Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
Do you know what an Avatar is? And from what religions this concept somes from?
Cause it seems a lot of us have these cute cartoonish personifications of ourslves but I am skeptical that many of us actually know what the terms means...Please state the origin of the word and provide some examples from different faiths (where the term may apply) of what consitutes an avatar...
Thank you immensely for the links to wikipedia..two is enough.. I have a good idea what it means, that is I am familiar with the definition but why I am asking is that I am curious if people of different faiths (non hindus) a would use this term to describe any of their prophets or just the big ones... i.e. are mohammed, jesus, Buddha, Haile Salassie, kim Jong il, the Dalai lama etc considered by practicants of those religions to be avatars...? Are they comfortable 'borrowing' that concept from Hinduism or is that how they see their prophet themselves as well ....
5 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Avatar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In Hindu philosophy, an avatar, avatara or avataram (Sanskrit: अवतार, IAST: avatāra), most commonly refers to the incarnation (bodily manifestation) of a higher being (deva), or the Supreme Being (God) onto planet Earth. The Sanskrit word avatāra- literally means "descent" (avatarati) and usually implies a deliberate descent into lower realms of existence for special purposes. The term is used primarily in Hinduism, for incarnations of Vishnu whom many Hindus worship as God.
The word has also been used by extension to refer to the incarnations of God in other religions, especially by adherents to dharmic traditions when explaining figures such as Jesus.
END QUOTE
EDIT: Ah, okay. I am a Christian and NO, I would never refer to Jesus Christ as an 'avatar,' in fact I would consider that blasphemy.
Source(s): wikipedia - 1 decade ago
In Hindu philosophy, an avatar most commonly refers to the incarnation (bodily manifestation) of a higher being (deva), or the Supreme Being (God) onto planet Earth. The Sanskrit word avatÄra- literally means "descent" (avatarati) and usually implies a deliberate descent into lower realms of existence for special purposes. The term is used primarily in Hinduism, for incarnations of Vishnu whom many Hindus worship as God.
The word has also been used by extension to refer to the incarnations of God in other religions, especially by adherents to dharmic traditions when explaining figures such as Jesus.
Source(s): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar - GlobetrotterLv 51 decade ago
It sounds like you already know the answer, so why are you asking in the first place? That's just one of many terms in current usage of which people don't know the origin.
- Tori MLv 41 decade ago
We are avatars ourselves for our higher selves to use to operate in this world. Think about it.
- How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- 1 decade ago
not an answer to your question, but I seem unable to contact you (in relation to an answer you made to my question). Click on my name and click e-mail to contact me.
