They believe that the Supreme Being in the wisdom of His counsel, assumes an elementary form of a special character for the good of the creation, and many of the wisest of the Hindus accept this doctrine. Such a complete incarnation is called Púrṇávatára, and that principle which in some created forms is scintillant with the rays of the divinity and bestows extraordinary powers is called Anśávatára or partial incarnation. These latter will not be here considered.

Of the first kind they say that in the whole four Yugas, ten manifes­tations will take place, and that nine have up to the present time appeared.