Incarnation of Lord Narayan: Vaman Avatar

Prahlad was crowned king after his father. He was succeeded by Virochan, then Sena, and finally Bali. Bali, king of the Asuras, wanted to seize the position of Deva Indra and conducted a yagna to achieve this. During the yagna, Bali was gifted four horses, a chariot complete with a flag, a bow, and a quiver full of arrows. Armed with these and aided by a large army of Asuras, Bali stormed into the heavenly abode of the devas and devis. He drove out everybody from heaven and crowned himself the ruler.

Devmata Aditi, pained by her son Indra’s sorrow, consulted her husband Kashyap and did penance to appease Bhagwan Vishnu and call for His help. Bhagwan Vishnu, satisfied with Devmata’s devotion, was soon born to Aditi as Vaman Bhagwan. When Asura king Bali was busy carrying out his 100th Ashwamegh Yagna at the banks of the Narmada River at Bhrugukutcha (now Bharuch), to establish his supremacy over heaven and earth, Vaman Bhagwan made his entry.

The Guru of the Asuras, Shukracharya, knew that this was Bhagwan Vishnu in the form of the dwarf Vaman Bhagwan. As was the practice then, Bali wanted to know what Vaman Bhagwan desired. Vaman Bhagwan said that he required only three small pieces of land, each a foot in size. Bali agreed. But, soon after Bali consented, Vaman Bhagwan suddenly grew in size. He assumed such an enormous form that with his first foot, he covered the whole Earth, and with his second step, he covered heaven.

“Where should I put my third step?” asked Vaman Bhagwan. Bali knew he was defeated and offered his head. Vaman Bhagwan put his third step on Bali’s head and pushed him into Patal (the underworld). Pleased with Bali’s devotion, Bhagwan Vishnu blessed him as well.

Summary

Prahlad was succeeded by his descendants, with Bali eventually becoming the king of the Asuras. Bali, determined to seize the throne of Deva Indra, conducted a powerful yagna and amassed a formidable army. Armed with divine gifts, he successfully overthrew the devas and crowned himself as the ruler of heaven. Devmata Aditi, distressed by her son Indra’s plight, sought help from her husband Kashyap and performed penance to please Bhagwan Vishnu. Bhagwan Vishnu, taking the form of Vaman Bhagwan, was born to Aditi. During Bali’s 100th Ashwamegh Yagna at the Narmada River, Vaman Bhagwan approached Bali with a humble request for three small pieces of land. However, after Bali agreed, Vaman Bhagwan assumed a colossal form, covering the Earth with his first step and heaven with his second. With no place left, Bali offered his head for the third step, and Vaman Bhagwan pushed him into Patal (the underworld), where he blessed Bali for his devotion.

Important Points

1. Prahlad was succeeded by Virochan, Sena, and finally Bali as the king of the Asuras.
2. Bali sought to overthrow Deva Indra and conducted a yagna to achieve supremacy over heaven and earth.
3. Bhagwan Vishnu incarnated as Vaman Bhagwan in response to Devmata Aditi’s penance.
4. Vaman Bhagwan, in his dwarf form, approached Bali during his 100th Ashwamegh Yagna.
5. Bali granted Vaman Bhagwan’s request for three small pieces of land.
6. Vaman Bhagwan grew to an enormous size, covering the Earth and heaven with his first two steps.
7. Bali, realizing his defeat, offered his head for the third step.
8. Vaman Bhagwan placed his foot on Bali’s head, pushing him into Patal (the underworld).
9. Bhagwan Vishnu blessed Bali for his devotion, despite his defeat.