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Incarnations
See also
Avataar
In Hindu mythology there have been many incarnations. Avataar are different
from incarnation. Avataar are normally of Bhagvaan, while incarnations or
rebirth and are normally of other people, Gandharv, Rishi, Apsaraa etc. Here
are the names of those people who took rebirth. The names are arranged
alphabetically.
Akroor
Akroor was the incarnation of Vishnu's Paarshad, Chandra Sharmaa -
Satyabhaamaa's husband in her previous life.
Read
Satyabhaamaa's Previous Life (Padm
Puraan, 5/12).
Balaraam
Balaraam was the incarnation of Shesh Naag. he was born to his own mother
Kadroo who was incarnated as Rohinee and was married to Vasudev who was
the incarnation of Maharshi Kashyap Jee himself.
Devakee
Devakee was the incarnation of Aditi. As Aditi she was the mother of
Vaaman Bhagvaan, and now as Devakee she was the mother Krishn.
Devakee's 6 sons
Devakee's 6 sons were the 6 sons of Kaalnemi Raakshas. They were great
devotee of Vishnu because of Prahlaad's teachings. Seeing this Hiranyakashyap
cursed them that they would be killed by their own father. So they were
reborn as Vasudev's 6 sons and were killed by Kans as he was the incarnation
of Kaalnemi.
Duryodhan
Duryodhan was the incarnation of Kali Yug.
Hiranyaaksh and Hiranyakashyap
These two Raakshas were the incarnation of two gatekeepers of Vishnu who
were cursed by Sanakaadi Muni. They were cursed to be born as Raakshas on
Prithvi for three lives. So first they were born as Hiranyaaksh and
Hiranyakashyap; second time they were born as Raavan and Kumbhkarn; and
the third time they were born as Shishupaal and Dantvakra
Kans
Kans was the incarnation of Kaalnemi Raakshas.
Krishn's 16,000 Wives
When krishn had killed Bhaumaasur, He freed 16,000 women imprisoned by him
and told them to go wherever they wanted to go as they were free. They said -
"We have no home now and we wish to marry you." So Krishn sent them
to Dwaarakaa and got married to them together in an auspicious Muhoort. These
16,000 women were the incarnation of Apsaraa. By the curse of Ashtaavakra (see
Ashtaavakra and Apsaraa) they were born
on Prithvi, and were imprisoned by Bhaumaasur. But later with the boon of
Ashtaavakra got married to Bhagvaan and were attacked by robbers when Arjun
was bringing them back from Dwaarakaa. After that they went to Swarg. This story
comes in Vishnu Puraan,
5/15.
Lakshman
Lakshman was the incarnation of Shesh Naag.
Nand and Yashodaa
Nand Jee was the incarnation of Drone named Vasu and Yashodaa was his
Dhaaraa named wife. Once Drone did so so much Tapasyaa to see Bhagvaan's
child form, but when this did not happen, they built an Agni Kund (fire
altar) and decided to immolate themselves in it. Then Bhagvaan appeared
and said - "It is very difficult to have Darshan of Bhagvaan's child
form, but when in Dwaaapar Yug, when Bhagvaan will incarnate on Prithvi
then He will incarnate in your house and will provide you the pleasure of
His child form."
Raavan and Kumbhkarn see Hiranyaaksh and Hiranyakashyap
Rohinee
Rohinee, the senior wife of Vasudev, was Kashyap's wife Kadroo who gave
birth to serpents (Naag) and was called Naag Maataa. When she was born in
this life Shesh Naag was born to her as Balaraam to honor her as his
mother.
Satraajit
Satraajit, Satyabhaamaa's father, was also the father of Satyabhaamaa in her
previous life (Dev Sharmaa). After his death he became Vishnu's Paarshad, and Vishnu came as
Krishn, he also came on Prithvi as Satraajit. Satybhaamaa again was born to him
as his daughter.
Satyabhaamaa
Satyabhaamaa was the incarnation of Bhoo Devee. That is why when Krishn went to
kill Narakaasur (Bhaumaasur) He asked Satyabhaamaa to kill him. When Narakaasur
was born, Bhoo Devee, his mother asked a boon from Hari, that he should be
killed by his mother, that is why Krishn had to take Satyabhaamaa along with Him
when He went to kill Narakaasur. Read also the account of her previous life -
Satyabhaamaa's Previous Life (Padm
Puraan, 5/12).
Shishupaal and Dantvakra see Hiranyaaksh and Hiranyakashyap
Vasudev
Vasudev Jee, Krishn's father, was the incarnation of Maharshi Kashyap himself.
His wife Devakee was the incarnation of Aditi, and Rohinee was the incarnation
of Kadroo.
Vidur
Vidur Jee was the incarnation of Dharm Raaj (Yam Raaj). He had to born as a maid's
son because of the curse of Maandavya Rishi.
Read his story here. In fact Dharm Raaj had to reincarnate three times - (1)
as Dom in Harishchandra times, (2)
Vidur in Paandav times
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