action, through which He intervenes in the form of Shankarshane (Sankarsana) and Balaram (Balarama).

The spiritual world, with its spiritual planets, called Vaikountha, and Krishnaloka, rests on the energy of the thought of the Divine. Although there can be no question of creation given its eternal nature, understand that the spiritual planets nevertheless depend on the energy of the thought of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme House, Goloka, manifests itself like a lotus with hundreds of petals. Everything is manifested by Ananta, Balaram or Shankarshane. The cosmic manifestation and its different universes (galaxies) are manifested through Maya, the material energy. Let us not believe, however, that nature or material energy is the cause of the entire cosmic manifestation. It is rather the Supreme Lord, whose different emanations operate through material nature, who is the cause. In other words, there can be no question of Creation without the direction of the Lord. The form through which the energy of material nature operates creation is called Shankarshane. It is therefore understood that the cosmic manifestation is created under the supervision of the Supreme Being. On this subject we give the example of the iron which, in contact with the fire, becomes the same as this one.

Krishna and Rama, who penetrate all that is, are at the Origin of all living beings. Here is the short list of Avatars: 1) Koumaras; 2) Narada; 3) Varaha; 4) Matsya; 5) Yagya; 6) Nara-Narayan; 7) Kardami Kapila; 8) Dattatreya; 9) Hayashirsha; 10) Hamsa; 11) Dhrouvapriya Prishnigarbha; 12) Rishabha; 13) Prithou; 14) Nrishingha; 15) Kourma; 16) Dhanvantari; 17) Mohini; 18) Vamana; 19) Bhargava; 20) Raghavendra; 21) Vyasa; 22) Pralambari Balaram; 23) Krishna; 24) Buddha and 25) Kalki.

As almost all appear within a single day of Brahma, or kalpa, they are sometimes called Kalpa-Avatars. Of these, the Hamsa and Mohini Avatars are not permanent. But Kapila, Dattatreya, Rishabha, Dhanvantari and Vyasa are five forms as eternal as they are famous. The Turtle Avatar, the Fish Avatar, Nara-Narayan, Varaha, Hayagriva, Prishnigarbha and Baladev are counted among the so-called vaibhava incarnations. Likewise, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are said to be the three incarnations of the attributes of material nature.

There are also 14 Manvantara-Avatars (the fathers of humanity): 1) Yagya, 2) Vibhou, 3) Satyasena, 4) Hari, 5) Vaikountha, 6) Ajita, 7) Vamana, 8) Sarvabhauma, 9) Rishabha , 10) Vishvakshena, 11) Dharmasetou, 12) Soudhame, 13) Yogeshvar and 14) Brihadbhanou.

Of these, Yagya and Vamana are also among the Lila-Avatars (Divine Manifestations). These 14 Manvantara-Avatars (Fathers of Humanity) are also known as Vaibhava-Avatars.

Here is a description of the four Youga-Avatars: Divine manifestations appearing in each age to teach the method of spiritual realization of its own. That of Satya-youga (the golden age) has a white complexion; that of Treta-youga, (silver age) a red