Onam festival and the story of Mahabali

Onam festval and the story of Mahabali Chakravarthi

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Festivals portray the culture and heritage of the people. Every festival has a significance and connected with religion or season or some social event.

Tomorrow is the Onam festival and it is celebrated in Kerala in a grand manner. There is a story connected with this festival. It is the story of Mahabali who was a demon king who ruled over Kerala.

Mahabali was born in asura kula. He was the son of Virochana and the grandson of Prahlada who was the son of Hiranyakasipu. Lord Vishnu took Narasimha avathar to kill Hiranyakasipu to save his child devotee Prahalad. During Narasimha Avathar Lord Vishnu promised Prahalad that he would not kill anyone born in his clan.

Though Mahabali was born in asura kula, he was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Once he performed a yanjna known as Viswajith yanjna on the advice of his guru Sukracharya. At the end of the yajna he got a golden chariot, white horse, a flag with the symbol of a lion, a bow with arrows and a beautiful golden kalash.

After getting these things Bali became very proud and he went to fight with Indra. Indra got frightened and he went and prayed Lord Vishnu to save him and his kingdom from the asura.

The mother of Indra, Atithi also was very much worried and she prayed to her husband Kashyapa rishi to find a way to save her son. He told her to pray to Lord Vishnu and He would help her. Athithi observed a vrath for a long time and Lord Vishnu appeared before her and told that he would take birth in her womb and would save Indra and the devas.

Thus Lord Vishnu took birth as Athithi’s son on Sukla paksha dwadasi thithi, shravana star (Thiruonam) in the month of Shravan (Avani). This Avathar of Vishnu is known as Vamana Avathar.

According to the Brahmin tradition his upanayanam was performed at the appropriate age and his father Kashyapa taught him all the Vedas. He was very short, but his face was very bright and charming.

He came to know that Mahabali was performing Aswamedha Yanjna and he thought this was the right time to fulfill his mother Athithi’s wish. He went to the place where Mahabali was conducting the yajnja.

When Mahabali saw the Brahmin boy he happily welcomed him.
He told him that he was very happy to receive him on the auspicious occasion and he was willing to give him anything he wished to have.

Vamana told him that he wanted only three pace of land measured by his foot. Mahabali told him that what he asked for was too little and he wished to give him more than that.

But Vamana told him that he would be satisfied with that and did not want anything more than that.

In the mean while Mahabali’s guru Sukracharya called him and warned him that Lord Vishnu had come in the guise of Vamana and he had come to help Indra.

Mahabali replied that if Lord Vishnu Himself had come to ask for something, he was really blessed and he would not back out now. Then as for tradition he poured out water from the kamandal in Vamana’s hands, but Sukracharya took the form of a bee and blocked the nozzle of the kamandal. But Vamana poked with a blade of Tharpai ( a kind of grass used in religious ceremony) and Sukracharya lost his vision in one eye.

To Mahabali’s surprise Vamana grew up so big that he measured the whole world in one foot and the sky in one foot. Then he asked Mahabali where he got the pace for the third one. Mahabali bowed before him and told him to set his foot on his head.

Then the Lord was very much pleased with him and he revealed his true form. He told him that he wanted to test him and he was glad that he kept his promise. He told him to ask for a boon. Mahabali told him that once in a year he wanted to visit his kingdom and see his people.

It is the day of the visit of King Mahabali to Kerala that is celebrated every year as Onam. The festival is celebrated as a tribute to the sacrifice of king Mahabali.

Wish you all “A VERY HAPPY ONAM!”

 

Dear Akila,
Thank you for your appreciation.
Kerala which is famous as God's own country with all its natural beauty, celebrates Onam festival with all goodies. I thought it would be appropriate to share Mahabali's story on the day of the festival..
Love,
PS

 

Dear Srimathi,
Thank you for enjoying the story and coming in to post your comments.
Love,
PS

 

Dear Saras,
Your sweet compliments made my day. Thank you very much.
Love,
PS

 

Please post your message in Singapore Indians forum. It comes under "Indians in Asia-Pacific" forum.
PS

 

Dear Shashiv
Thank you for dropping in and for your appreciation. Glad to hear that you enjoyed reading.
Love,
PS