avatAraH [ ava-tF karaRe GaY ] 1 Descent, alighting; descending or going down into; ( fig. ) accepting, resorting to; pAKaMqipaTAvatAraH Dk. 47 ; advent, setting in; vasaMtAvatArasamaye Ś. 1. 2 Form, manifestation; matsyAdiBiravatArEravatAravatA vatA'vatAvasuDAM Śaṅkara . 3 Descent of a deity upon earth, incarnation in general; kopyeza saMprati navaH puruzAvatAraH U. 5. 34 ; DarmArTakAmamokzARAmavatAra ivAMgavAn R. 10. 84 ; fzyavatAroyaM nfpatiH Ks. 7. 18. 4 An incarnation of Viṣṇu; vizRuryena daSAvatAragahane kzipto mahAsaMkawe Bh. 3. 95. There are ten incarnations of Viṣṇu; the following verse from Gīt. describes them; vedAnudDarate jagannivahate BUgolamudbiBrate dEtyaM dArayate baliM Calayate kzatrakzayaM kurvate . pOlastyaM jayate halaM kalayate kAruRyamAtanvate mlecCAnmUrcCayate daSAkftikfte kfzRAya tuByaM namaH .. . matsyaH kUrmo varAhaSca narasiMhoTa vAmanaH . rAmo rAmaSca kfzRaSca budDaH kalkI ca te daSa .. . 5 Any new appearance, growth, rise; navAvatAraM kamalAdivotpalam R. 3. 36 ; parIvAdanavAvatAraH 5. 24 ; yOvanAvatAre K. 289 ; Ve. 3 ; Śānti. 2. 26 ; 3. 14 ; Ks. 8. 30. 6 Any distinguished person (who, in the language of respect, is called an avatAra or incarnation of a deity). 7 Aiming at ( pb ) an object. 8 A landing-place; rudDe gajena saritaH saruzAvatAre Śi. 5. 33. 9 A sacred bathing-place. 10 Translation. 11 A pond, tank. 12 Introduction, preface. 13 Crossing; °raM laB to gain one's object (with gen. ) Comp. — kaTA account of an avatAra , N. of a chapter in SaMkaravijaya . — maMtraH the prayer causing the descent of a deity.