List of avatars in Mahabharata | Which deities (Devatas) (Demigods) took avatar in Mahabharata
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Just before going to “List of avatars in Mahabharata | Which deities (Devatas) (Demigods) took avatar in Mahabharata“, let us have a brief some brief information.
Mahabharata is the greatest epic that the mankind has ever known. This is written by Lord (Sage) Sri Veda Vyasa ji, who is an avatar of Lord Sri Vishnu. In the great epic Mahabharata we can learn everything starting from birth, death and even after birth lessons.
This is the greatness of the great epic Mahabharata. Mahabharata means, “Great Bharata” (Great India). Whenever Lrod Sri Vishnu takes avatar, all the deities / Devatas also take avatars to do seva (serve) to Lord Sri Vishnu.
Let us know which all deities / Devatas took birth during the Mahabharata period:
List of avatars in Mahabharata are as given below:
Krishna: Lord Sri Narayana (Vishnu). | Vedavyasa: Lord Sri Narayana (Vishnu). | Parashurama: Lord Sri Narayana (Vishnu). | Yudhisthira: Lord Sri Yama Deva. | Bhima: Lord Sri Vayu Deva. He is same as Sri Hanuman during Ramayana period. |
Devi: She was wife of Bhima and was an avatar of Rakaa (She is a Poornima Chandra Abhimani Devata). She was the daughter of Rohini and Vasudeva. She was a sister of Lord Krishna. |
Ghatotkacha: He was an avatar of the dikpalaka Niritti (one of the dikpalakas – that is, a dikpalaka of South West) (dikpalaka – direction controlling Demigod). | Arjuna: Lord Sri Indra Deva. He is same as Sri Vali (read as Vaali) in Sri Ramayana. |
Iravantha: He was a son of Arjuna and Ulupi. And he was an avatar of the graha (planet) Mangala (Kuja). | Nakula: Lord Ashwini Deva (Twin brothers). In his original form he is called as Nasatya. | Sahadeva: Lord Ashwini Deva (Twin brothers). In his original form he is called as Dasra. |
Draupadi: Goddess Bharati Devi, Goddess Parvati Devi, Goddess Sachi Devi, Goddess Shyamala Devi and Goddess Usha Devi. (Draupadi Devi is not one single personality, but combination of above said five personalities / Goddesses.)
Karna: Lord Surya Deva. He is same as Sri Sugriva in Sri Ramayana. | Bhishma: The 8th Vasu and his name is Dyu. Bhishma had an amsha (part) of the Sri Brahma Deva. |
Dronacharya: Brihaspati (Also Sri Krishna’s cousin brother Uddhava was also an avatar of Brihaspati. Brihaspati had taken two avatars during the Mahabharata period. | Vidura: Lord Yamadeva (Both Vidura and Yudhisthira are same with two different bodies) |
Balarama: Lord Shesha (The bed of Lord Sri Narayana). | Subhadra: She is the same who was there with Maata Sita Devi in the Lanka, her name in her previous life was Trijata (the rakshashi was supported and did seva of Sita Devi).
Rukmini Devi: Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi Devi (She takes the shanta roopa / calm form avatar). | Satyabhama Devi: Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi Devi (She takes the avesha roopa / fury form avatar).
Jambavati Devi: Goddess Tulasi Devi. | Bhadra Devi: She is one among the Ashta Bharya (8 wives) of Lord Sri Krishna. | Kalindi Devi: She is one among the Ashta Bharya (8 wives) of Lord Sri Krishna. | Mitravinda Devi: She is one among the Ashta Bharya (8 wives) of Lord Sri Krishna.
Nagnajiti / Satya Devi: She is one among the Ashta Bharya (8 wives) of Lord Sri Krishna. | Lakshana / Lakshmana Devi: She is one among the Ashta Bharya (8 wives) of Lord Sri Krishna.
Other wives of Lord Sri Krishna (totally Lord Sri Krishna marries 16,108 wives). Among first 8 wives / Ashtta Bharya are as said above. Remaining all are the daughters of Agni Devi in their previous lives.
Duryodhana: Kali (read as kali and not as kaali) the rakshasa (demon). He is the same, who is ruling the Kaliyuga. Because of him only Kaliyuga is known as Kaliyuga. Kali’s wife name is called Alakshmi. |
Shakuni: Similarly like Kali, Shakuni is the form of Dvapara Yuga. The Yuga which comes before the Kali Yuga. | Kauravagan / Kauravas: Gandarvagan / Gandarvas. | Rukmi: He is the eldest brother of Sri Rukmini Devi. He is the avatar of Aruna Deva (charioteer of Sri Surya Deva). |
Dantavakra: Sri Vijaya Deva / Vijaya. He is the door keeper of the Vaikuntta along with Sri Jaya Deva / Jaya. He was same as Kumbhakarana during Ramayana period. | Shishupala: Sri Jaya Deva / Jaya. He is the door keeper of the Vaikuntta along with Sri Vijaya Deva / Vijaya. |
Vasudeva: He is the father of Lord Sri Krishna (read as Vasudeva and not as Vaasudeva). He is the avatar of svayam Sri Kashyapa Maharishi. He is the husband of Sri Devaki Devi. |
Devaki: She is the mother of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the avatar of svayam Sri Aditi Devi. She is the wife of svayam Sri Kashyapa Maharishi. | Pandu: He was Pravaha Maruta. | Kunti: Siddhi (wife of Paravaha Maruta).
Madari / Madri: Dhriti (wife of Pravaha Maruta). | Hanuman: He is the svayam avatar of Sri Vayu Deva. Both Bhima and Hanuman are one and the same. In Kali Yuga, He took birth as Sri Madhvacharya Ji. |
Many tell He is the part or full incarnation of Lord Sri Rudra Deva / Lord Shiva. But it is completely untrue as nowhere it is written like that. It is only the imagination of few people and nothing else.
Ashvattama: He is the incarnation of Sri Rudra Deva / Sri Shiva. | Shantanu / Santanu: He is the avatar of Sri Varuna Deva. He is the same as the Sri Samudra Deva (Ocean). |
Durvasa Muni: He is the incarnation of Sri Rudra Deva / Sri Shiva. | Kamsa: Kalanemi (read as Kaalanemi). | Dhrishttadyumna: He is the avatar of Sri Agni Deva. |
Pradyumna: He is the avatar of Sri Kama Deva. His aadi (grand first) avatar was of the Sri Sanatakumara, later it was Sri Kama Deva. Sri Kartikeya (son of Lord Shiva) is also the same, as He is also the incarnation of Sri Kama Deva.
Jarasandha: He was Viprachitti in this earlier life. | Kritavarma: One of the Maruta. | Satyaki: One among the Maruta. He is one of the Krishna paksha abhimani devata. |
Nanda Maharaja: Drona (one of the Vasu). Not the Dronacharya, but a Vasu (pronounce it as Vasu and not as Vaasu). | Yashoda Devi: Dhara (one of the Vasu). Not the Bhoodevi, but a Vasu (pronounce it as Vasu and not as Vaasu). |
Indrajita (Meghanatha): He was born as Dushasana (Duryodhana’s brother). | Atikaya : (Ramayana) born as Vikarna (Mahabharata). | Khara : (Ramayana) as Chitrasena (Mahabharata). |
Mrisa : Demon lady Mrisa was born as Dushala. Kuhu was also present as one half of the body. | Jayadrata : Kalakeya as Jayadrata. | Paudraka : He was Vena in his earlier life. |
Akrura : He was a Gandharva named Kishora. Svayambhuva manu as well as Brahma were partially present in him. | Drupada : He was an avatar of the Gahdharva Devata singer Hoohoo. | Virata : He was the Gandharva (divine) singer Haha. |
Satyavati : She is an avatar of Acchoda the daughter of Agnishvata belonging to the amurta pitragana group. | Sanjaya : He was an avatar of a Gandharva Tumburu. | Shalya : He was the brother of Prahalada called Sahalada in the earlier life. |
Salva : He was an avatar of Bali chakravarti (Mahabali). | Kichaka : He was reborn as Kichaka (Original and reincarnation name both are same). | Bhagadatta : He was an avatar of Kubera (Treta Yuga / Ramayana). The demon Baskala was partially present in him as am amsha. |
Yuyudhana : He was born as a son of Satyaka and was known as Satyaki. Garuda, Samvaha Maruta, and Vishnu Chakra, i.e. Pradyumna, were partially present in him as amsha. | Kritavarma : He was the son of Hridika, had the presence of Panchajanya, i.e. Aniruddha, and Pravaha Maruta partially.
Kuntibhoja : He (Kunti father) was Kurma Maruta in his original form. | Rukmi : Demon Ilvala was born as Rukmi. | Purochana : He was Prahasta (during Ramayana period). |
Abhimanyu : He was an avatar of Budha the graha (planet). Also in him Lord Sri Hari (Vishnu), Sri Vayu Deva, Sri Indra Deva, Sri Yama Deva, Ashvini-devatAs were also present as amsha (part). |
Aniruddha : Sri Krishna’s grandson and son of Pradhyumna was the same who was born as Shatrugna in the Ramayana period. | Babruvahana : He (Arjuna and Chitrangada son) is the avatar of Jayanta, Sri Indra Deva’s son. |
Bahleeka : Maharaja (brother of Santanu – father of Bhisma) was an avatar of Prahalada (son of Hiranyakashipu and Kayalu). His moola (original) life Shankukarna (he lives in Satya loka).
Bahleeka is reborn as Prahlada during Satya Yuga, again born as Bahleeka Maharaja during Dvapara Yuga, again as Sri Vyasa Teetha & Sri Raghavendra Svami in Kali Yuga. |
Bhuri : He was an avatar of AjaikapAt Rudra. | Bhurishravas : He was an avatar of Ahirbudhna Rudra. | ChekitAna : He was an avatar of Pratibha (a maruta). |
Chitrangadha : She (Arjuna’s wife) was an avatar of Sri Sachi Devi (Indra wife). She was born as Tara (Vaali’s wife) during the Ramayana period. Both Arjuna and Vaali were the avatars of Indra Deva. |
Devaki :She (not Sri Krishna’s mother) was an avatar of Shyamala Devi (wife of Sri Yama Deva). She was the wife of Yudhisthira (he was an avatar of Yama deva). | Dhritarashtra : He was an avatar of a Gandharva named Hamsa. Vayu Deva was also present as amsha in him. |
Dhrishtaketu : He (son of Dhristadyumna) was an avatar of AnuhlAda (Prahalada’s brother). | Kritavarma : He was an avatar of Shukla-paksha-abhimAni-devata. | KripAchArya : He was an avatar of ViShkambha (one of the 11 Rudras and his parents were Sharadwana & Urvashi). |
Kripi : She (Dronacharya wife) was an avatar of TArA (wife of Brihaspati). Dronacharya was an avatar of Brihaspati. TArA was a daughter of Sharadwana & Urvashi. | Tataka :She was born as Putana during the Mahabharata period. |
Prativindya : He was the son of Yudhishthira and Draupadi. He was an avatar of PurUrava (He was Vasu). | Rohini :She (Vasudeva’s wife) was the mother of Balarama. She was an avatar of Surabhi (wife of Kashyapa). Vasudeva is an avatar of Kashyapa. |
Shaibya : He was an avatar of Rubhu. | SarvOttunga : He was the son of Bhima & Devi. He was an avatar of Prana vayu. | Amba / Shikhandi : She was the avatar of VarAngi (wife of Dyu-Vasu). Dyu was reborn as Bhishma. |
Somadatta :He was an avatar of PatratApa Rudra. | Sharvatrata : He was the son of Bhima and Kali Devi. | SahadEva : He (son of Jarasandha) was an avatar of PatratApa one of 11 rudras. | Shrutasoma : He (son of Bhimasena and Draupadi) was an avatar of Ardrava – a Vasu. |
ShrutakIrti : He (son of Arjuna and Draupadi) was an avatar of DhU-a Vasu. | ShatAnIka : He (son of Nakula and Draupadi) was an avatar of Lochana-a Vasu. | ShrutakarmA (son of Sahadeva and Draupadi) was an avatar of Kratu-a Vasu. |
Suhotra : He (son of Yudhisthira and Devaki – Yudhisthira had married another woman by name Devaki). He was an avatar of Chitragupta (same Chitragupta who will be with Yama Deva). Yudhisthira was an avatar of Yama Deva. |
Uttamauja : He was a son of Drupada. He was an avatar of ParA-a Vasu. | Uddhava : He (Sri Krishna’s cousin brother) was a son Brihaspati. Even Dronacharya was an avatar of Brihaspati. Brihaspati had taken two avatars during the Mahabharata period. |
Usha Devi :She was an avatar of Sahadeva (son of Jarasandha). She was an avatar of the same name Usha Devi (Ashivini Kumaras wife). | Veerasena (Chitravahana) : He (father of Chitrangada – wife of Arjuna) was an avatar of Tvashtru Aditya one of 12 Adityas. |
VishOka : (Sri Krishna and Kubja Kanya’s son). He became the sarati / charioteer for Bhima’s during the Great Mahabharata war. | YudhAmanyu : He was an avatar of Vishva, a Vasu. |
Insect which harms Karna : This insect was originally born as the son of Lord Sri Brahma in the Rakshasa (demon) form called Heti. This Heti’s brother is called as Praheti. Both even though Rakshasas (demons), they are sajjeevi (Dharmic / good people).
Both Heti and Praheti’s main work is looking after the chariot of Lord Sri Surya Deva. Both have to make sure the chariot is moving in correct path.
Bhishmaka : He is the father of Goddess Rukmini. He is an avatar of Aditya called Mitra. He also had an avesha form (fury form) of Rahu. Paundraka Vasudeva : He was the half-brother of Lord Sri Krishna. A demon by name Vena was reborn as Paundraka Vasudeva. Vena was the father of King Prithu.
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