"There are also lila-avataras, and these include (1) Catuhsana, (2) Narada, (3) Varaha, (4) Matsya, (5) Yajna, (6) Nara-Narayana, (7) Kardami Kapila, (8) Dattatreya, (9) Hayasirsa, (10) Hamsa, (11) Dhruvapriya, or Prsnigarbha, (12) Rsabha, (13) Prthu, (14) Nrsimha, (15) Kurma, (16) Dhanvantari, (17) Mohini, (18) Vamana, (19) Bhargava Parasurama, (20) Raghavendra, (21) Vyasa, (22) Pralambari Balarama, (23) Krsna, (24) Buddha and (25) Kalki.
Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya lila 20:244 Purport
The following pages offer a description of 22 main incarnations, beginning with the Four Kumaras (Catuhsana), as described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 1:3:1-28. Of these 22 incarnations, all are considered to be among the 25 lila-avataras except Lord Ramacandra.
Of the 25 lila-avataras, only four are not included in the group of 22 main incarnations. They are: Hayasirsa (Hayagriva), Hamsa, Dhruvapriya (Prsnigarbha), and Raghavendra. Because the lila-avataras appear in each day of Brahma, (each kalpa, or millennium), they are also referred to as kalpa-avataras.
As described in Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi lila 2:97, "the Lord primarily expands Himself in two categories, namely prabhava and vaibhava. The prabhava forms are fully potent like Sri Krsna, and the vaibhava forms are partially potent. The prabhava forms are manifested in relation with potencies, but the vaibhava forms are manifested in relation with excellences. The potent prabhava manifestations are also of two varieties: temporary and eternal. The Mohini, Hamsa and Sukla forms are manifested only temporarily, in terms of a particular age. Among the other prabhavas, who are not very famous according to the material estimation, are Dhanvantari, Rsabha, Vyasa, Dattatreya and Kapila. Among the vaibhava-prakasa forms are Kurma, Matsya, Nara-Narayana, Varaha, Hayagriva, Prsnigarbha, and Baladeva, as well as the manv-antara avataras Yajna, Vibhu, Satyasena, Hari, Vaikuntha, Ajita, Vamana, Sarvabhauma, Rsabha, Visvaksena, Dharmasetu, Sudhama, Yogesvara and Brhadbhanu."
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
