Leela and Kala Avtaar of Bhagwan | Wisdom of Gita | Part 10 (2025)

Jai Shree Krishna! 🙏 Radhe Radhe 🙏 Hari Bol

We are back with the tenth edition of our blog series, “Wisdom of Gita”! 🕉️ In the previous blog we learnt about Navdha Bhakti.

In this edition we will the understand the topic of Leela and Kala avtaars of Bhagwan. Many students often find the concept of avatars in Hindu philosophy confusing. To help make it easier to understand and remember, let’s break it down in a simpler way.

But before we dive into the subject matter let’s do the drill of understanding the best way to utilise this blog.

If you are my student then you already know that these blogs are designed to supplement your learning after you’ve been introduced to the profound teachings through my discourses. These blogs will not offer the full benefit unless you learn Gita first.🌟

For those who are landing first time on this series below you can now find complete playlists of my Bhagavad Gita discourses in both Hindi and English on YouTube. 📚 The links are shared below for your convenience.

We recommend you read previous blogs in this series before reading this one. The reading list of this blog series is shared below.

Now let’s get to the main subject matter and let me clear the air around the concept of Avataars.

In Hindu philosophy, the concept of Bhagwan incarnating takes on various forms and purposes. These incarnations, or “avatars,” fall into different categories, including Kala Avatars, Ansh Avatars, Leela Avataars and Purna Avatars, among others. The reasons behind these divine incarnations are well articulated in the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred text that offers profound insights into why and how Bhagwan manifests in the material world. In Bhagwat Gita chapter 4 verse 7–8 Bhagwan says:

yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānirbhavati bhārata ।
abhyutthānamadharmasya tadātmānaṃ sṛjāmyaham ॥ 7 ॥

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṃ vināśāya cha duṣkṛtām ।
dharmasaṃsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yugē yugē ॥ 8 ॥

As per these verses reasons for Bhagwan’s incarnation can be summarized as follows:

1. Paritranaya Sadhunam: To liberate the good people, especially those being tortured or oppressed by evil forces.
2. Vinashaya Duskrtam: To annihilate the wicked and restore balance.
3. Dharma Sansthapana Arthaya: To re-establish dharma (righteousness) and moral order.

When an avatar accomplishes all three of these tasks, it is known as a Purna Avatar, or complete incarnation. Examples of Purna Avatars include Bhagwan Krishna and Bhagwan Rama, both of whom:

1. Liberated their devotees,
2. Destroyed demons, and
3. Re-established dharma through their teachings and actions.

Purna Avatars

• Krishna and Rama: These avatars fully serve all the three divine purposes by liberating the good, destroying evil, and establishing dharma.

Leela Avatars

• Vyasa Avatar: In this form, the primary purpose is to impart knowledge. Vyasa, who authored the Mahabharata, is an example of a Leela Avatar.

Ansh Avatars

• Parashurama: An Ansh Avatar who primarily focused on specific tasks such as destroying corrupt Kshatriyas and teaching notable figures like Bhishma and Karna.

The term “Kala” refers to divine qualities or attributes, which can manifest in varying degrees across different beings as per the level of development of their consciousness. These qualities can be categorized into emotional and intellectual facets, symbolizing heart and brain, respectively.

The Evolution of Kalas

Kalas are seen as evolving from simple to complex across different forms of life, with each level representing the development of intelligence and emotions:

1. One Kala: Bacteria, other microorganism and certain insects with minimal intelligence.
2. Two Kalas: Fish and amphibians with slightly more developed intelligence and emotions.
3. Three Kalas: Birds with varied levels of emotional intelligence and instincts.
4. Four Kalas: Reptiles that show distinct but limited emotional attachments.
5. Five Kalas: Mammals like dogs and cows, displaying higher emotional and intellectual development, akin to humans.
6. Six Kalas: Humans with basic emotional and intellectual abilities, often seen in tribal communities.
7. Seven Kalas: Highly intelligent humans with less developed emotional capacities.
8. Eight Kalas: Humans with well-balanced emotional and intellectual abilities, similar to saints.
9. Nine Kalas: Divine beings like Vyasa, with extraordinary intelligence and contributions to spiritual knowledge.
10. Ten Kalas: Avatars like Matsya (the Fish) performing specific divine tasks such as rescuing the earth.
11. Eleven Kalas: Avatars like Kurma (the Tortoise) supporting cosmic activities, like bearing the mountain during the churning of the ocean.
12. Twelve Kalas: Avatars like Bhagwan Rama, displaying profound qualities and responsibilities as a ruler and protector.
13. Thirteen to Fifteen Kalas: Various other divine incarnations showing multiple divine qualities.
14. Sixteen Kalas: Bhagwan Krishna, exhibiting the fullest range of divine qualities, including playing the flute and displaying divine love (Rasa Lila).

Among humans, Kalas range from basic to highly developed, with saints often considered to possess the highest level of both emotional and intellectual Kalas. These are known as the eight Kalas in humans, while divine beings may exhibit nine or more Kalas.

The avatars of Bhagwan, such as Krishna and Rama, display specific sets of Kalas during their incarnations. Krishna is said to have exhibited 16 Kalas, showcasing additional qualities like playing the flute and Rupa Madhuri (divine form). However, it is to be understood that Bhagwan’s qualities are infinite, far beyond human comprehension.

While Bhagwan Rama is said to have shown only 12 Kalas but he is no way less than Bhagwan Krishna. They are one and same. It is just that due the moral restrictions Rama had to abide by for upholding Dharma during his incarnation he could not display all his divine qualities.

This exploration of Bhagwan’s avatars provides a deep understanding of the divine manifestations across different forms and purposes. The classification into Purna, Leela, and Ansh avatars helps elucidate the varied roles played by these incarnations. The concept of Kalas further enriches our understanding of how divine qualities manifest in different beings. Ultimately, while avatars display specific qualities, the divine essence of Bhagwan remains limitless and transcendent.

With this we have come to end of another blog in this series. Stay tuned for blogs on Wisdom of Gita, Tantrik traditions, modes of worships and more.

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