onam, mahabali & vamana(vishnu)

[Guest guest]

Ranjeesh and everyone,

Did you check out www.amritapuri.org for Onam festivities? Amma

danced. You can watch it on video through amritapuri.org

She actually danced twice lately. Once with all hou hsould see Her

doing these tribal dances and then again for twelve thousand people

at Onam to bolo bolo gokula bala, She danced on stage. Check HER out!

 

JAI MA

Ambujam

 

 

Ammachi, "Ranjeesh K R." <ranjeeshk@i...>

wrote:

> I know many of you may not be able to feel onam as you are totally

new to it . Have a look at the following to get a feel of it . Few

may be even new to kerala too..

>

> In kerala the main celebrations are Onam (aug/sep) , Vishu (

April ), Christmas, local temple & church festivals (Jan to may )

>

> kerala : <http://images.google.com/images?q=kerala&ie=UTF-8&hl=en>

http://images.google.com/images?q=kerala&ie=UTF-8&hl=en

>

> onam : <http://images.google.com/images?svnum=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-

8&safe=off&q=onam> http://images.google.com/images?

svnum=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&q=onam

>

> pookkalam (using flowers, couloured salt flour )

>

> http://images.google.com/images?svnum=100

<http://images.google.com/images?svnum=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-

8&safe=off&q=pookkalam> &hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&q=pookkalam

>

> pulikkali ( puli means tiger and kali means play)

>

> http://images.google.com/images?svnum=100

<http://images.google.com/images?svnum=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-

8&safe=off&q=pulikkali> &hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&q=pulikkali

>

> kummattikkali

>

> http://images.google.com/images?svnum=100

<http://images.google.com/images?svnum=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-

8&safe=off&q=pulikkali> &hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&q=pulikkali

>

>

> vallam kali ( waooo ...!!!! boat race )

>

> http://images.google.com/images?svnum=100

<http://images.google.com/images?svnum=100&hl=en&ie=UTF-

8&safe=off&q=vallamkali&spell=1> &hl=en&ie=UTF-

8&safe=off&q=vallamkali&spell=1

>

> Somebody in the Mata-Amritandamayi group asked about onam and ajoy

forwarded a beautiful description about story of vaman & mahabali ..

>

> there are a lot to interpret from different stories .

>

> from onam story:

> -----------------------

> Vishu the divine atlast demanded "mahabali's head" , even though he

was very pleasing to the people around him. So one of the message is

drop the head, drop the ego .. empty the brain .. fill the heart ..

>

> <<

>

>

> Ajoy P.B [ajoypb]

> Monday, August 30, 2004 4:23 PM

> amma

> [Mata-Amritandamayi] what is onam

>

>

> Festivals & Legends: OnamThe Story Behind Onam

>

>

> A long long time ago, an Asura (demon) king called Mahabali ruled

Kerala. He was a wise, benevolent and judicious ruler and beloved of

his subjects. Soon his fame as an able king began to spread far and

wide, but when he extended his rule to the heavens and the

netherworld, the gods felt challenged and began to fear his growing

powers. Presuming that he might become over-powerful, Aditi, the

mother of Devas pleaded with Lord Vishnu to curtail Mahabali's

powers.

> Vishnu transformed himself into a dwarf called Vamana and

approached Mahabali while he was performing a yajna and asked for

alms. Pleased with the dwarf brahmin's wisdom, Mahabali granted him a

wish. The Emperor's preceptor, Sukracharya warned him against making

the gift, for he realized that the seeker was no ordinary person. But

the Emperor's kingly ego was boosted to think that God had asked him

for a favor. So he firmly declared that there is no greater sin than

going back on one's promise. He kept his word.

>

> The Vamana asked for a simple gift - three paces of land - and the

king agreed to it. Vishnu in the guise of Vamana then increased his

stature and with the first step covered the sky, blotting out the

stars, and with the second, straddled the netherworld. Realising that

Vamana's third step will destroy the earth, Mahabali offered his head

as the last step.

>

> Vishnu's fatal third step pushed him to the netherworld, but before

banishing him to the underworld Vishnu granted him a boon. Since he

was attached to his kingdom and his people, he was allowed to return

once a year from exile. Onam is the celebration that marks the

homecoming of King Mahabali. It is the day when a grateful Kerala

pays a glorious tribute to the memory of this benign king who gave

his all for his subjects.

>

> Another Legend

> Another legend has it that King Mahabali was a devout worshipper of

Lord Vishnu. He was sincere, honest, just and a good ruler. But he

had one weakness - ego. And to eradicate his pride and redeem his

beloved devotee of this one sin, Vishnu came to earth in the form of

a dwarf Brahmin named Vamana.

>

> The king in his pride asked the Brahmin what he wanted for he could

give anything. Vamana asked for three paces of land and the king

agreed. To humble him Vishnu, as Vamana showed Mahabali that he is

just a puny creature in front of God's universal stature.

>

> Mahabali, who was a man of principles, realized God's purpose

and "offered his head" for Vamana's footstep, as he was sent to

another world. This fatal step proved a blessing in disguise for the

good king - the foot salvaged and released him from the recurrent

cycle of birth and death. That is why Onam is celebrated by wearing

new clothes and resolving to lead a new life of truth, piety, love,

and humility.

>

> with love

>

> ajoy

>

> >>

>

>

>