Vamana Jayanthi

September 12th, 2008

On the occasion of the Lord's appearance as Vamanadeva, devotees can have special darshana of the Deity of Lord Krishna in Vamana alankara.

VAMANA – THE DWARF INCARNATION

 

The demon king Bali Maharaja became very powerful by performing various sacrifices. He became unconquerable. He launched an attack on Lord Indra, who in turn knowing that he would be defeated rushed to Brihaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods. He advised him and other demigods to go into hiding on some other planets. Meanwhile Bali Maharaja performed one hundred horse sacrifices and became remarkably opulent and prosperous. Bali Mahäräja conquered all the planets of the universe by rightful possession.

Aditi, wife of Kashyapa Muni and mother of some of the demigods who were driven away from heaven prayed to Lord Krishna, to bring them back. Lord Krishna told her that the demons led by Bali Maharaja were now unconquerable, but however he would incarnate as her son and protect her other sons from the demons.

Eventually the Lord was born to Aditi in the form of Vamana, a brahmana-dwarf. The Lord was then informed that Bali Maharaja was nearby, performing horse sacrifices. Lord Vamana holding in his hands a rod, umbrella and water pot walked into the arena of sacrifice. Bali Maharaja welcomed him and offered him anything that he desired.
Lord Vamana asked for only three paces of land, to the measurement of his steps. Bali Maharaja smiled at this and said that he was willing to gift an entire planet to him. But the boy, Lord Vamana wanted only three paces of land. Bali Maharaja's spiritual master Sukracharya cautioned him against agreeing to this, as he knew the boy was an incarnation of the Personality of Godhead. Without paying heed to his words, Bali Maharaja granted the gift to the boy. Lord Vamana expanded as he took the first step. Within the sight of everyone, the Lord's body expanded to cover the earth, planetary systems, sky, seas, oceans, etc. His form grew and grew and he took his second step covering all the heavenly planets. Not even one tiny spot remained anywhere in the entire universe for the third step. The Lord then reduced his all-pervading form back to the form of a dwarf.
When the demon followers of Maharaja Bali saw he had lost all his possessions, they were incensed. They called Lord Vamana a cheater, and took up their weapons to kill him against the wishes of Bali Maharaja. The demigods also joined in the fight. Seeing the massacre of his own soldiers, Bali Maharaja ordered his army to stop fighting. Lord Vamana said to Maharaja Bali, that he had promised to give him three paces of land and one more pace remained and he had not kept his promise. To which Maharaja Bali requested Lord Vamana to keep his third step on his head.
Bereft of all his possessions, Maharaja Bali was sent to the planet of Sutala by Lord Vamana to live peacefully with his relatives and friends.