Bali then gets word that Indra has descended to maanav loka where he is getting help. Upon promising Shukracharya to kill all the maanavs, Bali gets set to attack maanavs. P upon hearing such an atrocity tries to stop him, but no. Lakshmi herself tries to stop him, but Bali is not to break the promise. He starts killing maanavs. So he sets out. Vishnu is very unhappy because the pact is broken (maanavs in maanav loka, daanavs in demon land and gods in god land) since daanav (Bali) is going to attach maanavs (man).
When Indra’s mom Aditi meets Vishnu to ask for help, he assures to help her in the form of fulfilling her wish (chapter one) that he will be born through her womb. Soon, Vamana takes birth [Avatar No. 5 Vaaman Avatar] as a Brahmin dwarf. Vishnu talks to Aditi and tells that his promise is now fulfilled. To witness this birth, all folks come to Kashyap's house - Brahma, Shiva, Saraswati, Brihaspati, Indra and Co.
The rishis want to perform upanayanam ceremony to Vaaman at the earliest. Significance of this ceremony is: The thread reminds a person of his duties: modest while being student, family man while being husband and father, follow norms as a part of society, duties toward society, etc. It teaches that rules exists all through the life. To abide this, you need to beg. Begging is important role. In begging phase, power and desire of endurance one possesses is very essential for one who is beginning life.
So dwarf starts begging with people. First he goes to Kuber who gives him a vessel to beg for alms. Sarashwati gives him beads. Brahma gives him a water container. Shiva gives him grains and fills up the vessel. Rishi Brihaspati performs the upanayanam ceremony and puts the thread to Vaaman. Aditi's father gives him a shawl. One of the Gods give him an umbrella. Another God gives him walking stick. When it is Indra's turn, Indra asks for apology. He will tell that he wont ever do any mistake again. Vishnu tells that realization of a mistake itself is atonement. Vishnu tells that because of Indra, many innocent people got killed in maanav loka. But now that he is born from Aditi, he is now younger brother for Indra. Vaaman forgives Indra. Indra says he likes the dwarf form of Vaaman. Vaaman says in this incarnation he is born only to ask for alms. Indra is perplexed. Isnt begging wrong, isnt it the lowest thing to do on this earth? It is not a noble profession.
Vishnu says that asking for alms out of sheer laziness is wrong - it is a social evil. But in reality, everyone is born a beggar, and everyone begs all his lifetime. When a living being is born, he begs to his mother for milk. As he grows, he begs his father for safety. As a student he begs for education. As he grows older, he begs to the old for their experience. Plant begs for water, wind, sunlight, etc. These begging is not wrong nor meant for criticism. So, begging is not all bad. It makes one humble - which is a noble for any being. Mankind will understand true meaning of begging by seeing this avatar because Vishnu only begs for the good of mankind.
Aditi is scared how such a dwarf can fulfill her wish of taking care of Bali, who is all powerful. Vishnu says courage is not dependent on size. Internal strength does not depend on external strength. His objective is not to kill Bali nor wage war. He wants to prove to Bali that war against mankind is not Vishnu-approvable! He wants to tell Bali that just because he is generous doesnt mean he is God. He only wants to cut down his pride.
Shukracharya detects a threat to Bali’s life (he knows that Vishnu has come to earth) and so he starts Ashwamedha yagna with Bali. Nobody challenges the horse (ashwa) and he is victorious. So the yagna starts, and S says not to get up till the yagna is over. But when Vamana chants ‘Bhavathi Bhikshaan Dehi’ in front of yagna, Bali cannot stop himself because of his donating principle and gets up in the middle of yagna and approaches Vamana, who is of the opinion that however much good Bali is (in donating, etc), a person should be punished when he does something bad (killing innocent people, etc).
Shukracharya sees Vishnu in Vamana and prevents Bali to give in to whatever Vamana says. But Bali is adamant and asks what Vamana wants. S says it is Vishnu. Bali is overjoyed. He wanted to see Vishnu and this is Vishnu and what else he wants. Bali ignores Shukracharya and again asks what Vaman wants. Vamana replies ‘Just 3 steps.’ Bali says yes. Vaman says you have to promise via a sankalp. Bali agrees. Vamana does the sankalpa (pouring sacred water from jar while chanting mantra), but Shukracharya diminishes in size and stops the flow of water from the neck of the jar by standing firm. Vamana pokes a stick into the neck, resulting in Shukracharya’s one eye getting damaged, and with pain, Shukracharya runs away.
Bali then asks what the steps are. Vamana grows big and big and puts his foot on:
1. Entire Earth & Inferno. [While passing his foot via a sharp mountain, His tow grazes the jagged edge and blood oozes out. This dropping blood is seen by Brahma. He realizes that it is Goddess Ganga. he says it is not yet time for Ganga to flow. So he takes all the blood into a container and saves it. Then Ganga talks from the container - Please release me from this urn. She wants to go to Earth. Brahma says that it is not yet time. She has to wait in this urn. Ganga accepts.]
2. Entire Sky & Universe.
There is now nothing left for Bali to donate. So Vaaman asks shall he forgo the 3rd step? Bali says that he has taken oath for 3 steps, and he has to donate 3 steps. But where do I keep it, asks Vishnu. Therefore Bali asks V to keep his foot on Bali himself for the 3rd step. Bali, though, is not regretful because he knows that Vamana is Vishnu himself and that his greatest desire of seeing Vishnu had come true and he was ready to accept death from Vishnu Himself as repenting to what all evils he had committed. Bali wants the world to know that Bali never goes back on his word.
Hence Vamana keeps his foot on Bali’s head as his last wish and that ends Vamana Avatar. But that doesnt end Bali's life.
But, the real reason, says Vamana later to Bali, he came is that, Bali was going way out of bounds, because of his improper teacher, Shukracharya. Unlike P’s Narada, Shukracharya had taught ill wills to Bali. Vishnu descended to teach this to Bali. Although Bali was good, he was wrong in thinking he was ultimate. No ‘deepa’ (flame) is greater than Sun. No man is greater than God. So, once Bali apologises profusely for his misdeeds, Vishnu grants his life and kingdom back, because of his ‘donating’ attitude. Bali also asks for everyday darshan of Vishnu and Lakshmi and is granted. Vishnu and Lakshmi are happy that their pupil, going astray is led back onto the right track.
Vaaman and Bali's generous activities are celebrated even now as Onam in Kerala.
When Indra’s mom Aditi meets Vishnu to ask for help, he assures to help her in the form of fulfilling her wish (chapter one) that he will be born through her womb. Soon, Vamana takes birth [Avatar No. 5 Vaaman Avatar] as a Brahmin dwarf. Vishnu talks to Aditi and tells that his promise is now fulfilled. To witness this birth, all folks come to Kashyap's house - Brahma, Shiva, Saraswati, Brihaspati, Indra and Co.
The rishis want to perform upanayanam ceremony to Vaaman at the earliest. Significance of this ceremony is: The thread reminds a person of his duties: modest while being student, family man while being husband and father, follow norms as a part of society, duties toward society, etc. It teaches that rules exists all through the life. To abide this, you need to beg. Begging is important role. In begging phase, power and desire of endurance one possesses is very essential for one who is beginning life.
So dwarf starts begging with people. First he goes to Kuber who gives him a vessel to beg for alms. Sarashwati gives him beads. Brahma gives him a water container. Shiva gives him grains and fills up the vessel. Rishi Brihaspati performs the upanayanam ceremony and puts the thread to Vaaman. Aditi's father gives him a shawl. One of the Gods give him an umbrella. Another God gives him walking stick. When it is Indra's turn, Indra asks for apology. He will tell that he wont ever do any mistake again. Vishnu tells that realization of a mistake itself is atonement. Vishnu tells that because of Indra, many innocent people got killed in maanav loka. But now that he is born from Aditi, he is now younger brother for Indra. Vaaman forgives Indra. Indra says he likes the dwarf form of Vaaman. Vaaman says in this incarnation he is born only to ask for alms. Indra is perplexed. Isnt begging wrong, isnt it the lowest thing to do on this earth? It is not a noble profession.
Vishnu says that asking for alms out of sheer laziness is wrong - it is a social evil. But in reality, everyone is born a beggar, and everyone begs all his lifetime. When a living being is born, he begs to his mother for milk. As he grows, he begs his father for safety. As a student he begs for education. As he grows older, he begs to the old for their experience. Plant begs for water, wind, sunlight, etc. These begging is not wrong nor meant for criticism. So, begging is not all bad. It makes one humble - which is a noble for any being. Mankind will understand true meaning of begging by seeing this avatar because Vishnu only begs for the good of mankind.
Aditi is scared how such a dwarf can fulfill her wish of taking care of Bali, who is all powerful. Vishnu says courage is not dependent on size. Internal strength does not depend on external strength. His objective is not to kill Bali nor wage war. He wants to prove to Bali that war against mankind is not Vishnu-approvable! He wants to tell Bali that just because he is generous doesnt mean he is God. He only wants to cut down his pride.
Shukracharya detects a threat to Bali’s life (he knows that Vishnu has come to earth) and so he starts Ashwamedha yagna with Bali. Nobody challenges the horse (ashwa) and he is victorious. So the yagna starts, and S says not to get up till the yagna is over. But when Vamana chants ‘Bhavathi Bhikshaan Dehi’ in front of yagna, Bali cannot stop himself because of his donating principle and gets up in the middle of yagna and approaches Vamana, who is of the opinion that however much good Bali is (in donating, etc), a person should be punished when he does something bad (killing innocent people, etc).
Shukracharya sees Vishnu in Vamana and prevents Bali to give in to whatever Vamana says. But Bali is adamant and asks what Vamana wants. S says it is Vishnu. Bali is overjoyed. He wanted to see Vishnu and this is Vishnu and what else he wants. Bali ignores Shukracharya and again asks what Vaman wants. Vamana replies ‘Just 3 steps.’ Bali says yes. Vaman says you have to promise via a sankalp. Bali agrees. Vamana does the sankalpa (pouring sacred water from jar while chanting mantra), but Shukracharya diminishes in size and stops the flow of water from the neck of the jar by standing firm. Vamana pokes a stick into the neck, resulting in Shukracharya’s one eye getting damaged, and with pain, Shukracharya runs away.
Bali then asks what the steps are. Vamana grows big and big and puts his foot on:
1. Entire Earth & Inferno. [While passing his foot via a sharp mountain, His tow grazes the jagged edge and blood oozes out. This dropping blood is seen by Brahma. He realizes that it is Goddess Ganga. he says it is not yet time for Ganga to flow. So he takes all the blood into a container and saves it. Then Ganga talks from the container - Please release me from this urn. She wants to go to Earth. Brahma says that it is not yet time. She has to wait in this urn. Ganga accepts.]
2. Entire Sky & Universe.
There is now nothing left for Bali to donate. So Vaaman asks shall he forgo the 3rd step? Bali says that he has taken oath for 3 steps, and he has to donate 3 steps. But where do I keep it, asks Vishnu. Therefore Bali asks V to keep his foot on Bali himself for the 3rd step. Bali, though, is not regretful because he knows that Vamana is Vishnu himself and that his greatest desire of seeing Vishnu had come true and he was ready to accept death from Vishnu Himself as repenting to what all evils he had committed. Bali wants the world to know that Bali never goes back on his word.
Hence Vamana keeps his foot on Bali’s head as his last wish and that ends Vamana Avatar. But that doesnt end Bali's life.
But, the real reason, says Vamana later to Bali, he came is that, Bali was going way out of bounds, because of his improper teacher, Shukracharya. Unlike P’s Narada, Shukracharya had taught ill wills to Bali. Vishnu descended to teach this to Bali. Although Bali was good, he was wrong in thinking he was ultimate. No ‘deepa’ (flame) is greater than Sun. No man is greater than God. So, once Bali apologises profusely for his misdeeds, Vishnu grants his life and kingdom back, because of his ‘donating’ attitude. Bali also asks for everyday darshan of Vishnu and Lakshmi and is granted. Vishnu and Lakshmi are happy that their pupil, going astray is led back onto the right track.
Vaaman and Bali's generous activities are celebrated even now as Onam in Kerala.
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