Kṛṣṇa's Appearances and Activities
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without any misery and without any doubt. Therefore we should not think that Kṛṣṇa comes here just as we do, being obliged by the laws of nature. The Sanskrit word  avatāra  literally means “he who descends.” One who descends from the spiritual universe into the material universe through his own will is called an  avatāra . Sometimes Śrī Kṛṣṇa descends Himself, and sometimes He sends His representative. The major religions of the world—Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Moslem—believe in some supreme authority or personality coming down from the kingdom of God. In the Christian religion, Jesus Christ claimed to be the son of God and to be coming from the kingdom of God to reclaim conditioned souls. As followers of  Bhagavad-gītā , we admit this claim to be true. So basically there is no difference of opinion. In details there may be differences due to differences in culture, climate and people, but the basic principle remains the same—that is, God or His representatives come to reclaim conditioned souls.
yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānam srjāmy aham
“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself.” (Bg. 4.7)
God is very compassionate. He wishes to see our miseries cease, but we are trying to adjust to these