Through immensely long ages or Kalpas, climbing steadily the ladder of evolution, the Liberated Ones merge with eternal Life. Within them burns the flame of love for everything that exists. It is they who, from time to time, descend into manifested forms (avataras) to accelerate the course of evolution. So says Annie Besant, who had a profound knowledge of Hindu religious philosophy and tradition, while answering the question: 'What is an avatara?' and in a series of four lectures delivered in 1899.

She examines such intricate questions as the distinction between the complete manifestation (purnavatara) and the partial one(avatara), and how an avesa differs from an avatara. Her mystical interpretation of the well-known ten avataras of Vishnu (the second Person of the Trinity, who is the Source of all avataras) throws much light on the subject and shows how through the ags, divine manifestations enabled life to reach ever higher levels.

The life of Sri Krishna is explained as displaying seven aspects: 1. he means to evoke deep devotion and love 2. destroyer of forces obstructing evolution 3. as statesman 4. friend 5. World Teacher 6. tester of human nature 7. the Supreme Being outside which nothing exists.