Concept of Incarnation

Question:
Whos is the 10th Avatara of Vishnu. Some told me that it is Buddha, some told it is Balarama. Please clarify.

My Reply:
Ten Avatars According to general Hindus and Madhva Vishnavas:

1. Matsya
2. Kurma
3. Varaha
4. Narasimha
5. Vamana
6. Parasurama
7. Rama
8. Krishna
9. Buddha
10. Kalki

Ten incarnations of Vishnu according to Vishnavas (except Madhvas):

1. Matsya
2. Kurma
3. Varaha
4. Narasimha
5. Vamana
6. Parasurama
7. Rama
8. Balarama
9. Krishna
10. Kalki

The concept of Avatara is that the infinite, limitless by his own will bounds himself and takes the form of a on earth. He too thus cannot remain untouched about the general human limitations like hunger, sleep etc. But his struggle against all these human limitations is to be an example and inspiration for others too. The Narayana who is the limitless, out of love for jivas enters the world of limitations to uphold the Dharma.

Well this is the puranic concept of an Avatara. Lets leave the question of how true it is aside for some time, and look at this from a purely evaluative manner. In my opinion the very concept of God coming as a human and showing by example is one of the highest ideas humans have ever conceived.

I in my present position not being able to do an Herculean task and god just waving his hand and it being done, is fine, but not a great ideal in my view. "He is powerful, so he did it, I am powerless, so I cant do it" is the typical idea one forms. But the belief that God himself has come down as a human to our level to show us by example in his own life. A god, attaining Moksha is no great a deal. But the same god, being born like one of us, having been subjected to the same type of problems and limitations, but raising above them is surely a great idea, even if it is just a belief.

The difference between the most Hindus and ISCKON is on the point what is the complete limless infinite, and what is the state in which that infinte confined itself into finite.

So to answer your question: No, Krishna IS an Avatara of Vishnu according to MAJORITY Hindus.

Question:
correct me if i am wrong, but isn't avatar a very vaishnavite concept?

i mean, the so called avatars of shiva do not find mention in any notable smruti literature, and in my experience have only been bestowed upon local gods to draw the pagan followers of those gods into the fold of hinduism.

i personally think that the whole avatar business is fundamentally a vaishnavite idea, which collates personalities from myth/actuality that have had some common purpose to their lives over the ages and give them descendanthood from the same Vaishnavite Godhood.

My Reply:
In the case of Shiva, usually the word Avatara is not used, instead the word "amsha" is used. Hanuman, Dhakshinamurthy, Dattareya, Sankaracharya etc are said to be Shiva's amsha (ie., projected from his power).

According to the concept of Avatara, an avatara comes to uphold the Dharma. In the three trinites, usually Vishnu is attributed the work of preservation of the universe(Brahma creator; Shiva destroyer), so quite natural that only Vishnu is referred. About the origins of this concept, a friend once suggested that it might have its early origins in the Buddhist times(Buddhists too have this concept of 24 Buddhas etc etc). I feel his theory is correct.

Also another intresting thing to note is that Avatara always comes accompanied with Shakti (also maya; represented in the form of wife), to preserve the creation (which 'exists' due to maya).

But Shiva always comes Single, and is a brahmachari. Shiva's amsha's aer not very much for preserving the creation, but they come either to play a supporting role to Vishnu (like Hanuman) or as monastic spiritual teachers (Shiva being the destroyer of ignorance).