God, in bygone Ages, has taken the forms of the Giant Whale, the Giant Tortoise, the Giant Boar, the Giant Man-Lion and the Little Boy who grew into the sky-high, gigantic Trivikrama. These avatar’s ‘descended’ for the protection of the virtuous and the destruction or subjugation of the evil ones in different regions of the universe. They displayed the wonderful and terrifying power of the Divine. However, they lasted only for a short while, vanishing after the ‘job was done.’

The Parasurama Avatar was in human form, living a human life-span. He killed cunning despots and cruel dictators in the guise of kings (‘representatives of God on earth’). Naturally, his deeds too left only a feeling of wonder and terror.

The Lord assumed the Rama Avatar to establish an ideal of Right Conduct for mankind. Appropriately He lived as an ordinary man, teaching righteousness by example. So, a feeling of utmost reverence and admiration wells up in the heart at the mention of His name.

The Krishna Avatar was different. He evokes love, laughter, enigma, and joyous wonder. Paradoxically, man is not ‘supposed’ to emulate Krishna, but rather take Rama as the role model. A physician prescribes medicines and advises restrictions as regards the diet and living style, depending on his patient’s disease. It would be foolishness for his patient to expect him to abide by the same guidelines. Krishna was a like a great physician whose prescriptions must be followed by the patients while Rama acted like an ideal patient....