ॐ नमोः भगवते वासुदेवाय॥
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Om, I bow to Lord Vasudeva
Preamble - This story is most close to my heart. I am a Malayalee from the verdant state of Kerala. It is the only state in India where the colourful and lively festival of Onam is celebrated by people of all faiths - Hindu, Muslim and Christian. Onam is a celebration of the great, pious, just and generous king, Mahabali. Onam is Kerala’s expression of the love for Mahabali. This story is about the asura (demon) king, Mahabali.
Mahabali was the grandson of Prahlad. He too like his grandfather Prahlad, was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishu. He prayed and performed sacrifices to Lord Vishu. Mahabali’s only desire was to see the Lord.
The great and noble king, Mahabali, belonged to the asura (demon) clan. He was a strong and brave warrior who gained supremacy over the three worlds – paatal-lok (nether world), bhoo-lok (earth) and even svarga-lok (heaven). Besides being a valiant warrior Mahabali was kind, honest and magnanimous. He cared for each one of his subjects. The people loved him dearly. Mahabali had ushered in peace and prosperity. Everyone in his kingdom felt safe, content and happy.
Mother Earth too was so pleased with Mahabali’s ministrations of the world that she blessed his lands with bountiful harvests and abundance. This made the people on earth even more joyful.
However, there was one deva who was not at all happy - Lord Indra. He had lost svarga-lok to Mahabali and hence was extremely upset. Lord Indra was desperate to get his celestial kingdom back from Mahabali. Unfortunately he was unable to do so. He prayed to Lord Vishu and in his prayers asked the Lord to grant him his kingdom back.
But Lord Vishu replied, “What you have lost you must gain back yourself. Fight and win back your kingdom.”
Lord Indra replied, “You know that Mahabali is far too strong and powerful for me to defeat. It is not possible for me to win against him”
“If you don’t have the capacity to win it back,” said the Lord, “Then go and beg Mahabali to give you back your kingdom. He will definitely return it to you.”
“I will fall at your feet Lord and beg you for help, but please don’t ask me to beg Mahabali for my kingdom. I am your true devotee please help me,” pleaded Indra.
The Lord did not relent.
Aditi, Indra’s mother who was most upset that her son had lost his position of eminence began to do severe penance and prayer in worship of Lord Vishu. She relentlessly beseeched him to restore her son to his former glory.
Vishu hearing a mother’s desperate plea, finally agreed to get svarg-lok back for Indra.
Mahabali, at that time, was feeling rather despondent. Sharing his sadness with his wife, Mahabali said, “My grandfather Prahlad was only a young boy when he had the good fortune of seeing Lord Vishnu. I have conquered the three worlds and I have not yet had a vision of the Lord.”
His wife trying to console her husband said, “It is said that one must have the heart and love of a child to see the Lord.”
“Perhaps you are right, “ said Mahabali, “I have spent my life winning battles and acquiring wealth and power. But what use are my possessions and position when they cannot fulfil my one and only heart’s desire which is to meet the Lord. I have no need for all that I have acquired. I wish to give away everything I own.”
His loving wife seeing her husband in so much distress said, “You must do exactly what makes you happy. If your happiness lies in giving away all your wealth and all that you own, so be it. I will support you and be by your side.”
The very next day Mahabali announced that he would be giving away all that he owned. He let people know that they could come to his palace and ask for whatever they wished and he would give it to them. People from far and wide hearing of Mahabali’s generous offer came and were delighted to receive land, gold, precious jewels and cattle. They asked and Mahabali gave them whatever they desired. Everyone was ecstatic. The news that Mahabali was giving away all his possessions spread like wild fire.
For days and days people came to Mahabali’s palace and received in plenty. Then one day a poor brahmin dwarf carrying a palm umbrella over his head to protect himself from the hot sun, joined the queue of people who wished to receive Mahabali’s gifts. The little man, Mahabali was informed, was called Vamana. When it was Vamana’s turn, Mahabali looking at Vamana thought to himself “This brahman emits such a divine aurora.”
He called his wife and asked her to fetch some water in a silver lota (water container). Once he had received the lota he humbly went down on his knees and washed the holy brahmin’s feet. Standing up and with folded hands Mahabali said to Vamana, “You have indeed arrived at a very auspicious time. I am giving away all that I own. Ask me for anything - be it land, cattle or any form wealth - and it will be my honour to give it to you.”
Vamana looked at Mahabali and said, “I don’t require much. All I ask for is just the land I can cover in three strides.”
Mahabali smiled kindly and asked, “Just three strides of land? Are you sure this is all I can offer you?”
As Vamana nodded Mahabali continued, “You know I can give you much more. I am the king of the three world. Ask me for three villages, three cities or even three kingdoms or four or five and I will happily grant them to you.”
“No,” said Vamana, “All I ask of you is the area that I can cover in three strides.”
Bali’s advisor and guru, Shukracharya, who was always present at the court immediately cautioned Mahabali. He said, “Please do not agree to his request. He is certainly not a poor, simple brahmin. He is none other than Lord Vishnu who has come here in this avatar. He will take away all that you have and give it to the devas in heaven.”
Mahabali who had already guessed that this was indeed the Lord replied, “Shukracharaya, I do respect your advise but in this case I have promised that anyone who comes to me will be given whatever I own. I must abide by my promise.”
As all his courtiers watched, Mahabali turned to the brahmin dwarf and said to him, “Every guest who comes to my palace I treat as Lord Vishnu himself. So too will I treat you. I have vowed to give away whatever is asked of me. Therefore I request you to measure the land that you wish for and I will grant it to you.”
Vamana replied, “Very well.” He then stretched one leg forward but as he did so he became very, very tall. So tall that his first stride covered the whole earth.
Vamana turned to Mahabali and asked, “Where shall I place my second stride.” Mahabali knowing that he was in the presence of Mahavishnu said nothing but instead pointed to the heavens. Vamana then took his other leg forward for his second stride and he became larger than the largest giant. So large that his second stride now covered the heavens.
Everyone gazed at Vamana in astonishment. Vamana had already taken over two worlds.
The brahmin then turning to Mahabali and looking at him with love and kindness asked, “I have covered two strides so now tell me where should I put my foot?”
The good king Mahabali knelt before the Lord and with folded hands and bowed head simply replied, “It was my pride that made me think that I was the king of the three worlds and that I could give away everything from these worlds. You have driven away my arrogance and shown me that nothing really belonged to me. So there was nothing I could give away. All that I have is yours. Therefore I request you to put your foot on my head as I too am yours.”
As Vamana gently placed his foot above Bali’s head Lord Indra who had been watching from above came rushing to Bali and embraced him. All enmity between the two was completely forgotten.
Mahabali turning to Lord Vishnu requested, “Lord send me back to the land of the asuras – paatal-lok (netherworld). It is the land of my ancestors I will be happy there. However, I beg you to grant me one wish.”
Lord Vishnu looking at Mahanbali benignly said, “Bali, what is it you desire? I will certainly grant it to you.”
Mahabali then asked, “Lord, my only desire is that I take with me the one thing I treasure the most - you. I wish you to be by my side at all times.”
Vishnu replied, “Bali, just as you cannot live without me, I too cannot not bear to be away from you, who is so devoted to me. I will always be by your side.
The people of Kerala and the rest of the earth were very sad to hear that Mahabali was leaving them. They had never known a better, kinder and more just king than Mahabali. Seeing their sorrow and their love for Mahabali Lord Vishnu said to Mahabali, “Your subjects love for you moves me. Their love for you is so deep that I must grant that you come once every year to visit your people on earth. This will make them happy and you will be happy too.”
The people rejoiced in the knowledge that their beloved king would visit them at least once each year.
Mahabali’s visit every year is celebrated in Kerala for ten days, with boat races, elephant parades, dance and song. Every house in Kerala is beautifully decorated. At each home a lavish feast is prepared on Onam especially for Mahabali. The people of Kerala want their beloved king to know that they are well and will always respect and love him. It may be thousands of years since Mahabali left them but he is still remembered by generation after generation of Keralites. Onam is a celebration welcoming back the greatest and gentlest king Kerala has ever known.
However, there were those in the other two worlds who were not as easily appeased by Lord Vishnu’s concession. They felt that Lord Vishnu had been unjust to one of his most sincere devotees.
To them Lord Vishnu said, “Mahabali is indeed among the very best of my devotees. He remained unshaken when he lost all his wealth and yet continued to worship me. During all his trials and tribulations he has never once wavered in his love for me. Even when I, through deceit, took away from him all the three worlds, his faith and trust in me remained steadfast. Therefore through me Mahabali has attained a position that even the immortals find difficult to achieve. He will reside in Sutala, the place created by Vishvakarma, (the heavenly architect) where there is no suffering, no tiredness, or defeat. In Sutala there will be place for everyone of Bali’s many followers. So he will never be alone. I will personally safeguard him, his associates and his properties. I will protect him from anyone who defies him. I will at all times stand by his side. He will always be able to see me in Sutala.”
Then Lord Vishu blessed Mahabali and with benevolence said, “Bali go now to Sutala, a place so desirable that even the heavenly gods wish to reside there. Be assured that you have and will always have me by your side.”
Mahabali left for his new abode grateful that not only had he finally been fortunate enough to see the Lord but from that day forth the Lord would be by his side always.
Lord Vishnu, had, in this manner, very cleverly granted the greatest boon of all to Mahabali. Disguised as the brahmin dwarf Vamana, Lord Vishnu seemed to have avenged Indra and his mother Aditi. However in actual fact Lord Vishnu had granted Mahabali an incomparable gift - his presence at all times.
LIFE LESSONS
Riches, wealth and fame are all short lived. Mahabali realised that all his power and wealth could not get him what he really wanted - a vision of Lord Vishnu.
Like Mahabali we should be generous and kind.
Like Mahabali always have faith in God. He will never let you down.
Like Mahabali we too can be remembered for our good deeds.
Good will always be rewarded. Mahabali gave away everything but he gained the presence of the Lord.
Fantastic story and very well written. Enjoyed reading it.