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14. THE CONCEPT OF AVATARS
Brahma became extremely proud of his position as the creator and about his powers and his Knowledge. (jnAnam). Vishnu wanted to teach him the lesson of humbleness. So he created two Asuras Madhu and Kaitabha out of two drops of water from the lotus leaf. (Other version makes them from his ear wax). These Asuras stole the Vedas and hid them in the Patala. Brahma could not create his kalpa era without them. So he approached Vishnu. Vishnu incarnated as Hayagriva He rushed to Patala lokam and raised His "uth Githam" (outgoing breathe interpreted as OM) in samavedha swaram which terrified the Asuras. They hid the Vedas (which were in the form of babies) and escaped in fear. Hayagriva thus retrieved the Vedas and gave it back to Brahama to start again.
Yet another legend has it that during the creation, Vishnu compiled the Vedas in the Hayagriva form.
In VishNu puraaNam the list follows thus: "Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Ashva, Simha rupathibhi" ( In the forms of fish, torotoise, boar, horse and lion)
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