanda, Devi) mention Ganesha as
Krishna's incarnation, *traditional Agamic and Puranic avatara lists do not
include Ganesha or Kartikeya as direct avatara of Hari*.

*Note: The Shyamantaka story's complexity - where Krishna is affected by
Ganesha's curse to Chandra - illustrates the intricate nature of these
theological narratives.*
*Sectarian Perspectives*

   - *Shaiva Agamas*: Focus on Shiva's manifestations, not Vishnu's avataras
   - *Shakta Agamas*: Center on Devi's forms, not Vishnu's incarnations
   - *Vaishnava Agamas*: Provide detailed avatara enumerations

Summary

*Standard Answer:* 10 avataras (Dashavatara) *Scriptural Detail:* 22-24
primary avataras (Bhagavata Purana) *Ultimate Truth:* Innumerable
manifestations *Specific Traditions:* Up to 39 enumerated forms
(Pancharatra)

The divine principle manifests countless times to restore dharma and guide
creation, with formal lists serving as representative examples rather than
exhaustive catalogs.
https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/19295d0e-4e0a-43f4-a2bd-9bcaba4ea021
link to this on public forum.

On Mon, Sep 8, 2025 at 8:31 AM 'Bhaskar YR' via advaitin <
advaitin at googlegroups.com> wrote:

> praNAms
>
> Hare Krishna
>
>
>
> The Brahmavaivrta Purana says it was Sri Krishna himself who incarnated as
> Ganesha. There are mentions in skanda and devi purana too of Ganapathi
> being an incarnation of Narayana.
>
>
>
> Ø     In shyamantakOpAkhyAna Krishna gets into somany controversies due
> to ‘chauti Chandra darshana’ it is due to Ganesha’s  curse to Chandra.  So
> Krishna incarnated as Ganesha cursed Chandra and Krishna himself affected
> by the curse 😊  Sometimes these puranic allegories are more complex than
> what they appear!!
>
>
>
> Hari Hari Hari Bol!!!
>
> bhaskar
>
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