Avatâras Four lectures delivered at the twenty-fourth anniversary meeting of the Theosophical Society at Adyar, Madras, December, 1899

"Avatâras" by Annie Besant is a series of speeches given at a Theosophical Society gathering that looks into the idea of Avatâras, or god-like figures who show up on Earth to help people when they're struggling. The speeches touch on key truths found in different religions, explain what Avatâras are and why they're here, and talk about figures like Lord Krishna. The start of the speeches underlines how important it is to study Avatâras with respect and a sense of wonder. It shows how hard it is to define what an Avatâra is, explaining that these divine beings are needed when goodness (Dharma) fades and badness (Adharma) takes over the world. Besant puts forward that Avatâras show both God's power and what it's like to be human, which brings up questions about what it means to be divine, the importance of tradition, and how we each understand spiritual truths. The lectures aim to connect different religions and push people to think about life's big mysteries.