Dasavatara in the light of Bhagvad Gita

Dr.Saroja Ramanujam,M.A.,Ph.D,Siromani in Sanskrit

Vamanavathara

            Vamana was jnanasvaroopa, embodiment of jnana (knowledge). Without jnana wealth and power swell the pride as could be seen in the case of Mahabali, who thought that he had everything and could give anything forgetting that all he had was given to him by the grace of the Lord. He was a devotee but still his behaviour shows that even a devotee could become inflated with pride if he forgets that everything belongs not to him but to the Lord only. When the pride is destroyed by seeing that he could not give even the land measured by three feet, the devotion becomes pure and the wisdom becomes all encompassing like Thrivikrama. The Lord rewards it by giving Himself, as He says in Gita, jnaanee thu athmaaiva me matham aasThithaH sa hi yukthaathmaa maameva anutthamaam gathim.(BG. 7.28/29) ; "The jnani is not different from Me. Being united in Me he attains the greatest status". He gave Mahabali anutthmaam gathim, the highest state and also promised to be the gate keeper to Mahabali in his abode in Patala.

Paarasurama

            Parasurama represents the yogi who has rooted out inner enemies like kama and krodha, represented by the adharmik kshathriyas. When rajas and thamas are destroyed satthva comes to the surface and this is denoted by Parasurama giving the earth conquered by him to Kasyapa. The axe, paraSu of Parasurama signifies viveka (discrimination) and vairagya (renunciation) by which rajas and thamas are conquered.

            The Asvattha tree described in the Gita which is nourished by the sensual pleasures born out of desire, kama, is axed by detachment, as said in the 15^th chapter of the Gita, aSvattham enam suvirooDamoolam asangaSasthreNa dhrDena Chithvaa (BG.15.3), cutting this asvattha tree which has deep roots with the weapon of detachment.