Avatars in the Mahabharata

List of the avatars of great epic Mahābhārata and the original devatas or deities whose avatars/portion they were.

Character	Avatar/Portion of
Krishna	Avatar of Vishnu
Abhimanyu	Avatar of Varchas, son of Chandra and Rohini
Balarama	Avatar of AdiShesha
Hanuman	Portions of Shiva and Vayu
Radha	Avatar of Devi Radhika
Karna	Portion of Lord Surya, rebirth of Sahasrakavacha
Duryodhana	Avatar of Lord Kali (demon)
Rukmini	Avatar of Mahalakshmi
Satyabhama	Avatar of Bhumidevi form of Lakshmi
Draupadi	Portions of Shachi, Svaha and Agni
Dhristadyumna	Portion of Agni
Bhurishravas	Avatar of one of the Rudras
Jambvati	Avatar of Neeladevi form of Lakshmi
Ulupi	Avatar of Maya form of Lakshmi
Iravan	Avatar of Vacchi, son of Chandra and Revati
Dantavakra	Avatar of Vijaya
Yashoda	Rebirth of Kausalya (Ramayan)
Vasudev	Avatar of Kashyapa
Devaki	Rebirth of Kaikeyi (Ramayan)
Bhagadatta	Rebirth of Basakala
Kritavarma	Avatar of one of the Marutas
Sons of Ganga	Avatars of Vasus
Bhishma	Avatar of Prabhasa (Vasu of the Star)
Gandhari	Avatar of Mati
Kunti	Avatar of Siddhi
Kripa	Avatar of one of the Rudras
Madri	Avatar of Dhriti
Drona	Avatar of Brihaspati
Vidura	Avatar of Yama
Satyaki	Avatar of one of the Marutas	Shishupala	Avatar of Jaya
Ashwatthama	Portions of Shiva, Kama, Krodha and Yama
Tripura Bhairavi	Adi Parashakti
Shantanu	Rebirth of Mahabhisha
Durvasa	Avatar of Shiva
Kamsa	Rebirth of Kalanemi
Pradyumna	Avatar of Kamadeva, a portion of Sanat Kumara
Mayavati	Avatar of Rati
Satyavati	Avatar of Achchodha
Jarasandha	Rebirth of Viprachitti
Yudhishthira	Portion of Yama
Bhima	Portion of Vayu
Arjuna	Portions of Indra and Vishnu/Rebirth of sage Nara
Nakula	Portion of Asvins
Sahadeva	Portion of Asvins
Subhadra	Avatar of Yogmaya
Upapandavas	Avatars of Visvadevas
Shakuni	Avatar of Dwapara
Kripi	Avatar of Tara
Rohini	Avatar of Kadru, mother of Nagas
Nand	Rebirth of Dasharatha (Ramayan)
Paundraka	Rebirth of Vena
Shikhandi	Rebirth of Amba
Revati	Rebirth of Jyotishamati
Usha	Avatar of Tilottama
Ruchiparvan or Rochangarbha	Avatar of Puru, son of Chandra and Rohini
Parashurama	Avatar of Vishnu
Jara (Hunter)	Rebirth of Vali/a portion of Indra (Ramayan)
Chitrāngadā	Avatar of Shachi
Mayuri	Avatar of Devi Alakshmi, wife of Lord Kali
Bhanumati	Avatar of Durukti, Sanjna or Dhanyamalini
Shweta	Avatar of Kali's servant's wife
Dushasana	Avatar of Kali's servent In some sources Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa is considered as Lord Vishnu.There is no proof that Dhristadyumna is Eklavya. However there are plenty of proofs that describes Karna as Sahasrakavacha also known as Dambhodbhava in his previous life and one of those sources is none other than the holy Devi Bhagavata Purana. References