Sri Aurobindo has commented comprehensively on the traits of an Avatar

A messenger of the Divine, whether he is considered as an Avatar or a self-realised Guru, is not affected by public praise or blame and acts according to the dictates of a higher consciousness for the benefit of humanity. Sri Aurobindo the well-known sage of Pondichery, has commented comprehensively on the traits of an Avatar. He says "The Avatar acts according to the need of the Lila or material manifestation, not according to man’s ideas of what He should do or not do. When men think of an Avatar, they think He must have an extraordinary perfection in doing ordinary human things, not undergoing any defeat or failure etc. These human ideas are false. What if failure (or baseless blame) suits Him better and serves better the ultimate purpose? What rigid primitive notions are these about the Divine! An Avatar acts according to the consciousness of the Truth above with which he feels identified inwardly, and is not concerned with morality or immorality, perfection or imperfection according to small human standards."

The writer of this article had also incorporated some of these statements of Sri Aurobindo in an article which he had written about Avatarhood and was published several years ago in the ‘Sanathana Sarathi’ by Sri Kasturi, who was Baba’s secretary at that time. om-sathya-sai-baba.blogspot.com/2007/03/