STORY OF MAHABALI FROM BHAGAVATHAM
ONAM is a festival celebrated by all Keralites. It normally comes during the period mid August- mid September (period known in Malayalam as Chinga maasam). The celebration starts on ‘Atham’ day (ten days prior to the actual Thiru Onam day) radiating feelings of enrichment and equality in the hearts of the people of Kerala. The phrase "Kaanam vittum Onam unnanam" (one should enjoy a sumptuous meal on the day of Onam) signifies the importance accorded to Onam festival. Among many other tales, the most famed one is connected with the story of King Mahabali who was truthful and followed the path of righteousness. Many of the myths propagating the qualities of King Mahabali in Bhagavatham are unforgettable to Keralites.
The Asuras (demons) as they were commonly known were the children born to Dhithi, wife of Kashyapaprajapathi, and the son of Mareechi and grandson of Brahma. Hiranyakasipu was one of the demonic sons born to Dhithi. Hiranyakasipu had four children. They were Prahlaadha, Samhraadha, Hraadha and Anuhraadha. Prahlaadha had a son, Veerochana. Mahabali was the son of this Veerochana. It is believed that Bana was the son of Mahabali and 40 million Demons were born to Bana.
According to myths in Bhagavatham, Prahalaadha crowned his son Veerochana and went to forest to practice meditation. After Veerochana, as the next heir was Mahabali, he inherited the kingdom. Mahabali practised the political tactics and wisdom learned from his grandfather, Prahlaadha. With his valor, administration of justice and strength of character, Mahabali became Chakravarty (the King of Kings), within a short time.
It was the then that the Paalaazhi Mathanam (churning of the milky ocean) took place. Devas and Asuras jointly churned the milky ocean using the mountain Manthara as the churning stick and brought out the Amrutha kalasam (treasure pot of nectar). This led to a fierce battle between Devas and Asuras- as to whom shall the Amrutham go? Mahabali was killed in this battle. His body was brought to Paathaalam (abode of Asuras), where Shukracharya, the Asuras’ Guru, treated him with divine medicines and brought him back to life. With his renewed lease of life and freshly acquired valor and prowess, Mahabali attacked the Devas and captured Devalokam (heaven, abode of Gods). Although the people at large were happy under the rule of Mahabali, the Asura Chakravarty, who was unfriendly to Brahmins & Devas denied them the comfort and superiority status they enjoyed earlier. Therefore, the Devas approached MahaVishnu, the supreme power of all creations and told Him of their grievances. MahaVishnu assured them: "Mahabali is my ardent devotee. Yet, I will take the form of a Vaamana (dwarf) at the appropriate time to remedy your sufferings."
Thereafter came the gradual decline of Asuras and their kingdom. Mahabali, apprehending the ruin of his kingdom, approached his grand father Prahlaadha to find out the causes. Prahlaadha told him that lord MahaVishnu has already entered the womb of Adithi and that is why the Asuras are becoming weaker and their sufferings would increase day by day. Hearing this Mahabali became very furious and challenged MahaVishnu, thinking that Asuras were stronger than Devas. Mahabali’s ego and his spirit to challenge MahaVishnu were intolerable to Prahlaadha who worshipped MahaVishnu. He cursed Mahabali, "Your kingdom will be completely destroyed". Hearing this Mahabali appealed to Prahlaadha to pardon him and guide him with some remedial action. Prahlaadha took pity on him and advised him to take refuge under lord MahaVishnu.
Devas who lost the battle to Bali had taken refuge in a forest. Adithi, mother of Devas, was unhappy at the sad plight of Devas. As advised by her husband Kasyapaprajapathi, Mother Adithi undertook a fast viz. Dwadasi Vratham to appease MahaVishnu. Lord Vishnu appeared before her and blessed her with the boon. As desired by her he agreed that he would himself be born as her son to emancipate the Devas from Mahabali. Very soon Adithi was pregnant; that is the story of Vaamana’s birth.
During this period, Mahabali was conducting a big yajna on the banks of river Narmada. Vaamana reached the place where the yajna was being performed, disguised as an ascetic . Seeing the dwarf ascetic Mahabali felt a special interest towards him. Vaamana made a simple request to Mahabali, asking for three feet of land! Overwhelmed by his feeling, Mahabali, who was well known for his generosity, offered to Vaamana 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 smelt something amiss and cautioned Mahabali. But he ignored Shukracharya’s word of caution, of some deceit, like Vishnu in disguise.
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, Guru Shukracharya took the form of a small dust particle and blocked the narrow mouth of water pot. Due to this, water-flow was hindered. Immediately, Vaamana took a pointed dharbha (a variety of sharp edged grass) and punctured the dust particle that blocked the water-flow. 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 the dwarf 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 Vaamana! The ardent devotee of MahaVishnu, 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, Vaamana pushed him down to Paathaalam (hell). It is believed that thereafter the Asuras became the inhabitants of Paathalam.
The Onam song ‘Maaveli Naadu vaaneetum kaalam, maanushar ellarum onnupole….’ is believed to depict the story of Mahabali, signifying the equality and justice that prevailed under Mahabali’s rule and also pointing out to "democracy by a benevolent Asura monarch". This song acclaiming all round prosperity and happiness of the people under the rule of Mahabali is in a narrative form; a bird coming from Thrikkakkara is supposed to be describing the entire story to a poet, as heard from Saint Narada. Believed to have been created some time between 9th and 10th year of Malayalam era, the authorship of this song is still unknown!
English translation by
Lakshmy. N