4.5.1 It breaks the metaphor. The avatar is not acting like a real body. It reminds all the Black Sun's patrons that they are living in a fantasy world. People hate to be reminded of this. (Neal Stephenson, 1993, pg. 102)

4.5.2 According to the Dictionary of Hinduism (1977), "Avatara" means "descent," especially of a god from heaven to earth. In the Puranas, an avatara is an incarnation and is distinguished from a divine emanation (vyuha), both of which are associated with Visnu and Siva, but particularly the former. The avatara concept is probably a development of the ancient myth that, by the creative power of his Maya, a god can assume any format at will, as did Indra. The avatara concept in Hinduism is a very complex hierarchical system with gods assuming many different forms while visiting the earth with a specific mission.

4.5.3 Longman's Dictionary (1985) also defines avatar as the incarnation of Vishnu, a Hindu deity and an embodiment of a concept or philosophy. The Oxford English Dictionary (1990), on the other hand, tells us that avatar can mean descent of a deity to earth in an incarnate form (i.e., as in "the fifth avatar appeared as a dwarf"); a manifestation or presentation to the world (i.e., the avatar of mathematics); and finally, a display, a phase. If you refer to Webster's Dictionary (1989), it says that an avatar is a manifestation or embodiment of a person, concept, or philosophy; a variant phase or version of a continuing basic entity. And finally, the Random House Dictionary (1995) describes an avatar as: "An embodiment or concrete manifestation as of a principle attitude, way of life, or the like."

4.5.4 In contemporary India, distinguished personalities may be called avatars, which is a sign that, even at the source, the original theological meaning has shifted in popular culture. For instance, on the web page of India Group, Anil Srivastava refers to himself as "Anil Srivastava, avatar of global markets and emerging technologies, contemplates interactive media, networking, and online services from the omphalos of the Silicon Valley." [2]

4.5.5 If you ask anyone familiar with multiuser environments, the word avatar simply means an assumed identity in cyberspace. The source of the use of the word in computer industry, however, is a bit more difficult to identify. According to Peter Rothman, founder of Avatar Software and Avatar Partners (and later DIVE labs), "anyone claiming to know who used the word first, would be inventing the facts." [3] Rothman and his partner found the word in the dictionary in 1982, simply liking Webster's definition, the embodiment of a concept or a philosophy in a person. Appropriately, the debate about the origin of this term came up on the WELL discussion forum, in which Neal Stephenson claimed that he was first to use the term in Snow Crash, but since the novel was not published until 1993, his claim was not acknowledged. Generally it is conceded that Randy Farmer and Chip Morningstar's "Habitat" was the first to use this term. They were inspired by the Hindu root of the word (Randall, 1995).

4.5.6 The avatar name is apparently very popular these days. Numerous companies have registered various versions of the name, usually by adding a word next to it. Some recent examples are Avatar Partners, developing software for trading on the net; Avatar Holdings, a real estate developer of major resort, residential and recreational communities; and Avatar Systems, a moving company specialising in corporate relocations, just to name a few. The commercial world apparently has proprietary feelings towards the term. For example, at one point Avatar Partners were being threatened with a lawsuit by the Avatar Financial Associates, who claimed to have been the first to have the name registered and trademarked. And then there is the Avatar nine-day course on "contributing to the creation of an enlightened planetary civilisation." An enthusiastic testimonial on the net by a devotee claims, "I enrolled in the Avatar course in an attempt to alter behaviour patterns that were interfering with the proper conduct of my business. Avatar taught me how to easily with the beliefs that were causing my problems. . . . In addition, I found the Avatar experience to be delightful and amazing. My life is fuller, more meaningful, and pleasant since I became an Avatar." [4] [top]