To understand the niyaamyatvam of Bhagwan as antaryaami, we need to first understand the kartritvam.

Purva-paksha

Saankhya darshana says that kartritvam (doership) belongs to Prakriti. The actions are a result of gunas of prakriti and don’t belong to a jeevatma.

As a pramana, they quote Bhagwad Gita:

नान्यं गुणेभ्यः कर्तारं यदा द्रष्टाऽनुपश्यति ।
कार्यकारणकर्तृत्त्वे हेतुः प्रकृतिरुच्यते।
पुरुषः सुखदुःखानां भोक्तृत्वे हेतुरुच्यते ।।

(भगवद्गीता १४/१९-२०)

The doership belongs to Prakriti and Jeevatma is just a receiver of fruits of the actions, Sukham and Dukham.

प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः ।
अहङ्कार विमूढात्मा कर्ताऽहमिति मन्यते ।।

The kartritvam belongs to Sattva, Rajas and Tamas gunas of prakriti but the jeevatmas considers themselves as karta, out of ego/ahankaar.

Also, Kathopanishad tells that Aatma is not the karta:

हन्ता चेन्मन्यते हन्तुं हतश्चेन्मन्यते हतम् ।
उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नाऽयं हन्ति न हन्यते ।।

How the gunas of prakriti leads to action?

Sattvaguna leads to laaghav (lightness) and prakaash (increase of gyaana).

Rajoguna leads to Chanchalata (volatile) and krodh (anger).

Tamoguna leads to gaurav (heaviness) and aavaran (ignorance).

In moola prakriti, all the three gunas are in equal proportion. When Sattva guna increases, it causes happiness. When Rajoguna increases, it causes krodha. When Tamoguna increases, it causes Moha (delusion).

Let’s see how Vedantis refute their view in the next post.

Uttara-Paksha

If prakriti is the only karta (doer), then why does the shastras order a jeevatma to do something and refrain from something? If prakriti is accepted as karta, the meanings of shastra vaakyas will become useless (vyartha).

Saankhya darshana upholds kartritvan (doership) of the actions to prakriti and fruits of the actions to the jeevatma. If jeevatma is not a doer, why should he experience fruits of the karma (actions).

Brahma sutra discusses these aspects in 2.3.33:

कर्ता शास्त्रार्थवत्वात् ।

If jeevatma is accepted as karta, then only, the shastric injections will be fruitful. Shastric injunction like ‘स्वर्गकामो यजेत’ or ‘मुमुक्षुर्बह्मेपासीत’ tells a jeevatma to do yagya and upasana for Swarga and moksha respectively. Thus, both karta and bhokta of karma-fala are jeevatma only.

OBJECTION

Jeevatma’s actions like running after females, wealth, taste etc can’t be said appropriate to their swarupa. Thus, jeevatma can’t be the doer. Prakriti is the doer.

UTTARA PAKSHA

In saansaarika (worldly) involvements, the actions of the jeevatma like running after stri, anna, paana etc bhogas are not swaabhaavika (natural) but caused to contact with three gunas of prakriti.

Karta is the jeevatma only, but due to the contact of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas gunas, it develops Ahankaara. Ahankaara here means dehaatmaabhimaanam or consideration deha as aatma (I). He considers ‘I’ as body and ‘my’ as those related to his body.

प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः ।
अहङ्कार विमूढात्मा कर्ताऽहमिति मन्यते ।।

Due to this Ahankaara gyaana (which is actually a vipareeta gyaan), he is involved in worldly pursuits like Stri, Anna, Paana.

When he realizes his swarupa as Shesha to bhagwaan, his Ahankaara gyaana vanishes and his actions become kainkaryam to Bhagwan.

SIDDHANTA

Brahma Sutra 2.3.40 says परात्तुतच्छ्रुतेः । The doership belongs to Ishwara i.e. the karta is Ishwara. But again we reach a contradiction, don’t we? Earlier we have proved jeevatma as the karta. If Ishwara is the karta, why does shaastra vaakyas tell jeevatma to do an action and also suggest rewards of that action?

Lets first understand what an action (kriya) is:

क्रिया हि नाम जानाति इच्छति यतते करोति। ज्ञानचिकीर्षाप्रयत्नान्तरभाविनी प्रवृत्तिरूपा, तदाश्रयत्वं कर्तृत्वम् ।

First knowledge (gyaan) comes. Then desire (chikeersha or ichchha) comes. Then comes effort (prayatna) to do something.

जानाति – इच्छति – प्रयतते – (ईश्वर अनुमति) – करोति

Now, the antaryaami gives anumati (permits) or remains udaseena. If he permits, jeevatma proceeds to the action.

Gyaana, Chikirsha and prayatna too belong to the jeevatma but are very much given by Ishwara only. Antaryaami gives gyaanam as per the previous karma of the jeevatma. So, as to give fruits of the karma.

सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो मत्तः स्मृतिर्ज्ञानमपोहनं च। (Gita)
"I am sitting in everyone's heart and from me comes remembrance, gyaana and agyaana."
(As per the previous karma of the jeevatma).

Till now, we discussed, “परात्तुतच्छ्रुतेः”. The doership belongs to Ishwara. How is it so? It is because anumati-daanam or grant of permission for the action after the gyaana, chikirsha and efforts of jeevatma is done by Bhagwan.

Let’s understand the ‘anumati-daanam’ of bhagwan and how it doesn’t affect the free-will and kartritvam of jeevatma.

कृतप्रयत्नापेक्षस्तु, विहितप्रतिषिद्धावैयर्थ्यादिभ्यः ॥2.3.41॥
“Bhagwan makes the individual selves act, based on the efforts made by the jeevatma. Thus, injunctions and prohibitions don’t get meaningless”.

Though gyaana and agyaana is granted by bhagwan as per the previous karma, the free-will to act or abstain from belongs to individual jeevatmas. Since jeevatmas are gyaanaashraya, they can use their buddhi can decide whether they should make effort or not.

Taking into account the efforts of the jeevatma to engage or abstain in an action, he allows accordingly. A weak person cannot carry a heavy load of wood etc. himself. Yet he carries the same with the help of a strong man and comes in the scope of the Vidhi (injunction) or Nisedha (prohibition) of the act. In the same way the individual selves do an act with the permission of the Highest Self. Yet they become parties to the injunctions or prohibitions. Hence no contradiction arises.

Aadya pravritti is the first effort for an action by Bhagwan. At the first stage, Bhagwan is UDAASEENA or Witness. Based on the vasana, when jeevatma makes effort the second time, Bhagwan becomes ANUMANTAA or he permits. The third time jeevatma makes effort, he promotes (by giving gyaana/smarana as per their vaasana).

While giving anumati and pravartana, he remains indifferent and detached (anukti and anaadara). He does anugraha to those who engage in good (dharmic) actions and Nigraha of those who engage in adharmic actions.

These are the general rules. To some special jeevatmas, bhagwan does special anugraha and does remain indifferent and detached.

तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम् ।
ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते ।।

तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थमहमज्ञानजं तमः
नाशयाम्यात्मभावस्थो ज्ञानदीपेन भास्वता ।। (Gita 10.10-11)

To some jeevatmas, bhagwan makes them paatra of his kripa and gives righteous gyaana, desire and engage them in righteous efforts. He then permits them and makes them engaged in righteous actions. (This is different from the general rule where he gives gyaana, desire as per their vaasana and permits being indifferent.)

To some aasuri jeevatmas, he does nigraha:

तानहं द्विषतः क्रूरान् संसारेषु नराधमान् । क्षिपाम्यजस्रमशुभानासुरीष्वेव योनिषु ।। Gita 16.19

Those aasuri jeevatmas, who envy me (considers jagat as asatya), I keep throwing them in kroor aasuri yonis.

Bhagwan’s divya mangal vigraha is of five types: Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Antaryaami, Archa.

Whenever, it is said that Bhagwad swarupam is of five types, here swarupam means: swasya rupam. Swarupa here means swa asaadhaarana vigraha.

When we talk about divyaatma swarupa of Bhagwan, here swarupa means: swam rupam. Thus, Bhagwad swarupa would mean Bhagwan himself. He is always one. He is vibhu (present everywhere) and pervades every object without a gap, just like light pervades the glass.

That Vibhu, all-pervading bhagwan can’t be comprehended even by Nityas and Muktas. For the sake of anubhavams of jeevatmas, he takes bodies which are suitable for their anubhavam.

For the sake of nityas and muktas in Para loka, he takes the form of Para Vasudeva

Link: Para roopa of Bhagwan

For the sake of Devas including Rudra and Brahma, he takes Vyuha form.

Link: Vyuha roopa of Bhagwan

For the sake of baddha jeevatmas, he takes various forms sajaatiya to them like trees, Mountains, humans, devas, fishes etc. These are called Vibhava avataras. He is present as Vishnu among Brahma and Rudra, Upendra among Devas and descended as Rama, Krishna etc avataras among humans.

Link: Vibhava roopa of Bhagwan

For the sake of upasana-saukarya of Yogis, he appears as Antaryami in their hearts.

Link: Antaryaami roopa of Bhagwan

How does antaryami do niyaman of jeevatmas:

Who is the doer?Prakriti, jeevatma or Ishwara?

For the sake of all of the above mentioned (Nityas, Muktas and Baddhas), he takes the form of Archa avataras.

Link: Archa roopa of Bhagwan

In all these bodies, Bhagwad aatma-swarupa is the same and thus there is no difference and no gradation possible. However, the gunas shown explicitly in all these are different and upasakas meditate on the different gunas in all the different forms.

NOTE

The important thing to note here is that Bhagwan is not of five types but his vigraham is five types. Bhagwan is always one only.

Para form of Bhagwaan

सव्यम् पादम् प्रसार्य श्रित दुरितहरं दक्षिणं कुञ्चयित्वा
जानुन्याधाय सव्येतरमितरभुजं नागभोगे निधाय |
पश्चात्बाहुद्वयेन प्रतिभटशमने धारयन् शङ्खचक्रे
देवीभूषादिजुष्टो जनयतु जगतां शर्म वैकुण्ठनाथ: ||

वैकुण्ठेतु परेलोके श्रिया सार्धं जगत्पतिः।
आस्ते विष्णुरचिंत्यात्मा भक्तैर्भागवतैस्सह ॥

In Parama-Padam, Bhagwan is present as Para Vasudeva or Vaikunthanaatha. He is having Sri devi on his right and Bhu devi and Nila devi on his left side.

नीलतो यदमध्यस्थाद्विद्युल्लेखेव भास्वरा । (नारायण सूक्त)

The complexion if Bhagwan is blue or dark and his sparkling is like electricity (due to Lakshmi in his chest).

It should not be understood that only Para roopa is apraakrita. Infact, any body possessed by Bhagwan is apraakrita. It is said also:

न तस्य प्राकृता मूर्ति: । (Varaaha Puranam 75.44)

He is forever served by Nitya and Muktas:

तद विष्णो: परमं पदं सदा पश्यन्ति सूरयः ।
दिवीव चक्षु राततम ।।
तद विप्रासों विपन्यवो जाग्रवांसः समिन्धते ।
विष्णोर्यत परमं पदम् । (विष्णु सूक्त, ऋग्वेद)

Here, Nitya suris is said to be doing kainkarya to Bhagwan. Pashyanti means watching. But are they only looking at Bhagwan? It refers to Bhagwad-anubhava-janita-preeti-kaarita-kainkarya. Looking at bhagwaan they get anubhavam, which causes preeti and that preeti forces them to kainkarya (doing something for his pleasures).

यत्र पूर्वे साध्याः सन्ति देवाः ।
यत्रर्षयः प्रथमजा ये पुराणा ।

These pramanas tell about the Nitya suris in Paramapadam.

Bhagwad Ramanuja writes in SriVaikutha Gadyam:

‘शेषशेषाशनगरुडप्रमुखनानाविधानन्तपरिजनपरिचारिकापरिचरितचरणयुगल’

आनन्दस्यान्तो नास्ति

There is no end to aananda in Vaikuntham.

न कालस्तत्र न वै प्रभु: । (Mabharata 12.191.9

Time is present there in Paramapadam but it’s not prabhu or master. In the material world, time is the master. Everything deteriorates with time. That is not the case in Vaikuntham.

Purusha Suktam says:

पादोऽस्य विश्वा भूतानि त्रिपादस्यामृतं दिवि।।

One-fourth is this material world and three-fourth is Nitya loka.

Thus, parampadam is also called tripaad-vibhuti. Tripaad means three-fourth.

त्रिपादूर्ध्व उदैत्पुरुषः पादोऽस्येहाभवत् पुनः ।

In the tripaad-vibhuti resides that Purusha. One-fourth gets created and annihilated again and again.

न तद्भासयते सूर्यो न शशाङ्को न पावकः।
यद्गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम।। (Bhagwad Gita)

न तत्र सूर्यो भाति न चन्द्रतारकं
नेमा विद्युतो भान्ति कुतोऽयमग्निः।
तमेव भान्तमनुभाति सर्वं
तस्य भासा सर्वमिदं विभाति ॥ (Mundak Upanishad and Kathopanishad)

The divyaatma swarupa of bhagwan can’t be comprehended even by Nityas and Muktas. In Para form, Bhagwan becomes sulabha (accessible) to Niryas and Muktas. When he descends to Vyuha loka in each Brahmanda in the Ksheera ocean of Bhu loka, he becomes sulabha to devatas including Rudra and Brahma. In antaryaami form, he is accessible only to Yogis. We have seen that in Vaibhava forms, he becomes sulabha to one and all, however that was only for a certain period of time. Narasimha Avatara was only for a few muhurtas, Rama avatara was for 11000 years and Krishna avatara for 100 years.

Bhagwaan became even more Sulabha in Archa murti forms. Archa has no desha and kaala niyama like it will be born only in Ayodhya and Mathura and only in Dwapara or Kaliyuga. He is accessible at all times and at all places.

“अर्चा पूजाप्रतिमायो:” (कोश)

Archa means Pratima or idol. But is it just a wood or Gold or Rock etc made of Panchabhootas? Even thinking so is a grave apachara.

So, what’s the difference? And if Bhagwan is already present in all the objects, how different is the archa murti?

There are two things here:

1. The difference is the Sankalpa vishesha of Bhagwaan. Bhagwan is indwelling the particular object, after praan-pratishtha with vishesh sankalpa to accept the services and fulfill their desires.
2. The particular object, before praan-pratishtha may be having another indwelling jeevatma and abhimaanam of other abhimaani devatas. In the process of Praan-Pratishtha, the abhimaanam of other jeevatmas are removed.

Now, the Bhagwan have accepted the particular object, in that particular form as his shareera or divya mangal vigraha. It is not different in any sense from the bodies of Bhagwan in Vibhava forms like Rama, Krishna, Hayagriva etc. Bhagwan has no ordinary bodies. Anything he accepts as his body becomes Divya Mangal Vigraha.

Divya : Different from praakrita panch-bhootas
Mangal: Auspicious. Fills those meditating with Sattva gunas.
Vigraha: Shareera or form

What about archa murtis who have no pran-pratishtha but worshipped with devotion?

Saras (Poigai) Azhwar in Mudal Tirivandaadi says that in whatever form a devotee worships him, he assumes that form as his divya mangal vigraha.

In the earlier post, we have seen that after pratishtha, the archa pratima becomes the divya body of Bhagwan and should not be seen as Bhautika materials like wood, Gold etc.

Now, the question arises, what about the vigrahas, where praan-pratishtha is not done? Here, the Mudal Tiruvandaadi paasuram becomes the guiding light. Also, in the vyaakhyaanam of Tiruvaimozhi Sahasrageeti, 3.6.9; Vyakhyanam tells that even if a child draws something on the wall and worships it with devotion, Bhagwan accepts even that very drawing as his Divya Mangal Vigraha.

ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम्।
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः।।4.11।।

Let us understand this concept with a popular charitram of Swami Ramanuja, quoted in Vyakhyanams.

Some kids, at the banks of Kaveri, made a structure of Ranganatha bhagwan in the sands and worshipped him. When Ramanuja was passing by, he saw children making announcements, “Arulapaad Ramanuja Jeeyar”. Swami Ramanuja, instantly prostrated and opened his anga-vastra to receive prasadam in the form of sand balls.

The incident points out the amount of devotion of our acharyas towards the archa murti.

Greatness of Archa avatara

अर्चावतारस्सर्वेषां बान्धवो भक्तवत्सलः ।
Bhaktavatsala bhagwaan is bandhu of everyone as archaavatara.

Bhagwan says to Vishwaksena:

अर्चावतारविषये ममाप्युद्देशतस्तथा
उक्ता गुणा न शक्यन्ते वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि ।।

“I can’t tell you the greatness of Archaa avatara in 100 years”

ऋते च मत्प्रसादाद्वा स्वतो ज्ञानागमेन वा ।।

“Without my kripa, none can know the greatness of Archa avatara”.

एवं पञ्चप्रकारोऽहमात्मनां पततामधः ।
पूर्वस्मादपि पूर्वस्माज्ज्यायांश्चैवोत्तरोत्तरः ।

“Thus, I am of five forms: Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Archa and, Antaryaami’. The later ones are greater than previous”. Thus, the archa avataras are greatest of the five forms of Bhagwan.

The special features of Archa forms are:

1. NO desha and kaala niyama.

Vibhava avataras appeared at certain places like Ayodhya and Mathura, and at certain period of time like Narasimha for few muhurtas, Krishna for 100 years, Rama for 11000 years etc.

However, Archa forms are in small huts and gardens and we can see him non-stop all the time.

2. Archaka-paraadhina-akhil-aatma-sthiti:

Though bhagwaan is swami and swatantra and jeevatmas are swam and paratantra, it reverses in the case of Archa avataras. Bhagwan becomes swam and paratantra, while the archaka becomes Swami and swatantra. For all the actions, bhagwan is dependant on his archaka.

Though Bhagwaan is Sarvagya and Sarvashaktimaan, he becomes agya and ashakta. Means, he turns agya (not knowing) towards the doshas of archakas. Only thing he needs is bhakti. He turns blind eye towards misses in procedures.
He is ashakta in punishing his archakas. Even though there are lapses, he doesn’t punish his archakas.

Shaunak Maharshi says in Vishnu Dharmam:

सुरूपां प्रतिमां विष्णोः प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणाम् ।
कृत्वात्मनः प्रीतिकरीं सुवर्णरजतादिभिः ।।
तामर्चयेत् तां प्रणमेत्तां पूजेत्तां विचिन्तयेत् ।
विशत्यपास्तदोषस्तु तामेव ब्रह्मरूपिणीम् ।।

“Carve a pratima of Gold, Silver etc, having pleasing and happy face. Worship that murti and mediate on that. The person at the end enters into murti i.e. attains Brahman.”

Archa form is the boundary of kaarunya of Bhagwan (kaarunya-seemaabhumi). Enchanting his archakas by the beauty of his roopam, and his audaaryam, bhagwan transforms his archakas slowly. He removes the taste of the jeevatma for vishaya bhoga and makes him develop a taste towards him. Once the jeevatma turns towards him and develops taste for him, he removes all the Rajas and tamas from him by his shubhaashrayatvam.

Tiruppana (Munivaahan Alwar) aalwar tells in Amalanaadipiraan:

“वैलक्षण्याभिज्ञाना माममृतभूतं पश्यन्ती नेत्रे अन्यं न पश्यत”

“Oh my Arangan! My eyes have seen you. Now I won’t see anything else from my eyes.”

Saying this, Tiruppana Alwar merged into the feet of Ranganatha. The incident tells us about the bhogyatvam and moksh-pradatvam of Archa bhagwaan.

One may question that archa form is devoid of gunas. This is not true. Archa form has the highest gunas compared to other forms. All the gunas are paripoorna in him.

How can bhagwan become paratantra?

One may question that if Bhagwan is sarva-swatantra, how come he becomes archaka-paraadheena? Does it not bring dosham in him?

Answer is No. Being Bhakta-paratantra is the boundary of swaatantriyam of Bhagwan. Since he chooses to be bhakt-paratantra using his own swaatantriyam, it’s not a dosha. For me and you, being paratantra to others due to karma is a dosha.

स्वतन्त्रः सञ्जगन्नाथोऽप्यस्वतन्त्रो यथा भवेत् ।
सर्वशक्तिर्जगद्धाताऽप्यशक्त इव चेष्टते ।।

Though Jagannatha is swatantra, he becomes aswatantra (dependant). Though he is sarvashaktimaan, he becomes ashakta (to punish archakas). Though he is all-knowing, he becomes ignorant (towards doshas).

Though the general rule is: परवश जीव स्ववश भगवन्ता। However, In Archa form, the bhakta becomes the master and thinks that Bhagwan is my property.

ममायं वामनो नाम नारसिंहाकृतिः प्रभुः ।
वराहवेषो भगवान् नरो नारायणस्तथा ।।
तथा कृष्णश्च रामश्च ममायमिति निर्दिशेत् ।
मद्धामवासी भगवान्ममेति च सुधीर्भवेत् ।।

The bhakta should meditate that Bhagwan is living in my home and is my property. This Vaamana is mine. This Narasimha is mine. This Varaaha is mine. This Nara-Narayana is mine. This Krishna is mine. This Rama is mine. They are mine and they are for me.

Sri Parashar bhattar says in Sri Rangaraja stvam:

आस्तान्ते गुणराशिवगुणपरीबाहात्मनां जन्मनाम् ।
संख्या, भौमनिकेतनेष्वपि कुटीकुञ्जेषु रङ्गेश्वर ।।
अर्घ्यः सर्व सहिष्णुरर्चकपराधीनाखिलात्मा स्थितिः ।
प्रीणीषे हृदयालुभिस्तव ततः शीलाज्जडीभूयते ।।

“Just like your gunas are infinite, your avataras are also infinite. In archaaavatar youre living in huts and gardens and tolerating all the mistakes of your archakas and having become totally archaka-paraadheena (dependent on the priest) of your activities. Seeing this, any person with heart would become dumbstruck.”

Whether we go to swarga or Naraka, the human body or the insect body…There is someone who is always with us. He never leaves us. Who is he?

“अन्तर्यामिस्वरूपं च सर्वेषां बन्धुवत् स्थितम्”

“स्वर्ग नरक प्रवेशेऽपि बन्धुरात्मा हि केशव”

He is Vishnu. He remains inside each aatma as antaryaami paramaatma. The motive of his presence is niyaman or controlling. If he was not present as antaryami at any point of time, the very existence of jeevatma itself would have ended.

Though, we have been disappointing him, through millions of births, thankfully he never gave up on us and for the very purpose of saving us, he is indwelling inside each of us as antaryaami.

य आत्मानमन्तरो यमयति,
अन्तःप्रविष्टः शास्ता जनानाम्,
शास्ता विष्णुरशेषस्य जगतो यो हृदि स्थित:

There are multiple pramanas in Vedas which prove that Bhagwan is an antaryami aatma of each jeevatma. He is controlling and holding each jeevatma from inside.

The presence of Bhagwan as antaryaami is just by swarupam i.e. without and rupa or form. He is not present with body as antaryaami.

However, for upasakas, he appears in their heart sky with a divya mangal vigraha, as per the upaasya ruchi of the upaasaka, to drive his upaasana.

“अंगुष्ठ मात्रः पुरुषो ज्योतिरिवाधूमक”
“नीलतोयदमध्यस्था विद्युल्लेखेव भास्वरा”

These are the pramanas which the saakaar form of Bhagwan in the heart of upaasakas. However, for all general people, the presence of antaryaami is without form.

If we accept Antaryaami as Saakaara vigraha then we would end up in ‘Anavastha dosha’. The Saakaara Bhagwan is with his divya body. He is antaryaami of his divya Shuddha-Sattva-maya body as well. Now, that antaryaami is also with a body. Again its antaryami.

It will to endless and that is what we call Anavastha dosha.

It can be understood as Infinite regression.

If Antaryaami inside a jeevatma is with body, then again Bhagwan will be the antaryaami of his body. That antaryaami is again with body… This will go to infinite regression.

Bhagwan’s body is made of gyaanandamaya achit tattvas. Bhagwan is antaryaami of everything, including his body.

Vibhav roopams of Bhagwan

अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन्।
प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय संभवाम्यात्ममायया।।BG 4.6।।

Though I am unborn, blemisheless; I am born out of my own free will, by employing my own self-nature (swabhaava).

बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन।

The number of births of Bhagwan is infinite. He is born among devaas, Manushyas, tiryak, sthaavar etc and takes bodies similar to them.

अजायमानो बहुधा विजायते।

Bhagwaan out of his own free will, comes down in various forms. Those forms are called Vibhava avataras.

Q. How are we translating ‘maayaa’ as ‘free will’

माया वपुनं ज्ञानम् (कोश)

Here, Maya means gyaanam. Thus, maaya here (संभवाम्यात्ममायया) is the ‘free Will’ of Bhagwan. प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय means Bhagwan comes with his own prakriti or nature. He doesn’t change. He is the same Bhagwan who is present in Sri Vaikuntham.

In Bhagwad Gita Bhashya, Ramanuja swami writes:

ब्रह्मादिदेवमनुष्याणां ध्यानाराधनाद्यगोचरः अपि अपारकारुण्यसौशील्यवात्सल्यौदार्यमहोदधिः, स्वमेव रूपं तत्तत्सजातीयसंस्थानं स्वस्वभावम् अजहद् एव कुर्वन् तेषु तेषु लोकेषु अवतीर्य अवतीर्य तैः तैः आराधितः, तत्तदिष्टानुरूपं धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाख्यं फलं प्रयच्छन्, भूभारावतारणापदेशेन अस्मदादीनाम्अपि समाश्रयणीयत्वाय अवतीर्य सकलमनुजनयनविषयतां गतः।

Key point here is: स्वस्वभावम् अजहद् एव कुर्वन्। Without leaving his very nature, when he is born among devas, manushyas, tiryak etc.

Why are avataras called Vibhava?

स उ श्रेयान भवति जायमानः ।
By taking birth only he becomes glorified.

Thus, when he is born in the sansara and becomes the subject of the eyes of everyone, that is what makes him glorious. In Vibhava avatara only, the vaibhav of bhagwan is seen.

What is the purpose of Bhagwan taking vibhava avataras?

Bhagwan himself says:

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय संभवामि युगे युगे।।4.8।।

Bhagwan lists three reasons for his avataras: saadhu paritraanam, dushkrit vinaasham, dharm sansthaapanam. Out of the three, Bhashyakaar swami explains that Saadhu paritraanam or protecting his devotees is the mail goal of his incarnation. As these Saadhus are foremost of the vaishnavas and they can’t live without him. Without him, their life is fish out of the water. For the sake of them, Bhagwan comes and shows his mangal vigraham in front of them and protects them.

In Gita Bhashya, Bhashyakaara swami says that for devotees like Akrura, Maalaakara etc, he has come as Krishna. Dusht-vinaashanam is just a vyaaja.

Q. Some people say that Bhagwan took birth due bhrugu-shraapa etc karmas?

Rishi shraapa as vyaaja for avatara

Answer: There is a difference between our birth and the birth of Bhagwan. Our birth is due to karma and to suffer the fruits of karma. Whereas, the birth of bhagwan is due to his own will/ichchha.

Bhrigu had given a curse that you will suffer with separation from wife:

पतिव्रता धर्मपरा हता येन मम प्रिया ।
स तु प्रियाविरहितश्चिरकालं भविष्यति ।।

However, Bhagwan himself says that rishi-shraapa was his own will and he took it as vyaaja to come as Rama.

तपसाऽऽराधितो देवो ह्यब्रवीद्भक्तवत्सलः ।
लोकानां सम्प्रियार्थन्तु शापं मद्भाह्यमुक्तवान् ।।

In Linga purana:

सर्वावर्तेषु वै विष्णोर्जननं स्वेच्छयैव तु ।
जरकास्त्रच्छलेनैव स्वेच्छया गमनं हरेः ।।
द्विजशापच्छलेनैवमवतीर्णोऽपि लीलया ।।

Classifications of Vibhava avataras

Among the Vibhava avataras, there are two broad categories:

1. Pramukha avataras or swayam avataras.
2. Gauna avataras or aavesha avataras.

Both mukhya and gauna avataras are infinite.

अवतारा ह्यसङ्ख्येया हरे: सत्त्वनिधेर्द्विजा: ।
यथाविदासिन: कुल्या: सरस: स्यु: सहस्रश: ॥ श्रीमद्भागवत १.३.२६ ॥

Mukhya avatara means Bhagwan himself taking forms of deva, manushya, tiryaka etc. In all these forms, he is ‘swayam bhagwan’. Mukhya avataras are superior. Examples are: Varaaha, Narasimha, Rama, Krishna, Vaamana, Kalki etc.

Gauna avataras are amukhya. In these avataras, bhagwan doesn’t take form himself but empowers a jeevatma with his swarupa or shakti. Thus, gauna avataras can also be classified into two categories:

A. Swarupa aavesha : Being present with his asaadhaarana vigraha inside a jeevatma. E.g. Parashuram, Buddha etc.

B. Shakti aavesha : Empowering a jeevatma for a certain period of time, for a particular function, with his shakti. Examples are Rudra, Brahma and also Kaartaveerya Arjuna etc.

Important note:

In swayam avataras, bhagwan takes shareera which are not prakrita but shuddha-sattva apraakrita tattvas. Shuddha Sattva is swayam-prakash dravyas. Thus, they are called shubhaashraya tirumeni. Upon meditating on these forms, we get filled with sattva gunas and rajas, tamas vanishes away.

Whereas, aavesha avataras are jeevatmas only, with prakrita vigrahas (made of panch-bhootas). Praakrita tattvas are ‘bhagwad-swarup-tirodhaan-kareem’. They don’t reveal the bhagwad-swarupa.

It’s not recommended for mumukshus to meditate on aavesha avtaras, they will enhance rajas and tamas in us. However, bhubhukshus meditate on them for material gains.

अनर्ध्यानपि वक्ष्यामि प्रादुर्भावान् यथाक्रमम् ।
चतुर्मुखस्तु भगवान् सृष्टिकार्ये नियोजितः ।।
शङ्कराख्यो महारुद्रः संहारे विनियोजितः ।
मोहनाख्यस्तथा बुद्धो व्यासश्चैव महानृषिः ।।
वेदानां व्यसने तत्र देवेन विनियोजितः ।
अर्जुनो धन्विनां श्रेष्ठो जामदग्न्यो महानृषिः ।।
वसूनां पावकश्चापि वित्तेशश्च तथैव च ।
एवमाद्यैश्च सेनेश प्रादुर्भावैरधिष्ठिताः ।।
जीवात्मानः सर्व एते नोपास्या वैष्णवैः सदा ।
आविष्टमात्रास्ते सर्वे कार्यार्थममितद्युते ।।
अनर्ध्याः सर्व एवैते विरुद्धत्वान्महामते ।
अहंकृतियुताश्चेमे जीवमिश्रा व्यधिष्ठिताः ।।
(Vishwaksen Samhita)

We can see in SriRamayanam that Swarupa aavesha avatar Paradhurama wins over Shaktyaavesha avataar Kaartaveerya Arjuna. While swayam avatara Sri Rama wins over Parashurama. Thus, Mukhya avatara is greater than aavesha avataras.

ऋषयो मनवो देवा मनुपुत्रा महौजस: ।
कला: सर्वे हरेरेव सप्रजापतय: स्मृता: ॥ २७ ॥

एते चांशकला: पुंस: कृष्णस्तु भगवान् स्वयम् ।
इन्द्रारिव्याकुलं लोकं मृडयन्ति युगे युगे ॥ २८ ॥

“Rishis, Manu, devas etc are aavesha avatars of Hari. Krishna etc are swayam bhagwan.”

Buddha is sometimes counted in swayam avataras as well as aavesha avataras. Parashurama is counted as both swarupa aavesh and Shakti aavesha. This has to be understood as kalpa bhedas.

Glories of Vibhava avatara

Kooresha swami says:

(वरदराजस्तव)

एवं स्थितेत्वदुपसंश्रयणाभ्युपायो
मानेन केनचिदलप्स्यत नोपलब्धुम् ।
नो चेदमर्त्यमनुजादिषु योनिषु
त्वमिच्छाविहारविधिना समवातरिष्यः ।।

If you don’t descend with manushya shareera, and remain in Para loka, none could know about upaay and none could reach.

Thus, coming down as vibhava avataras by taking sajaatiya bodies is the greatest kripa of bhagwan.

Mukhya Vibhava avataras are those in which bhagwan himself takes a body, as per his avataram. The bodies of bhagwaan in these swayam avataras are apraakrita, Shuddha Sattva, Swayam Prakasha and shubhaashraya.

Only these swayam avataras are upaasya for mumukshu jeevatmas.

As told in ‘ajo api san avyavyaatma bhutaanaam Ishwaro api san‘; such bhagwan who is blemish-less and controller of all, takes a form without leaving his swabhaaba of sarva-Ishwaratvam.

Just like a deepam (diya) is lighted from another deepam, similarly bhagwan takes one form from another form. Just like when a deepam is lighted from another deepam, it doesn’t differ it’s swarupa, similary when one mangal vigraha (body) emerges from another mangal vigraha, it doesn’t lose it swabhaavam and remains apraakrita mangal vigraha.

It should be noted that in all the swayam avatara forms, bhagwan remains the same. There is only change in the forms of the body. Aatma of all those bodies is the same Ishwara.

All the avtaras evolves from Aniruddha Vyuha as rakshana kaarya belongs to Aniruddha. As discussed earlier, In Aniruddha, Shakti and Tejas guna are meditated. Shakti is aghatit-ghatana-saamarthyam of taking a fallen jeevatma to Nitya loka and Tejas is overpowering the evils and not needing any sahakaari.

भुजायुधानां नियम: तत्रतत्रेच्छया मया (Vishwaksen Samhita)

The number of hands and the types of aayudhas in a particular Vibhava avatara depends upon the free-will of Bhagwan. There is no fixed rule. The only rule is his wish.
As these are atyant gopaneeya (highly secret), it is not generally revealed in open and revealed only to yogya upasakas.

Also in Vishnu Puran:
इच्छागृहीताभिमतोरुदेह:।

निज इच्छा निर्मित तनु माया गुण गोपार (मानस)

Bhagwan takes bodies as per his will.

Ananda-swarupa

Earlier, it was told that Jeevatma is gyaana-swarupa and gyaana-gunaka and shesha to Bhagwan.

If we say only gyaana swarupa, then there is ati-vyaapti since Dharma-Bhoota gyaana is also gyaana-swarupa. If we say only gyaana-swarupa and gyaana-gunaka then there will be ati-vyaapti with Ishwara. Thus, sheshatva is important to add in the lakshana (identification) of jeevatma.

Now it is told that jeevatma is aananda-swarupa and aanand-gunaka.

There is no contradiction in saying so. aananda is nothing but anukoola gyaaa. The subject of any gyaana is anukoola to a jeevatma. We consider it pratikoola as we identify ourselves as shareera as a result of agyaana, arising out of karma.

Once agyaana is gone and we identify ourselves as aatma, different from shareera, there will always be aananda, no dukham.

Dharmabhoota gyaana nirupanam

DB gyaana is nitya (eternal) by swarupa. It is Swayam prakaasha , however, in baddha chetanas it’s self-revealing nature is obstructed due to karma and it expands through particular Indriyas.

In Muktas, Nityas and Ishwar, however, there is no contraction of DB gyaana and is thus truly self-revealing. It is able to observe all the vishayas without the need of Indriyas etc. (Thus, there is no need of eyes to see, ears to hear etc. Though they may be using it or may not be using it out of their free will.)

Sukh, Dukh, Ichchha, dwesh, prayatna are avastha bhedams of Gyaana. In Nyaaya siddhanta, they are understood as different dravyas. However, in Ramanuja vedanta, they are different forms of gyaana.

Sukham: Anukoola gyaana is Sukham. When any knowledge is favourable or suitable to us, that is Sukham.

Dukham: Pratikoola gyaanam is dukham. When any knowledge is unfavourable or unsuitable to us, it is dukham.

Similarly, ichchha (desire) and dwesh (jealousy) are also forms of dharmabhoota gyaanam only. There is no pramaana to consider them as different padaarthas.