DAS AVTAR
III. DWAPUR YUGA

FARSIRAM was born to the great saint of the time, JALVAGAN and his wife RENKAVATI. The saint and his wife led a pure and divine life.
Saint JALVAGAN'S wife's sister was married to the powerful Devil SAHESTRA-ARJUN.

On one occasion when SAHESTRA-ARJUN with his large army was at the place in the jungle where saint JALVAGAN and RENKAVATI lived, it passed in the thoughts of RENKAVATI, for one moment, that she was a pauper in comparison to her sister who had so much wealth and glory.

Unfortunately because of such poor thinking, her spiritual power was awakened. On that day she was unable to carry out her daily practice of filling water in apiece of cloth. RENKAVAN'S husband saint JALVAGAN guessed the cause of this weakening and cautioned her: he said to her that the SPIRITUAL KINGDOM is much richer and powerful than the TEMPORAL KINGDOM. JALVAGAN told SATI RENKAVATI to invite SAHESTRA ARJUN and his army to dine at their hut.

SAHESTRA ARJUN took this matter as a mockery, but JALVAGAN assured him of his able ness to provide the food. And just as he said, the whole army and SAHESTRA ARJUN were fed with a hearty meal, at which they were greatly amazed. This was done by the saint's spiritual power.

SAHESTRA ARJUN could not utter anything except that he asked the saint if he would part with the holy cow NANDINI, miraculously, thousands of warriors appeared to fight mercilessly the army of SAHESTRA ARJUN. This happened due to the divine mystery of the 'NOOR,' the light of GOD.

The sixth Avtar 'FARISRAM' appeared in ZAHIR. SAHESTRA ARJUN who had the power of a thousand hands was killed and the fate of his army also ended.

BHAGAT KAMLAPATI and other BHAGATS hereafter lived happily. Religion was enlightened and salvation was granted to all the BHAGAT RUHANIS.

LORD VISHNU reincarnated in 'VAMAN' or 'DWARF AVTAR' because there was a devil BAL who had a total of 660 million followers who were all disbelievers in GOD. With so many followers, BAL took to oppressing momins and not only that, but he sought advice from his GURU as how to combat the LORD and become successful.
His GURU advised him to perform as many YAGNAS as he could ( YAGNA means religious ceremony of inviting thousands of people, including RAJAS, MAHARAJAS, prominent personalities, and feeding them, presenting them with precious metals, gold, silver utensils, etc.) BAL fantastically performed 999 YAGNAS, but because of arrogance, his KUBUDHI (WRONGS of MIND) did not vanish.

One who performs YAGNA should not marry two wives at a time. But BAL, against the religious laws of the times, and to deliberately provoke GOD, married another wife while one was still living. The DEVLOK, MOMINS and the angels prayed to the LORD to punish BAL for his misconduct.

In 'VAMAN' or PIGMY AVTAR, the LORD appeared at BAL'S house as a beggar asking for alms. The dwarf asked for three and a half of his footsteps i.e. 3 ½ HATH ( 18 inches per HATH) of LAND for his hut. The wealthy BAL despite warning from his GURU SHUKRACHARYA took this as a mockery.

But Lo! The “VAMAN AVTAR” measured out the land with his divine “VIRAT” SWARUP (GODLY Aspect) as follows:
In FIRST STEP the Lord measured SWARGA (the Heavens),
In SECOND STEP the Lord measured MRATYU (the Earth),
And in THIRD STEP the Lord measured PATAL (the World Underneath the Earth).

Still BAL owed the LORD HALF HATH OF LAND! He was unable to give. Consequently, the LORD pressed BAL’S body into the PATAL, and he was killed. The light of religion illuminated the world once again.

Pir SADARADIN says in the Holy Ginan: -

BAL BHUPAT RRAYUINE SIA HUA,
JENE KIDHA NAVSO NAVANU JAGAN;
JASH BOLAYA TRAN LOKMA,
BAL E DIDHA DAN APAR;
SAMI GHER AAVIYA NAHI ODAKHYA,
BALNE CHAMPYA PAIYAR –KARAM . . . .

O MOMIN, think of KING BAL who was a great YAGNA performer.
He spent immense wealth after 999 YAGNAS.
Even after such fantastic charities, he became arrogant
And as result the Lord condemned him.
Therefore humility in life to achieve the true essence
Of religion is most essential.

BHAGAT KAMLADHAN was chief BHAGAT of the time. He, along with many other momins was graced with salvation and HAKIKATI NOORANI DIDAR.

This Fourth AVTAR is that of MAN and LION combined. The reason LORD VISHNU reincarnated as 'NARSINH' or 'NARSANG AVTAR' will become clear as the narrative unfolds.
The DEVIL HARNAKANS prayed and prayed for ages and obtained 'KOL' from the LORD. The LORD told the DEVIL that he would get anything he desired as compensation for his vast prayers. HARNAKANS demanded from the LORD: I should not be killed by the following means (elements or conditions) - iron or wood , in dryness or greenness, by male or female, during day or night, indoors or outdoors, by the sky, earth, fire, water, or animal.

The LORD as promised, agreed to the above conditions of the DEVIL. The DEVIL HARNAKANS became very arrogant and started stirrings against religion and MOMINS. He opposed and stopped RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES on EARTH. Momins thus prayed to the LORD for help and the LORD answered them to have patience: 'Time will come I shall bring the end of HARNAKANS.'

After some time, a son was born to HARNAKANS whose name was PAHELAJ. PAHELAJ in his childhood was saying prayer in the Holy name of 'NARSINH.' When he was sent to school, he taught many of his fellow students the holy name of 'NARSINH.' The teacher, not happy with this, reported to KING HARNAKANS that PAHELAJ is misguiding other students and instead of your Honour's name he is teaching them the name of 'NARSINH.'

The King called PAHELAJ in his presence and asked him why he refused to take HARNAKAN'S NAME: ' There is no one greater than myself, you know this.'
PAHELAJ replied: 'Oh Dad, there is none greater than SRI-NARSINH. Dad you will be doomed one day, remember Dad!'

HARNAKANS was very much crossed by this and decided to kill PAHELAJ. He asked that PAHELAJ be placed next to a mad elephant. But Lo! The elephant prostrated in front of PAHELAJ and made him sit on his back. Then the king asked that PAHELAJ be rolled down a mountain. At this juncture the Almighty God saved PAHELAJ miraculously. PAHELAJ was also saved from a big fire. This raged the king so much that he told PAHELAJ to embrace a very hot pillar saying: ' Let us see now how your God NARSINH will save you from this. Where is he now?'

PAHELAJ boldly told the king: ' You are stupid, don't you see my God NARSINH in the PILLAR?' Although at first PAHELAJ was nervous, when he saw living ants moving on the heated pillar, he became very confident. He remembered the Holy Name 'NARSHINE,' 'NARSHINE,' and the pillar immediately burst apart- from where the Lord NARSHINE appeared in the form of 'Man and Lion.'

LORD NARSINH got hold of the Devil HARNAKANS and killed him with his claws. He killed him when it was neither day nor night and at the center of a door, neither indoors or outdoors, thus keeping his word.

PAHELAJ was appointed the MUKHI and consequently there was enlightenment of religion. 'NARSINH AVTAR' granted a KOL to MUKHI PAHELAJ for the salvation of FIVE CRORE RUHANIS. With prayers in the Holy Name of 'NARSINH,' FIVE CRORE RUHANIS achieved HAKIKATI BATUNI NOORANI DIDAR and SALVATION.

During the THIRD AVTAR of the LORD VISHNU in the first KARTA YUGA there lived a king UTANPAD. A son was born two his first of two wives called BHAGAT DHRUV who was, from the early age of five, deeply religious and very regular at praying.
At the time, there was also a DEVIL MOR who was constantly harassing MOMINS of LORD VISHNU. DEVIL MOR was unusually powerful; he was an Earth-shaker, therefore LORD VISHNU had to take 'VARAH AVTAR.' LORD VISHNU sustained the EARTH and killed MOR.

The LORD was much pleased with BHAGAT DHRUV because of his love for the LORD and graced him with power to rule the earth for THIRTY SIX THOUSAND YEARS. Dhruv lived so long and ruled the earth with justice and peace. Religion developed, and the earth was enlightened with knowledge.

In the KARTA YUGA, LORD VISHNU incarnated as 'KORABHA AVTAR.' The Devil MADHUKITAK had SIXTY SIX CRORE followers residing around Mount Meru who were opponents of DHARMA (religion). The momins prayed to LORD VISHNU for help and LORD VISHNU planned to destroy MADHUKITAK.
In the AVTAR of 'KORABHA,' LORD VISHNU induced MADHUKITAK into exploring of the ocean for 14 RATNAS (precious items). MADHUKITAK agreed to the suggestion. The Mount Meru was lifted, moved, and held up by powers of 'KORABHA' in the centre of the ocean to facilitate churning and discovering of the 14 items. The 14 items that were obtained are as follows:

1. LAKHSHMI (Fortune)
2. KAUTUMBH MANI (Precious Stone - by the touch of the stone metal would turn into gold)
3. KALPA VRAKSHA (anything desired under the shelter of this tree was obtained)
4. THE MOON (A Model of-)
5. WINE
6. NECTAR (for gaining perpetual life, AMRIT)
7. SHANKH (a clarion)
8. Arrow
9. DHANVANTRI (Herbs and Medicines)
10. KAMDHENU (the cow of paradise)
11. POISON
12. ELEPHANT (Elephant of paradise having many tusks)
13. RAMBHA (a Fairy)
14. A HORSE (with seven faces)

LORD VISHNU eventually took possession of all the above and imparted the only item of poison to the Devil MADHUKITAK, who died miserably by making use of it. After the death of the Devil, chief BHAGAT AMRIKH and other MOMIN devotees of LORD VISHNU rejoiced and DHARMA developed rapidly. BHAGAT AMRIKH, because of his devoted services, achieved salvation and HOLY DIDAR.

In the FORM HALF HUMAN AND HALF FISH, LORD VISHNU reincarnated as ' MACCHA AVTAR' because FOUR VEDAS (Religious scriptures) of BRAHMA (PIR or GURU) had been taken away by the Devil SANKHASUR. In order to remove the prevalent darkness (IGNORANCE) in the world, BRAHMA had approached LORD VISHNU for assistance in the securing of the VEDAS.

The Devil SANKHASUR was hiding with the VEDAS in the PATAL (Underneath the Earth) , LORD VISHNU therefore asked the EARTH to give necessary information about SANKHASUR in return for high rewards. The EARTH prayed that the LORD, with his GRACE, wed the EARTH, or, in other words, become its RULER. LORD VISHNU most graciously granted a 'KOL' to wed the EARTH after the completion of TEN AVTARS, by which period; salvation of momins would have taken place.

There were many others who served LORD VISHNU in this cause and were given 'KOL' (promise) by the LORD. For example: MATA KUNTA, a Queen to King DHAMLA in the time of Lord KRISHNA (the Eight Incarnation of VISHNU ), was granted spiritual elevation (BATUNI DIDAR) by the Lord for her sincere service during the time of 'MACHHA AVTAR'; for BHAGAT KAMLADAN'S service during the 'MACHHA AVTAR', 'LORD VISHNU in the RAMA AVTAR granted him KOL of BATUNI DIDAR; king SANKHDEV'S five sons had rendered important services during 'MACHHA AVTAR' and at the time of SHRI KRISHNA were also given BATUNI NOORANI DIDAR and salvation; RAJA HARISH CHANDRA was appointed MUKHI of seven CRORE RUHANIS in the TRETA YUGA; similarly, SATI TARA RANI, KUNVAR ROHIDAS, BHAGAT RUKHMUGAT, AMRIKH, DHRUV, MUKHI PHELAJ, SURJADE RANI, KAMLA KUVAR, all these BHAGATS had been granted 'KOL' by the 'MACHHA AVTAR' for their most devoted services and were rewarded during the times of RAMA and SHRI KRISHNA. 'KOL' granted during the MACHHA AVTAR' is being fulfilled to this day. The 'NOOR-E-IMAMAT' better knows to whom and to what extent such 'KOLS' have to be fulfilled. Our Holy Pir Hassan Kabirdin has prayed in Ginan-e-shariff:

SAMI MACHHA RUPE DINO VACHA,
SO AAJ KALMAHE PARIE . . . . .

O! My beloved HAZAR IMAM, Thou hast
Granted us 'KOL' during MACHHA RUPE,
YA MOWLA, grace upon us Thy Mercies.
YA MOWLA FULFILL Thy KOL and grant us
Salvation and HOLY DIDAR.

Again, in another Holy Ginan, Pir Mabaap says:

AJ KAL DASME SHAH TAME VAR DATAR
SAMI MARA JUNA TE VACHAN SAMBHARO YA SHAH
VISAVNE VAR DIYO KAYAM SAMI SHAH RIKHISAR NA
JIV SADHARO

O! MY Lord, Beloved Hazar Imam, Thou art
'DASMO NAKLANKI AVTAR,' YA MOWLA
Remember Thou promiseth us during the MACH AVTAR.
I pray YA MOWLA fulfill Thy Promises, Bestow Thy favors
Of spiritual unification to the high of NOORANI DIDAR and
FANAH-FI-ALLAH-AMEEN.

Devil SANKHASUR was eventually captured by LORD VISHNU. Because the Devil had concealed himself with the VEDAS in the deep ocean, LORD VISHNU had taken 'MACHHA AVTAR,' the LORD killed him on the island of SANKHDAR. The HOLY SCRIPTURES were seized and returned to GURU BRAHMA, the world was again enlightened with knowledge. All MOMINS rejoiced.

In the first KARTA JUGA, there were FOUR INCARNATIONS of LORD VISHNU (THE GREAT ALI):

1. MACHHA- human and fish

2. KORABHA- tortoise

3. VARAH- animal and human

4. NARSINHA- lion and human

KARTA YUGA lasted for a period of 432,000 (four hundred and thirty-two thousand) years.

Most of Part 1 is available online in text format. This page however, has not been typed. Please refer to pdf version: http://ismaili.net/heritage/node/15495 . If you have typed it, please send it to heritage@ismaili.net

Das AvtarII. TRETA YUGA