One cannot become an avatara simply by popular vote or by the claims of a handful of followers. Rather, one must have the characteristics of an avatara:
๐. ๐๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ.
Not only is the name of each avatara given, but also the place of his appearance, the purpose for his descent, and other specific details. For example, someone may claim to be the Kalki-avatara, yet shastra informs us that Kalki will appear at the end of Kali-yuga, not now. The place of His appearance and also His father's name are mentioned. At the end of Kali-yuga, His mission will be to kill all low-class men posing as rulers and again establish Satya-yuga, the Golden Age. No one can be accepted as an avatฤra unless such details about him are specified in the sรคstras.
๐. ๐๐ง ๐๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐.
The Lord Himself descends to this planet as an avatara for the benefit of all living beings. His original power, opulences, and qualities are all fully present in His avatara form and are manifested at will. For instance, because Arjuna wanted to confirm Krsna's supreme position, he requested Krsna to prove that He is God by showing His universal form. Since God is the creator of everything, He can show all the universes-or all of His creation-without effort.
By showing His universal form, Lord Krsna established the criterion for all who claim to be an avatara: let them show that same universal form. One might have some mystic power creating a small amount of ash, but this does not make him an avatara.
Moreover, every living entity has an eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord and has inherent love and devotion for Him,which, although now covered by ignorance, can be revived by the process of chanting the Lord's holy names, hearing His glories, and engaging in His devotional service in the association of His devotees. Anyone who poses as God and tries to occupy His position-accepting worship from obviously ignorant people, us exploiting their sentiments, which are actually meant to be offered to the Supreme Lord-is a great sinner. One who claims to be a spiritual guide yet does not show his followers how to worship Krsna, and does not guide them to offer their mind, body, and words in the service of the Supreme Lord-not helping them to revive their dormant love for God and thus prolonging their material condition-is committing the greatest violence and is liable for punishment.
So anyone who claims to be an avatฤra should be rejected as a gross cheat, unless he fullfils the above mentioned criteria. Unfortunately, modern Hindusim is plagued by numerous such opportunistic rascals and their bewildered worshipers.
๐. ๐๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ค๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ญ:
padฤni vyaktam etฤni nanda-sรผnor mahatmanah laksyante hi dhvajฤmbhoja-vajrฤnkuลa-yavddibhih
The gopis said: "The marks of a flag, lotus, thunderbolt, elephant goad, barleycorn, and so forth, on these footprints clearly distinguish them as belonging to that great soul, the son of Nanda Maharฤja." (Bhagavatam 10.30.25)
yair eva jรฑรคyate devo bhagavan bhakta-vatsalah tฤny aham veda nฤnyo 'sti satyam etan mayoditam
Lord Brahmรค said to Narada: "Please know that I am speaking the truth when I say to you that there is no one equal to Lord Krsna. I know very well the transcendental markings on His lotus feet, which reveal Him to be the supremely opulent, original Personality of Godhead, who is very dear to His devotees." (Padma Puraลa)
ลodasaiva tu cihnฤni mayรค drstฤni tat-pade
"I have personally seen sixteen auspicious markings on Lord Krsna's lotus feet." (Padma Purฤลa)
The sastras glorify the lotus feet of Lord Krsna as being decorated with auspicious marks: a flag, lotus, thunderbolt, rod for controlling elephants, barleycorn, swastika, รผrdhva-rekha line; an eight- pointed star; sky; a rainbow, triangle, waterpot, half-moon, fish, and cow's hoofprint.
krsnakhyah tu parah brahma bhuvi jatam na sarmsayah dvayam vรคtha trayarh vatha catvarah paรฑca caiva ca drsyante vaisnava-ลrestha avatare kathaicana
"O best of the Vaiลnavas, Lord Krsna is the original feature of the Personality of Godhead. Of this there is no doubt. On the lotus feet of the many incarnations of the Lord, two, three, four, or five of these auspicious signs may be present, but all sixteen signs are present only on the feet of Lord Krsna." (Padma Purana)
It is quite easy to understand who is an avatara: simply look at the soles of the feet of whoever claims to be an avatara. If you observe auspicious markings, then immediately put those two lotus feet upon your head. But if there are no such markings, then what you see are just another conditioned soul's lowly feet, certainly unworthy of worship.
