| Svayam Bhagavān (स्वयम् भगवान्) |
The original Supreme Personality of Godhead, from whom all incarnations expand. |
Lord Kṛṣṇa (Kṛṣṇas tu Bhagavān svayam – SB 1.3.28) |
| Aṁśa (अंश) – Plenary Expansions |
Direct expansions of the Supreme Lord, fully potent but not the original source. |
Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Rāma, Nārāyaṇa |
| Kalā (कला) – Fractional Expansions |
Further expansions from an aṁśa, with a limited display of divine power. |
Lord Paraśurāma, Maharaja Pṛthu, Ṛṣabhadeva |
| Līlā-avatāras (लीला-अवतार) – Pastime Incarnations |
Incarnations that descend to perform divine pastimes. |
Matsya, Kūrma, Varāha, Narasiṁha, Vāmana, Rāma, Kṛṣṇa, Buddha, Kalki |
| Guṇa-avatāras (गुण-अवतार) – Qualitative Incarnations |
Incarnations managing the three modes of material nature. |
Brahmā (Rajo-guṇa – Creation), Viṣṇu (Sattva-guṇa – Maintenance), Śiva (Tamo-guṇa – Destruction) |
| Manvantara-avatāras (मन्वंतर-अवतार) – Manus’ Incarnations |
Incarnations appearing in each Manu’s reign; 14 Manus in a day of Brahmā. |
Svāyambhuva Manu, Vaivasvata Manu (present) |
| Yuga-avatāras (युग-अवतार) – Incarnations for Different Ages |
The Lord appears in different colors in different yugas to establish dharma. |
Satya-yuga: White (Hamsa), Treta-yuga: Red (Yajña), Dvāpara-yuga: Black (Kṛṣṇa), Kali-yuga: Yellow (Caitanya Mahāprabhu) |
| Śaktyāveśa-avatāras (शक्त्यावेश-अवतार) – Empowered Incarnations |
Jīvas empowered by the Lord for specific missions. |
The Four Kumāras (knowledge), Nārada Muni (devotion), Maharaja Pṛthu (rulership), Śeṣa Nāga (support of planets) |
| Puruṣa-avatāras (पुरुष-अवतार) – Incarnations for Creation |
Expansions of Lord Kṛṣṇa responsible for cosmic creation. |
Mahā-Viṣṇu, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu (Paramātmā) |
| Ekādaśa-avatāras (एकादश-अवतार) – The Eleven Rudras |
Lord Śiva expands into eleven Rudras at the time of destruction. |
Hanuman, Kāl Bhairava, and other forms of Rudra |
| Avesha-avatāras (आवेश-अवतार) – Specific Mission Incarnations |
Great personalities empowered by Viṣṇu’s divine potency for special purposes. |
Vyāsadeva (compiled Vedas), Pṛthu Mahārāja (administration) |
| Hidden Avatāras |
Incarnations that are not widely mentioned but serve a divine purpose. |
Mohinī-mūrti (female form taken by Viṣṇu to distribute nectar to demigods) |
| Innumerable Avatāras |
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.3.26) confirms that the Lord’s incarnations are as countless as ocean waves. |
Infinite divine expansions of the Lord |
