The Avataras 75

each and every Universe He spreads water from His body, and on that water
He lies down. From His navel the stem of a lotus flower grows, and on that
lotus flower the first creature, Brahma, is born. Within the stem of that lotus
flower there are fourteen divisions of planetary systems, which are created
by Brahma.

In each Universe the Lord as Vishnu maintains the Universe, tending to
its needs, and although He is within the Universe, the influence of material
energy cannot touch Him. The same Vishnu, when it is required, takes the
Form of Lord Shiva and annihilates the cosmic creation. These three secondary
incarnations; namely, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, are the predominating
deities of the three modes of material Nature. The second incarnation of
Vishnu, known as Garbhodakshayee, is worshipped as the Hiranygarbha
Supersoul, Who has thousands of heads, as described in the Vedic hymns.
This second incarnation, Garbhodakshayee Vishnu, is the Master of the Uni-
verse, and in each Universe there is a manifestation of the Garbhodakshayee
Vishnu. Although He is within the material Nature, still He is not touched
by it.

The third incarnation of Vishnu is also an incarnation of the mode of
goodness. As the Kshirodhakshayee Vishnu, He is also the Supersoul of all
living entities, and He resides on the ocean of milk within the Universe. Thus
Lord Chaitanya described the Purusha Avatars.

He then described the Leela Avatars: He said that there is no limit or count-
ing for the Leela, or “Pastime,” Avatars, but some of them are described by
the Lord, for example: Matsya, Kurma, Raghunath, Nrishingha, Vamana
and Baraha.

A description of the qualitative incarnations of Vishnu, or Guna Avatars,
is as follows: Brahma is one of the living entities, but he is very powerful
on account of his devotional service. Such a primal living entity, by the
influence of the mode of material passion, is situated as Brahma. He is made
powerful by Garbhodakshayee Vishnu directly, and therefore Brahma has
power to create innumerable living entities. A description of Brahma is given
in the Brahma Samhita, Fifth Chapter, soth Verse. Brahma is likened to the
valuable stones influenced by the rays of the Sun, and the Sun is likened to the
Supreme Lord Garbhodakshayee Vishnu. If in some Kalpa there is no suitable
living entity who can act in the position of Brahma, then Garbhodakshayee
Vishnu Himself manifests as Brahma and acts in that way.

Similarly, by expanding Himself as Lord Shiva, He is engaged when there
is a necessity to annihilate the Bramhanda. Lord Shiva, in association with
