Vamana

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Vamana as Trivikrama - decipted having three legs, one on the earth, raised leg in the heavens and third on Bali's head.

Vamana (Devanagari: वामन, IAST: Vāmana) is a personality described in the Puranic texts of Hinduism as the Fifth Avatara of Vishnu, and the first incarnation of the Second Age, or Treta yuga. Also he is the first Avatar of Vishnu which appears with a completely human form, though it was that of a dwarf brahmin. He is also sometimes known as Upendra.

Contents

Origin

Vamana was born to Aditi and Kashyapa [1]. He is the twelfth of the Adityas. Vamana is known to be the younger brother of Indra.

The legend of Bhagavata has it that the Vamana avatar was taken by Vishnu to restore Indra's authority over the heavens, which was taken away by force by the demon king Bali in Dravida. Vamana in the disguise of a short Brahmin, carrying a wooden umbrella requested three steps of land for him to live in. Given a promise of three steps of Land by King Mahabali against the warning given by his Guru Sukracharya, Vamana, The Supreme God grows so huge that he could cover from heaven to earth, earth to lower worlds in two simple steps. King Mahabali unable to fulfil the promise of three paces of Land to the Supreme God, offers his head for the third step. Thus Vamana places his third step on King Mahabali's head and gives him immortality for his benevolence.

Symbolism

Vamana avatar with King Mahabali

Vamana taught King Mahabali that arrogance and pride should be abandoned if any advancement in life is to be made, and that wealth should never be taken for granted since it can so easily be taken away. Vamana then took on the form of Mahavishnu. He was pleased by King Mahabali's determination and ability to keep his promise in the face of his spiritual master's curse and the prospect of losing all his wealth. Vishnu named the King Mahabali since he was a Mahatma (great soul). He allowed Mahabali to return to the spiritual sky to associate with Prahalada (the demoniac Hiranyakashipu's pious son, also a descendant of the demon race) and other divine beings. Mahavishnu also declared that Mahabali would be able to rule the universe in the following yuga (age). Mahabali was the grandson of Prahlada being the son of Prahlada's son Virochana who was killed in a battle with the Devas.

Mahabali is supposed to return every year to the land of his people, to ensure that they are prosperous. This is celebrated as the Onam festival in Kerala, where he is also called Maveli (which is a contraction of Mahabali - the Great Bali).

In Sikhism

Vamana is discussed in the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred text of Sikhism.[2]

satjugi tai maNiO ChaliO bali bAvan bhAiO
In Satyayuga, you sported as the dwarf incarnation, and fooled Bali.

On page 1330 of the Guru Granth Sahib, Vamana is mentioned as the "enticer" of Baliraja.[3]

In the Ramayana

According to the Adhatya Ramayana It is also said that Vamanadeva is the guard of the gate of Bali Maharaja's planet Sutala[4][5] and will remain so forever.[6] Tulsidas' Ramayana too declares that Vamana became the "dwarpal" (gate-defender) of Bali.[7]

It is said that Mahabali attained Moksha by atmanidedinam.[8] Krishna in the Sri Rūpa Gosvāmīs Bhakti-rasāmrta-sindhuh[9] says that Mahabali came to Him or attained Him. Some traditions also hold that Vamana was an avatar of Ganesha.[10].

Temples

Vishnu as Trivikrama, Mahabalipuram relief

One of the Vamana temples is located in Thrikakkara (Thrikkakara Temple), Cochin, Kerala. There is also a Vamana temple in Kanchipuram near the Kamakshi temple.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Account of the several Manus and Manwantaras Vishnu Purana, translated by Horace Hayman Wilson, 1840, Book III: Chapter I. 265:22, Vishńu, at the request of the deities, was born as a dwarf, Vámana, the son of Adití by Kaśyapa; who, applying to Mahabali for alms, was promised by the prince whatever he might demand, notwithstanding Śukra, the preceptor of the Daityas, apprised him whom he had to deal with. The dwarf demanded as much space as he could step over at three steps; and upon the assent of Mahabali, enlarged himself to such dimensions as to stride over the three worlds. Being worshipped however by Mahabali and his ancestor Prahláda, he conceded to them the sovereignty of Pátála.
  2. ^ P. 1390 Guru Granth Sahib
  3. ^ P. 1330, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Vol. 4
  4. ^ P. 281 The Adhyatma Ramayana: Concise English Version By Chandan Lal Dhody
  5. ^ P. 134 Srī Rūpa Gosvāmī's Bhakti-rasāmṛta-Sindhuh By Rūpagosvāmī, Bhakti Hridaya Bon
  6. ^ P. 134 Sri Rūpa Gosvāmīs Bhakti-rasāmrta-sindhuh By Rūpagosvāmī
  7. ^ P. 246 Complete Works of Gosvami Tulsidas By Satya Prakash Bahadur, Tulasīdāsa
  8. ^ P. 178 Vedanta Established in Its Own Light =: Sushka Vedanta Tamo Bhaskaram By Malayalaswamulavaru
  9. ^ P. 379 Sri Rūpa Gosvāmīs Bhakti-rasāmrta-sindhuh By Rūpagosvāmī By Rūpagosvāmī
  10. ^ P. 22 Bhavan's Journal By Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

External links

Avatars of Vishnu
Daśāvatāra
Matsya · Kurma · Varaha · Narasimha · Vamana · Parashurama · Rama · Krishna · Balarama* · Buddha* · Kalki
Other avatars
*Buddha or Balarama is considered the ninth avatar of Vishnu, depending the tradition. In North India, Buddha is included and in south India, Balarama.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vamana"

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