Significance of SRI VAMANA AVATHARA

[Guest guest]

SRI VAMANA AVATHARA

SignificanceSri Vamana Avathara was fifth in the line of Dasavatharas of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu. This avathara took place during Treta Yuga before Sri Parashurama Avathara. Lord Maha Vishnu took this avathara in order to suppress the arrogance, vanity and pride of Emperor Bali (Bali Chakravarthi) and to restore the glory, power and authority of Lord Indra over the Heaven who had lost his power and kingdom (Swarga) to King Bali. Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Sthothra describes in sloka # 17 and 56, the Lord asUpendro Vaamanah and Trivikramah.

Lord in this avathara was known as Vamana because he was dwarf in form at the beginning. He was known as Trivikrama because he is the one who has conquered the three worlds, Earth, Upper worlds and Nether worlds. He grew to a gigantic size while suppressing the King Bali and conquered the Universe with just three paces of his foot. He was also referred as Upendra as he was known to be the younger brother of Indra. We find all the three names Trivikrama, Vamana and Upendra while reciting 24 Kesava Namas. An exclusive Purana named after Lord Vamana called Sri Vamana Purana scripted by Lord and Sage Veda Vyasa forms part of 18 great Puranas called Ashtadasa Puranas.

Lord Vamana was born as the son of Sage Kashyapa (Kashyapa Prajapathi) and his wife Aditi in accordance to the penance done by the couple and prayers of Indra and other Deities. He was born on Bhadrapada Sukla Dwadasi day under the star constellation of Sravana Nakshatra. This day every year is celebrated as Vamana Jayanthi the day on which Lord Sri Vamana was born. As soon as he was born He took no time in attaining the boyhood becoming a Vatu (Brahmachari). Lord Brahma himself initiated the Gayathri Manthra to Sri Vamana. His attire was that of a typical Brahmin Brahmachari, wearing a Koupeena (Loin cloth), a sacred thread, holding a Chatthra (Umbrella) in one hand and Dhanda/Kamandalu (stick and water jug) in the other, his upper body covered with Deer skin, wearing a ring of Dharbha (Kusa grass) to his third finger.

Significance of Three StepsLord Vamana went to King Maha Bali and asks for three steps of land measured by his foot as charity. Initially Bali hesitated to donate just three paces of land as it is a disgrace to his status and was guilty to give such charity. But later agreed, upon insisting by Lord Vamana and promised to give three paces of land as charity measured by Sri Vamana’s foot. When Maha Bali completed the ritual process of donating the land, Lord Vamana assumed his cosmic form (Trivikrama), measured the entire Earth including the nether worlds by his first step.

With his second step He measured the entire upper worlds. When his foot reached the zenith it crossed the Sathya Loka where Lord Brahma stays. Seeing the foot of Lord Maha Vishnu, Lord Brahma offered abhishekam and washed the Lord’s foot and the water that fell from His foot sanctified the entire Universe. We find in the verses of great composer and Saint Sri Annamacharya referring to the foot washed by Lord Brahma (Brahma Kadigina Padamu) in one of his verses on Lord Sri Venkateswara.

When the entire Universe was conquered by just two paces of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu (Vamana) there was no space left in the Universe to keep Vamana’s third pace. When Lord Vamana asked Maha Bali the space to keep his third pace, all the pride and vanity of Maha Bali had vanished and he had no hesitation in surrendering before the Supreme Lord. Having realised the Supreme Reality, Bali readily offered his own head to keep the Lord’s third step. Lord Vamana immediately placed his third pace (his foot) on the head of Bali and sent him to the nether worlds. Thus the ahankara (egoism) of Maha Bali was suppressed and Indra was restored with his kingdom.

UniquenessSri Vamana Avathara is the first Avathara where Lord Sri Maha Vishnu took complete human form though dwarf at the beginning. The uniqueness of this Avathara is that the Lord did not use any weapon. The only weapon he used was that of begging in front of King Bali in accordance to the Brahmanic (Brahmachari) form he had attained. The Lord did not kill the King Bali even though he was an Asura. He conquered him in a Vedic way with his intelligence. Unlike other Avatharas, Vamana Avathara was a Sattvik Avathara. Lord had to resort to this strategy due to the promise he had made to his beloved devotee Prahlada not to kill any of his descendants. Astrologically Jupiter (Guru) is said to be the Paramatma Amsa of Vamana Avathara.

Message from Vamana AvatharaHidden behind every Avathara of Paramatma there is a message/moral conveyed. In this Sri Vamana Avathara the message is total surrender to the God however mighty one may be. When once you shed your ego and surrender totally with devotion at the feet of the supreme Lord there is nothing one can worry about and will get total protection. This is what exactly has happened in case of Bali who had no other alternative but to surrender to the Lord Trivikrama who had conquered the three worlds.

When King Bali surrendered in front of Lord Vamana with total devotion, the Lord was very much pleased and gave him boons voluntarily without being asked by King Bali. He not only made him the ruler of the nether world Suthala but also assured him that He would always protect his kingdom. He also assured Bali that he would become the Indra in the next Manvanthara. By the touch of Lord’s foot on the head of King Bali all his sins got cleaned up, he became immortal (Chiranjeevi). This is what one should understand that we should never ask for alms to the Supreme Lord. If you ask you will get only what you had asked. It you don’t ask you will get everything that you require.

The story of Bali also bring out the reality that, there is nothing permanent and nothing to be taken for granted in this world be it wealth, beauty, power, status, position or family and nothing belongs to anyone. Even the mighty have to fall on one day or the other. We have several such historical examples that we are also seeing in this modern world.

Festivals related to Vamana Avathara:The day on which Lord Vamana was born is celebrated every year on Bhadrapada Sukla Dwadasi Day as Vamana Jayanthi.

Temples of Vamana Avathara: Some of the famous temples of Lord Vamana are,

Ulagalanda Perumal temple: It is a temple of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu in Trivikrama roopa (Vamana Avathara). The statue is 35 ft. height and 24 ft. width. It is said that during Vamana Avathara Lord Vishnu appeared to King Bali at this place. It is also said that the Lord showed his Trivikrama roopa to Lord Aadisesha at this place. This temple is located in Shiva Kanchi (Kaancheepuram) in Tamil Nadu state.

Thrikkara Temple: The only Vamana temple in Kerala near Cochin famous for Onam festival. This place is said to have been the capital of King Bali.

Tirukoilur - Ulagalanda Perumal Temple: Situated in Tirukoilur in South Arcot district of Tamil Nadu this temple is dedicated to Lord Trivikrama (Vamana).

Vamana Temple in Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh -- Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya

Prasanth JalasutramLove And Love Alone

[Guest guest]

Respected Prasanth Jalasutramji

 

A very good post and a nice picture.It would be very much thankful of you if you

put up all the 10 avataras in a similiar presentation.

 

, Prasanth Jalasutram <jvrsprasanth

wrote:

>

> [image: [vishnu_avatar_QJ96_l.jpg]]

>

<http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_S49ZRy14b1M/Ssv69e578aI/AAAAAAAAAXA/pwpQ5i4KI50/s1600\

-h/vishnu_avatar_QJ96_l.jpg>

> *SRI VAMANA AVATHARA*

> **

> **

>

> *Significance

> *

>

> *Sri Vamana Avathara was fifth in the line of Dasavatharas of Lord Sri Maha

> Vishnu. This avathara took place during Treta Yuga before Sri Parashurama

> Avathara. Lord Maha Vishnu took this avathara in order to suppress the

> arrogance, vanity and pride of Emperor Bali (Bali Chakravarthi) and to

> restore the glory, power and authority of Lord Indra over the Heaven who had

> lost his power and kingdom (Swarga) to King Bali. Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama

> Sthothra describes in sloka # 17 and 56, the Lord asUpendro Vaamanah and

> Trivikramah.*

> *Lord in this avathara was known as Vamana because he was dwarf in form at

> the beginning. He was known as Trivikrama because he is the one who has

> conquered the three worlds, Earth, Upper worlds and Nether worlds. He grew

> to a gigantic size while suppressing the King Bali and conquered the

> Universe with just three paces of his foot. He was also referred as Upendra

> as he was known to be the younger brother of Indra. We find all the three

> names Trivikrama, Vamana and Upendra while reciting 24 Kesava Namas. An

> exclusive Purana named after Lord Vamana called Sri Vamana Purana scripted

> by Lord and Sage Veda Vyasa forms part of 18 great Puranas called Ashtadasa

> Puranas.*

>

> *Lord Vamana was born as the son of Sage Kashyapa (Kashyapa Prajapathi) and

> his wife Aditi in accordance to the penance done by the couple and prayers

> of Indra and other Deities. He was born on Bhadrapada Sukla Dwadasi day

> under the star constellation of Sravana Nakshatra. This day every year is

> celebrated as Vamana Jayanthi the day on which Lord Sri Vamana was born. As

> soon as he was born He took no time in attaining the boyhood becoming a Vatu

> (Brahmachari). Lord Brahma himself initiated the Gayathri Manthra to Sri

> Vamana. His attire was that of a typical Brahmin Brahmachari, wearing a

> Koupeena (Loin cloth), a sacred thread, holding a Chatthra (Umbrella) in one

> hand and Dhanda/Kamandalu (stick and water jug) in the other, his upper body

> covered with Deer skin, wearing a ring of Dharbha (Kusa grass) to his third

> finger.*

> **

>

> *Significance of Three Steps*

> *Lord Vamana went to King Maha Bali and asks for three steps of land

> measured by his foot as charity. Initially Bali hesitated to donate just

> three paces of land as it is a disgrace to his status and was guilty to give

> such charity. But later agreed, upon insisting by Lord Vamana and promised

> to give three paces of land as charity measured by Sri Vamana's foot. When

> Maha Bali completed the ritual process of donating the land, Lord Vamana

> assumed his cosmic form (Trivikrama), measured the entire Earth including

> the nether worlds by his first step.*

> *

> With his second step He measured the entire upper worlds. When his foot

> reached the zenith it crossed the Sathya Loka where Lord Brahma stays.

> Seeing the foot of Lord Maha Vishnu, Lord Brahma offered abhishekam and

> washed the Lord's foot and the water that fell from His foot sanctified the

> entire Universe. We find in the verses of great composer and Saint Sri

> Annamacharya referring to the foot washed by Lord Brahma (Brahma Kadigina

> Padamu) in one of his verses on Lord Sri Venkateswara.*

> *

> When the entire Universe was conquered by just two paces of Lord Sri Maha

> Vishnu (Vamana) there was no space left in the Universe to keep Vamana's

> third pace. When Lord Vamana asked Maha Bali the space to keep his third

> pace, all the pride and vanity of Maha Bali had vanished and he had no

> hesitation in surrendering before the Supreme Lord. Having realised the

> Supreme Reality, Bali readily offered his own head to keep the Lord's third

> step. Lord Vamana immediately placed his third pace (his foot) on the head

> of Bali and sent him to the nether worlds. Thus the ahankara (egoism) of

> Maha Bali was suppressed and Indra was restored with his kingdom.*

> **

>

> *Uniqueness*

>

> *Sri Vamana Avathara is the first Avathara where Lord Sri Maha Vishnu took

> complete human form though dwarf at the beginning. The uniqueness of this

> Avathara is that the Lord did not use any weapon. The only weapon he used

> was that of begging in front of King Bali in accordance to the Brahmanic

> (Brahmachari) form he had attained. The Lord did not kill the King Bali even

> though he was an Asura. He conquered him in a Vedic way with his

> intelligence. Unlike other Avatharas, Vamana Avathara was a Sattvik

> Avathara. Lord had to resort to this strategy due to the promise he had made

> to his beloved devotee Prahlada not to kill any of his descendants.

> Astrologically Jupiter (Guru) is said to be the Paramatma Amsa of Vamana

> Avathara.*

> **

> *Message from Vamana Avathara

> *

>

> *Hidden behind every Avathara of Paramatma there is a message/moral

> conveyed. In this Sri Vamana Avathara the message is total surrender to the

> God however mighty one may be. When once you shed your ego and surrender

> totally with devotion at the feet of the supreme Lord there is nothing one

> can worry about and will get total protection. This is what exactly has

> happened in case of Bali who had no other alternative but to surrender to

> the Lord Trivikrama who had conquered the three worlds.*

> *When King Bali surrendered in front of Lord Vamana with total devotion, the

> Lord was very much pleased and gave him boons voluntarily without being

> asked by King Bali. He not only made him the ruler of the nether world

> Suthala but also assured him that He would always protect his kingdom. He

> also assured Bali that he would become the Indra in the next Manvanthara. By

> the touch of Lord's foot on the head of King Bali all his sins got cleaned

> up, he became immortal (Chiranjeevi). This is what one should understand

> that we should never ask for alms to the Supreme Lord. If you ask you will

> get only what you had asked. It you don't ask you will get everything that

> you require.*

> *

> The story of Bali also bring out the reality that, there is nothing

> permanent and nothing to be taken for granted in this world be it wealth,

> beauty, power, status, position or family and nothing belongs to anyone.

> Even the mighty have to fall on one day or the other. We have several such

> historical examples that we are also seeing in this modern world.*

> **

>

> *Festivals related to Vamana Avathara:

> *

> *The day on which Lord Vamana was born is celebrated every year on

> Bhadrapada Sukla Dwadasi Day as Vamana Jayanthi.*

> **

>

> *Temples of Vamana Avathara: Some of the famous temples of Lord Vamana are,

> *

> *Ulagalanda Perumal temple: It is a temple of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu in

> Trivikrama roopa (Vamana Avathara). The statue is 35 ft. height and 24 ft.

> width. It is said that during Vamana Avathara Lord Vishnu appeared to King

> Bali at this place. It is also said that the Lord showed his Trivikrama

> roopa to Lord Aadisesha at this place. This temple is located in Shiva

> Kanchi (Kaancheepuram) in Tamil Nadu state.

> *

>

> *Thrikkara Temple: The only Vamana temple in Kerala near Cochin famous for

> Onam festival. This place is said to have been the capital of King Bali.*

>

> *Tirukoilur - Ulagalanda Perumal Temple: Situated in Tirukoilur in South

> Arcot district of Tamil Nadu this temple is dedicated to Lord Trivikrama

> (Vamana).

>

> Vamana Temple in Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh

> *

>

> --

> Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya

> Prasanth Jalasutram

>

> Love And Love Alone

>

[Guest guest]

Excellent Article and may I add what a beautiful picture. Please send

us more !

 

A couple of points:

 

1. The 3 steps taken by Sri Vishnu after Bali allowed for them also

signify how the lord will dissolve the maya and takes control of our

bodies and life. With the first step the lord took control over the

Bhuva Loka (association with body and material aspects) and with the

second step he took control over the higher lokas (indriyas) and finally

the last step was left and only place left was Balis head (ahamkara)

which was dissolved as well.

 

If you allow God to be part of your life then he will work in mystical

ways and take care of the illusion of your body, senses, and finally

your ego

 

2. The story cannot be complete without the role played by Shukracharya

or the guru of the Asuras. He knew that Sri Vamana was no other than

Sri Vishnu and warned Bali but the latter out of pride and duty still

gave his word (there was still some goodness in Bali, maybe a small

piece). To seal the deal water was to be put out of the kamandalu of

Sri Vamana onto the hands of Bali. Shukracharya shrinks to a small size

and tries to block the flow of water from the Kamandalu and Sri Vamana

takes a straw and clears the way and Shukracharya loses an eye. The

guru of the Asuras becomes half blind (opposed to Brihaspati).

 

As the devata tries to enter the body of a devotee, the Rajas element

will play all kinds of tricks and block the path. A straw

(representing qualities of Surya or the scriptures) accompanied by an

able Guru (Sri Vamana) can clear the path.

 

Regards

 

Veenu

 

 

, Prasanth Jalasutram

<jvrsprasanth wrote:

>

> [image: [vishnu_avatar_QJ96_l.jpg]]

>

<http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_S49ZRy14b1M/Ssv69e578aI/AAAAAAAAAXA/pwpQ5i4KI\

50/s1600-h/vishnu_avatar_QJ96_l.jpg>

> *SRI VAMANA AVATHARA*

> **

> **

>

> *Significance

> *

>

> *Sri Vamana Avathara was fifth in the line of Dasavatharas of Lord Sri

Maha

> Vishnu. This avathara took place during Treta Yuga before Sri

Parashurama

> Avathara. Lord Maha Vishnu took this avathara in order to suppress the

> arrogance, vanity and pride of Emperor Bali (Bali Chakravarthi) and to

> restore the glory, power and authority of Lord Indra over the Heaven

who had

> lost his power and kingdom (Swarga) to King Bali. Sri Vishnu Sahasra

Nama

> Sthothra describes in sloka # 17 and 56, the Lord asUpendro Vaamanah

and

> Trivikramah.*

> *Lord in this avathara was known as Vamana because he was dwarf in

form at

> the beginning. He was known as Trivikrama because he is the one who

has

> conquered the three worlds, Earth, Upper worlds and Nether worlds. He

grew

> to a gigantic size while suppressing the King Bali and conquered the

> Universe with just three paces of his foot. He was also referred as

Upendra

> as he was known to be the younger brother of Indra. We find all the

three

> names Trivikrama, Vamana and Upendra while reciting 24 Kesava Namas.

An

> exclusive Purana named after Lord Vamana called Sri Vamana Purana

scripted

> by Lord and Sage Veda Vyasa forms part of 18 great Puranas called

Ashtadasa

> Puranas.*

>

> *Lord Vamana was born as the son of Sage Kashyapa (Kashyapa

Prajapathi) and

> his wife Aditi in accordance to the penance done by the couple and

prayers

> of Indra and other Deities. He was born on Bhadrapada Sukla Dwadasi

day

> under the star constellation of Sravana Nakshatra. This day every year

is

> celebrated as Vamana Jayanthi the day on which Lord Sri Vamana was

born. As

> soon as he was born He took no time in attaining the boyhood becoming

a Vatu

> (Brahmachari). Lord Brahma himself initiated the Gayathri Manthra to

Sri

> Vamana. His attire was that of a typical Brahmin Brahmachari, wearing

a

> Koupeena (Loin cloth), a sacred thread, holding a Chatthra (Umbrella)

in one

> hand and Dhanda/Kamandalu (stick and water jug) in the other, his

upper body

> covered with Deer skin, wearing a ring of Dharbha (Kusa grass) to his

third

> finger.*

> **

>

> *Significance of Three Steps*

> *Lord Vamana went to King Maha Bali and asks for three steps of land

> measured by his foot as charity. Initially Bali hesitated to donate

just

> three paces of land as it is a disgrace to his status and was guilty

to give

> such charity. But later agreed, upon insisting by Lord Vamana and

promised

> to give three paces of land as charity measured by Sri Vamana's

foot. When

> Maha Bali completed the ritual process of donating the land, Lord

Vamana

> assumed his cosmic form (Trivikrama), measured the entire Earth

including

> the nether worlds by his first step.*

> *

> With his second step He measured the entire upper worlds. When his

foot

> reached the zenith it crossed the Sathya Loka where Lord Brahma stays.

> Seeing the foot of Lord Maha Vishnu, Lord Brahma offered abhishekam

and

> washed the Lord's foot and the water that fell from His foot

sanctified the

> entire Universe. We find in the verses of great composer and Saint Sri

> Annamacharya referring to the foot washed by Lord Brahma (Brahma

Kadigina

> Padamu) in one of his verses on Lord Sri Venkateswara.*

> *

> When the entire Universe was conquered by just two paces of Lord Sri

Maha

> Vishnu (Vamana) there was no space left in the Universe to keep

Vamana's

> third pace. When Lord Vamana asked Maha Bali the space to keep his

third

> pace, all the pride and vanity of Maha Bali had vanished and he had no

> hesitation in surrendering before the Supreme Lord. Having realised

the

> Supreme Reality, Bali readily offered his own head to keep the

Lord's third

> step. Lord Vamana immediately placed his third pace (his foot) on the

head

> of Bali and sent him to the nether worlds. Thus the ahankara (egoism)

of

> Maha Bali was suppressed and Indra was restored with his kingdom.*

> **

>

> *Uniqueness*

>

> *Sri Vamana Avathara is the first Avathara where Lord Sri Maha Vishnu

took

> complete human form though dwarf at the beginning. The uniqueness of

this

> Avathara is that the Lord did not use any weapon. The only weapon he

used

> was that of begging in front of King Bali in accordance to the

Brahmanic

> (Brahmachari) form he had attained. The Lord did not kill the King

Bali even

> though he was an Asura. He conquered him in a Vedic way with his

> intelligence. Unlike other Avatharas, Vamana Avathara was a Sattvik

> Avathara. Lord had to resort to this strategy due to the promise he

had made

> to his beloved devotee Prahlada not to kill any of his descendants.

> Astrologically Jupiter (Guru) is said to be the Paramatma Amsa of

Vamana

> Avathara.*

> **

> *Message from Vamana Avathara

> *

>

> *Hidden behind every Avathara of Paramatma there is a message/moral

> conveyed. In this Sri Vamana Avathara the message is total surrender

to the

> God however mighty one may be. When once you shed your ego and

surrender

> totally with devotion at the feet of the supreme Lord there is nothing

one

> can worry about and will get total protection. This is what exactly

has

> happened in case of Bali who had no other alternative but to surrender

to

> the Lord Trivikrama who had conquered the three worlds.*

> *When King Bali surrendered in front of Lord Vamana with total

devotion, the

> Lord was very much pleased and gave him boons voluntarily without

being

> asked by King Bali. He not only made him the ruler of the nether world

> Suthala but also assured him that He would always protect his kingdom.

He

> also assured Bali that he would become the Indra in the next

Manvanthara. By

> the touch of Lord's foot on the head of King Bali all his sins got

cleaned

> up, he became immortal (Chiranjeevi). This is what one should

understand

> that we should never ask for alms to the Supreme Lord. If you ask you

will

> get only what you had asked. It you don't ask you will get

everything that

> you require.*

> *

> The story of Bali also bring out the reality that, there is nothing

> permanent and nothing to be taken for granted in this world be it

wealth,

> beauty, power, status, position or family and nothing belongs to

anyone.

> Even the mighty have to fall on one day or the other. We have several

such

> historical examples that we are also seeing in this modern world.*

> **

>

> *Festivals related to Vamana Avathara:

> *

> *The day on which Lord Vamana was born is celebrated every year on

> Bhadrapada Sukla Dwadasi Day as Vamana Jayanthi.*

> **

>

> *Temples of Vamana Avathara: Some of the famous temples of Lord Vamana

are,

> *

> *Ulagalanda Perumal temple: It is a temple of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu in

> Trivikrama roopa (Vamana Avathara). The statue is 35 ft. height and 24

ft.

> width. It is said that during Vamana Avathara Lord Vishnu appeared to

King

> Bali at this place. It is also said that the Lord showed his

Trivikrama

> roopa to Lord Aadisesha at this place. This temple is located in Shiva

> Kanchi (Kaancheepuram) in Tamil Nadu state.

> *

>

> *Thrikkara Temple: The only Vamana temple in Kerala near Cochin famous

for

> Onam festival. This place is said to have been the capital of King

Bali.*

>

> *Tirukoilur - Ulagalanda Perumal Temple: Situated in Tirukoilur in

South

> Arcot district of Tamil Nadu this temple is dedicated to Lord

Trivikrama

> (Vamana).

>

> Vamana Temple in Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh

> *

>

> --

> Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya

> Prasanth Jalasutram

>

> Love And Love Alone

>