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Revision as of 07:03, 14 December 2006 by Tigeroo (talk | contribs) (rv)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The legend of King Mahabali (IAST: mahābalī, sanskrit: महाबली ) or Māvēli(as known locally) is the most popular and the most fascinating of all legends behind Onam. Onam celebrates the visit of King Mahabali, a king of ancient Dravida to the state of Kerala every year. The festival is celebrated with fervour as King Mahabali is greatly respected by his subjects. Mahabali is also popularly called Maveli and Onathappan. He is believed to have ruled in South India before the Ramayana event and his empire is believed to have extended from the Vindhyas in the north to the far out in the south.
Reign of King Mahabali
The story goes that the beautiful state of Kerala was the capital of the Asura (demon) king, Mahabali. However, he was very religious and performed Vedic Aswamedha sacrifices to enlarge his kingdom and like his grandfather (Prahlada), was one of the greatest devotees of Lord Vishnu on Earth as he sacrificed his kingdom for the Lord. The King was greatly respected in his kingdom and was considered to be wise, judicious and extremely generous. It is said that Kerala witnessed its golden era in the reign of King Mahabali. Everybody was happy in the kingdom, there was no discrimination on the basis of caste or class. Rich and poor were equally treated. There was neither crime, nor corruption. People did not even lock their doors, as there were no thieves in that kingdom. There was no poverty, sorrow or disease in the reign of King Mahabali and everybody was happy and content. But because he was a Daitya, a descendent of Diti who was a rakshasa or a cannibal, he was viewed by the Suras or Devas as unsafe.
Brief Sketch of King Mahabali
The king was from the line of Diti, a deity in the Rigveda. In the days of Ridveda, there were two major groups of Aryans; The Indo-Aryans who believed that Aditi was the true mother of the gods and Irano-Aryans (Dasyu) who believed Diti, the twin sister was. This caused a split between the Indians and the Aryans with many Daityas migrating towards Iran, but some remained in India. Mahabali is the descendent of this line.
Most of the incarnations of Vishnu were connected with the struggle with Maha Bali lineage.
Mahabali was the son of Veerochana and grandson of Prahlad, refused to side with his atheistical father and worshipped Vishnu with great devotion. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says that out of the Daityas, He is Prahlada. Prahalada's father was the Asura King Hiranyakashipu who was killed by Vishnu in his avatar as Nara Simha (The Man-Lion).
Hiranya Kasipu's brother Hiranyksha was killed by Vishnu in his Avatar of Boar. Mahabali however, being a noble being worshipped Vishnu and sacrificed his kingdom of rakshasas to the Avatar Vamana.
Maha Bali created a veritable Kingdom of God all over India, but most of his military was still rakshasas.
Maha Bali literally means "the Great Sacrifice." - One who sacrificed for all.
Challenge for the Devas
Looking at the growing popularity and fame of King Mahabali the Devas became extremely concerned that the Daitya way (cannibalism) might conquer the people. They felt threatened about their own supremacy and began to think of a strategy to get rid of the dilemma.
To curb the growing reign of Mahabali and maintain their own supremacy, Aditi, the mother of gods sought help from Lord Vishnu (the preserver in the Hindu trinity). Asuras did not worship Vishnu. It was said Mahabali was very generous and charitable. Whenever anybody approached him for help or requested for anything he always granted. To test the King, Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a poor Brahmin boy called Vamana. He came to the Kingdom of Mahabali, just after Mahabali performed his morning prayers and was preparing to grant boons to Brahmins.
Lord Vishnu takes Vamana Avatar
Disguised as Vamana, Vishnu said he was a poor Brahmin and asked for a piece of land. The generous King said, he could have as much land as he wanted. The Brahmin said that he just wanted as much land as could be covered by his three steps. The King was surprised to hear this humble request, and insisted that the boy ask for more. But the brahmin again said that he only wanted as much land as he could cover in three steps. So Mahabali agreed.
Just as King Mahabali agreed to grant the land, Vamana began to expand and eventually increased himself to the size of cosmic proportions. With his first step the Brahmin boy covered the whole of earth and with the other step he covered the whole of the skies. He then asked King Mahabali where is the space for him to keep his third foot.
The King realised that he was no ordinary Brahmin and his third step will destroy the earth. Mahabali with folded hands bowed before Vamana and asked him to place his last step on his head so that he could keep the promise to Vishnu. The Brahmin placed his foot on the head was pleased and offered him patala, the nether world.
Vishnu grants a great boon to King Mahabali
As he was pushed down into hell, King Bali made a last request. He requested that he be allowed to visit Kerala once in a year to ensure that his people were still happy, well fed and content. Lord Vishnu was pleased to grant Mahabali his wish.
Genesis of Onam
Onam celebrations are marked in Trikkakara, a place 10 km from Kochi (Cochin) on the Edapally- Pookattupadi road. Trikkara is said to be the capital of the mighty King Mahabali. A temple with a deity of Trikkakara Appan or Vamanamurthy who is Lord Vishnu himself in disguise is also located at this place. Nowhere else in Kerala can one find a deity of 'Vamanamurthy'. This fascinating legend is artistically depicted at the Suchindram Temple in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, where Lord Shiva slayed Banasura, the evil child of the holy Mahabali.
Alternate Views of Bali
There are two alternate views of Bali, who is also popularly known as Mahabali.
- Especially in Kerala, Mahabali is seen as a good ruler tricked by the jealous gods (suras), who vanquished him by deception.
- In the Hindu Puranas, Bali is a Daitya (descendents of Diti), an enemy of the Adityas (descendents of Aditi, twin sister of Diti), who claimed all of the heavens, earth and the underworld.
Accordingly, there are two versions, which differ in the connotations and not in the substance, of the same story of how Mahabali was stripped of his kingdom. These are (in the same order as the two views above):
- The gods (suras) grew worried of Mahabali's rule and popularity. Vishnu, in his avatar as the dimunitive Vamana, asked Mahabali for a piece of land only three paces wide. Bali, ever the generous king, granted this wish, whereupon Vamana grew to an immense size and covered the heavens with one step and the earth with another. There was no space left for Vamana to measure his third pace. "Where is my third foot of space?" asked Vamana. Tricked by this deceit, but as one who would never go back on his promises. Mahabali offered his own head for Vamana to place his third step. This myth is considered as the memory of the conquest of Dravians by the Vaishnavites. Others believe it is the story of how Thomas Christians of India were defeated by the deceit of Vaishanvite infilteration.
- According to mythology Bali was an efficient and popular ruler loved by all. His kingdom stretched the earth, the patal (the underground), and was threatening the skies. The ruler of the Heaven, Lord Indra got apprehensive of Bali's popularity and might, and approached Lord Vishnu for help and advice. Vishnu came to this mortal world as the boy (Vamana) Brahmin, went to Bali and asked for 3 steps of land. Bali readily agreed. With the first step, Vamana spanned the entire earth, with the next the underground, and there was nowhere to put his third step. The final step was put in heavan to reclaim the abode of the Devas, pushing out the cannibals.
Historical
Evidently the long history of Vishnu Avatars to destroy the kings of Asuras indicates the story of how the Brahminic Vaishanavite group chased and destroyed the Dravidians from the North to the South, even unto Srilanka. Christians have even gone towards claiming that Bali is actually one of the Christian Kings since the archealogical evidence indicates that Hinduism came to Kerala only after the 6th century AD. (See Archealogical Survey of India, 1978)
Festivals
In the state of Kerala, the Onam festival is a celebration of the visit of Mahabali or Maveli (local name of Bali) to their land.
According to legend, Mahabali requested Vamana to grant him a boon to come and visit his homeland, Kerala, at least once a year, and he comes to visit his people and his land during Onam. Vamana also told Mahabali that he is destined to become Indra in the next cycle of creation.
See also
- Onam
- http://www.acns.com/~mm9n/emergence.pdf
- http://moralstories.wordpress.com/2006/05/31/bali-chakravartis-story/
- Rakshasa
External Links
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