Yes, it is in the sense of the descent of beings from higher worlds from the mental and spiritual planes into the human world, upon earth. Like Swami Vivekananda who is supposed to have been Angiras Rishi, Hanuman ji, anshavatar of Shiva, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who was anshavatar of Sri Krishna. Just as the Avatars are descents of the Supreme in a human body, the Rishis are descents of higher beings and forces in a human body.
Affectionately,
Alok Da


