Mahabali
| Mahabali | |
|---|---|
 Vamana with Bali Maharaj | |
| In-universe information | |
| Children | Banasura |
Mahabali (IAST: Mahābalī, Devanagari: महाबली, Malayalam: മാവേലി, മഹാബലി), also known as Bali or Māveli or Vairochana, was a benevolent Asura King, and the grandson of Prahlada in ancient Indian scriptures.
Legend of Mahabali
King Mahabali was an Asura King whose accounts are described in the Bhagavata Purana. He was born as the son of Veerochana (also known as Devamba in southern parts of India) and the grandson of the great Prahlada. He was an Asura by birth. His father, Virochana was treacherously killed by Indra the King of Gods, by disguising himself as a Brahman and demanding Virochana's life as charity. Bali was mentored by his grandfather Prahlada and eventually succeeded him to the throne. As the king of the Asuras, his morality and administrative prowess were unmatched. He respected the Gods and was known for being very generous with his subjects.
On the command of Vishnu, Bali helped Indra to churn the primordial ocean for the nectar of immortality. A dispute arose between Indra and Bali over the ownership of the nectar. He was slain by Indra after the churning of the ocean, but was resurructed by the Sage Shukracharya. Bali performed the Vishwajit sacrifice under Shukra's guidance where he acquired celestial bows, arrows, a sword, an armour and celestial chariot drawn by horses capable of flying.
Bali defeated Indra and the Devas and ruled the three worlds with nigh omnipotence. However, Bali became proud and haughty and began to believe himself superior to Brahmanas. Prahlada warned Bali that Vishnu had taken birth as Indra's brother, but Bali gave an impudent reply. Enraged, Prahlada cursed Bali that he would lose his kingdom to Vishnu. Bali apologized to Prahlada and accepted his fate.
The Vamana avatar
While Mahabali was performing a Yajna on the banks of river Narmada, Lord Vishnu approached him in disguise as Vāmana. On seeing the dwarf ascetic Mahabali graciously welcomed him asked him for what he wished. Vāmana asked Mahabali for three feet of land. Overwhelmed by his feeling, Mahabali, who was well known for his generosity, offered to Vāmana the entire land of his kingdom. He even promised him all sorts of comforts in princely style. But the dwarfish ascetic was least interested in all those; he pleaded just for three feet of land in which he would like to sit and meditate. Guru Shukracharya suspected something wrong and cautioned Mahabali that Vāmana could be Vishnu in disguise. But he ignored Shukracharya's word of caution.
Mahabali started the process of the ritual washing of the feet of the recipient, before giving away the 3 feet of land, symbolically offering with water. Realizing the dreadful consequence of this action, Shukracharya took the form of a small dung beetle and blocked the narrow mouth of kindi; water-flow was hindered. Immediately, Vāmana took a pointed dharbha (sharp-edged grass) and passed it through the outflow tract of the vessel. It is believed that the sharp end of the grass hit one of the eyes of Shukracharya and thereafter he became blind in one eye.
As soon as Vāmana started measuring the earth with his first step, he grew giant sized, almost touching the sky. With his first step he measured the entire heaven. With His second step the whole earth was measured. By now Mahabali realized who it was in the disguise of Vāmana; he bowed his head in surrender and offered his head to measure the last and the third feet of land. Placing his raised foot on Mahabali's lowered head, Vāmana pushed him down to Patala (underworld). It is believed that thereafter the Asuras became the inhabitants of Patala.
The Onam story
The legend goes that when King Mahabali was being pushed into the Underworld, he asked Lord Vishnu for one last boon. He asked that he be permitted to visit Kerala once every year so that he can ensure that his people are happy and prosperous. Lord Vishnu granted his wish. So Onam is the time when Mahabali visits his people, and that is why Onam is celebrated with such pomp and splendour in Kerala. Every year people make elaborate preparations to welcome their King whom they affectionately call Onathappan. They wish to please the spirit of their King by depicting that his people are happy and wish him well. The second day, Thiruvonam is the biggest and the most important day of this festival. It is believed that King Mahabali visits his people on the second day.
Onam celebrations are marked in Trikkakara, a place 10 km from Kochi on the Edapally-Pookattupadi road. Trikkara is said to be the capital of the mighty King Mahabali. A temple with a deity of 'Trikkakara Appan' or 'Vamanamurthy' is located at this place. Nowhere else in Kerala can one find a deity of 'Vamanamurthy'. This fascinating legend is artistically depicted at the Suchindram Temple in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu.
Chiranjeevi
King Mahabali is also one of the seven Chiranjeevi's (immortals) in Hindu religion who have been blessed with eternal life, the others being Markandeya, Parashurama, Vibhishana, Hanuman, Vyasa, Kripacharya and Ashwatthama.
See also
References
http://www.kerala.com/special/kera_lak_8.htm
External links
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