Markings

E.g. the avatar who is identified with prince Gautama was prophesied to have 32 congenital markings on his body.
Cf. The Doctrine of Awakening.
Ashtavakra’s name derives from the eight deformities in his body. The cause of the deformities is unclear. Said to be enlightened already in the womb, Ashtavakra was upset about the scriptures being recited improperly; he either squirmed or was cursed by his father, resulting in his physical defects. More likely, the eight deformities relate to the eightfold path of Yoga. However, it is clear that most men can only relate to the physical meaning of things and miss subtle connections. [Posted on 2012-10-17 by Cologero]