[PhillipHer]

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.But such a Sense and Concept during Vibhava Awatharas were totally different from the present context of Lord Ranganatha having HIS DEVOTEE Manavala Mamuni himself as His Guru. How.?

Lord Rama and Krishna are the Awatharas intended to show to the humanity... by DEMONSTRATION... AS MAN.

..Whereas during Archawathara as the Temple Deities during Kaliyuga... He has never declared as Man or any such lower status than God...

...but AS GOD ONLY in Temples.

The Facets of Godhead ( A Sri Vaisnava Perspective)

In Sri Vaisnava theology , God manifest in 5 forms.

1) Paravasudeva - The Transcendental Form

This form is absolute, unconditioned and unlimited. It is self existent and is not the effect of anything else. This form is impossible for any human being to understand.

This transcendental form is distinguished by 6 attributes, which gives God the title Bhagavan

a) jnana - knowledge
b) sakti - energy
c) aisvarya - sovereignity
d) bala - power
e) virya - creative potency
f) tejas - splendor

2) Vyuhas (Functional Manifestation)

From the totality of the above 6 mentioned qualities 4 emanations (vyuhas) proceed.

Vyuhas - Description and the Stages of Creation

2 a) Sankarsana - with this vyuha the entire future universe comprised of energy and matter (prakrti) is compressed into a tiny point of space without eternal distinction. It is in a state of potentiality and the attributes (guna) concerned with developing this potential is bala (omnipotence)

2 b) Pradyumna - with this vyuha the compressed embryonic mass of the universe burst forth into a duality consisting of spirit and matter. This is separation is caused by aisvarya (absolute independence). Pradyumna causes the projection of the 3 things

i) Group souls (Manava sarga - all the indivual souls (jivas) exist together in a coglomeration known as purusa)

ii) Primordial Matter (Pradhana - the basic molecular susbstance from which the universe is created)

iii) Subtle Time (Kala - the potency to change before it becomes divided into gross time consisting of years, seasons months etc)

2 c) Aniruddha - Through sakti Aniruddha causes the evolution of the gross atoms out of the primordial matter and the development of gross time from subtle time. Thus the evolution of Matter and Spirit under the influenec of Time produces the Mixed Creation ( misra srsti) during which the pre-existent souls become differentiated.

3) Vibhava Avatara - Incarnation

God plays an active part in the maintenance of the world order by periodically incarnating. These incarnation are 2 types

Primary - a manifestation that is not material but a spiritual consisting of pure consciousness, bliss and existence (absolute) e.g Lord Krishna

Secondary - these are elevated souls who are chosen to act as vessels for the Divine activity, e.g Buddha etc

4) Arca Avatara - Iconic Descent

When an inanimate object like statue (icon) is constructed and consecrated correctly according to the dictates of the agamas, then God through the omnipotence and omnipresences manifests in the icons. The omnipresent Lord, by a tiny portion of His Spiritual Energy (sakti) particularises His presence in a sanctified icon for receiving devotion and worship.

In Sri Vaisnava tradition Arca avatara is given utmost importance and emphasis (as this form is easily accessible) along with temple rituals and festivals.

5) Antaryamin - Indweller

God dwells in the soul (jiva) as the Oversoul. He is the witness of all actions of the jivas. The jivas alone act (through free will) and reap the fruits of its actions in the form of sorrow (dukha) and happiness (sukha). As the Indweler, The Lord pervades all the creation within and without (Vasudeva)

reference - A Handbook of Sri Vaisnavism by Sri Rama Ramanujacharya