[ava-tṝ karaṇe ghañ] 1 Descent, alighting; descending or going down into; (fig.) accept- ing, resorting to; pākhaṃḍipathāvatāraḥ Dk. 47; advent, setting in; vasaṃ- tāvatārasamaye Ś. 1.

2 Form, mani- festation; matsyādibhiravatārairavatāravatā vatā'vatāvasudhāṃ Śaṅkara.

3 Descent of a deity upon earth, incarnation in general; kopyeṣa saṃprati navaḥ puruṣāva- tāraḥ U. 5. 34; dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāmavatāra ivāṃgavān...