A question that troubled the disciples of a certain preceptor was whether God incarnates himself in order to fulfil the needs of different ages. Some of them held that as God was infinite he could never have a finite form, while others said that as God was omnipotent there was nothing that he could not do. In order to settle their doubts they approached their preceptor.
The preceptor gave his opinion as follows:-“Brahman is not only infinite and invisible but also omnipotent and omniscient. If so, he must have the power to assume a finite form. If he cannot assume a form, he cannot be omnipotent and therefore cannot be God. If he does not know how to assume a particular form he cannot be omniscient and therefore ceases to be God. He is also almighty and has all power and everything is possible to him. Just as water is formless and assumes the shape or form of its container whether it be a cup or pot, tank, river or lake, it can assume any form. Just as water is condensed into ice and takes a different form, the same is the case with God, and He has the power to assume a shape or form when such an incarnation is needed for the good of the world. The ocean is a vast formless sheet of water. In the ocean there are bubbles, ripples and waves which are still forms though they change their aspect and form every moment.”