Avatar 9 of 10 · Kali Yuga
Buddha
The ninth avatar in many Puranas: the Buddha, the awakened one, who taught compassion. Many lists name Balarama, Krishna’s elder brother, in his place.
- His form
- The awakened one
- Kali Yuga
- His day
- Buddha Purnima
- Vaishakha Purnima
The story
In the Puranas that count him, Vishnu takes this form to lead the proud away from the old rites: the Bhagavata says he is born in Kikata, as the son of Anjana. In Jayadeva’s hymn he is the compassionate one, who speaks against the killing of animals in sacrifice.
The Buddha of history was born a prince, Siddhartha, at Lumbini, left his palace to seek the end of suffering, and found awakening under the bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya; the Puranas’ Buddha and the Buddha of history are not always held to be one.
Buddhists do not see the Buddha as an avatar of Vishnu, and many Hindu lists give the ninth place to Balarama instead: Krishna’s elder brother, who carried a plough. Both are honoured.
Why he came
To turn people from cruelty to compassion.
How he is shown
Seated in meditation, calm, one hand touching the earth or raised in blessing.
His verse
निन्दसि यज्ञविधेरहह श्रुतिजातं सदयहृदयदर्शितपशुघातम्।
केशव धृतबुद्धशरीर जय जगदीश हरे॥
Nindasi yajna vidher ahaha shruti jatam, sadaya hridaya darshita pashu ghatam;
Keshava dhrita buddha sharira, jaya Jagadisha Hare.
Ah, with a kind heart you speak against the rites of sacrifice that the Vedas allow, which bring the killing of animals, in the body of the Buddha. O Keshava, glory to you, Lord of the world, Hari!
अहा, दयालु हृदय से आप उन यज्ञ-विधियों की निंदा करते हैं जिन्हें वेद मानते हैं और जिनमें पशुओं का वध होता है, बुद्ध के शरीर में। हे केशव, आपकी जय, जगत के स्वामी हरि!
His day
Buddha Purnima
Vaishakha Purnima, the full moon of Vaishakha (April or May)
Where he is worshipped
- Mahabodhi TempleBodh Gaya, Bihar
Questions
Is the Buddha an avatar of Vishnu?
Many Puranas count him as the ninth avatar; Buddhists do not, and many Hindu lists name Balarama instead. The site follows the common list and says so.
Who is Balarama?
Krishna’s elder brother, the son of Vasudeva and Rohini, who carried a plough and a club. In many lists he is the eighth or ninth avatar.