Mahabali Chakrabarthi and the festival of ONAM

Ohm Namasivaya !!! Ohm Sri Sairam

Having been defeated and sworn in by the king of Devas, Lord Indra, Bali Chakravarthy was taken to his kingdom by his soldiers, saved with the help of Sanjevini manthra by his Guru Sukracharia. Bali Chakravarthy got new strength and kept his Guru with him for ever.

Guru Sukracharya, to please Maha Bali Chakravarthy and divert him of his worries of defeat performed a yagna with the help of Brahmins from the family of Brugu Rishi. He also ordered the Brahmins to perform a yagna called Viswajith. As ordered by his Guru Bali chakravarathy arranged the performance of the Yagna in a very big way. While the yagna was being performed from the homagunda there appeared a golden Chariot with white horses with weapons like bow and arrow. Prahlahmaharishi, the grand father of Bali Chakravarthy gifted him a garland which will never dry. Sukracharia gave him a rare quality of Chunk. The Brahmins from the Brugu rishi family gave him new strength through their yagna. After completion of the yagna Bali Chakravarthy got into golden chariot with white horses that came from the homagunda, took all weapons got from the yagna and started towards Devaloga to fight the Devas and lord Indra. The best chieftains and soldiers in his army followed him.

The Bali Chakravarthy and his army were enjoying the spectacular sceneries on the way to the Amaravathy city, the holy abode of Indra and Devas. He surrounded the city with his army, took out his chunk and blew it. Devas were terrified by the strange sound of the chunk, ran to Sri Brahma Deva, begged him to protect from Bali. Indra told Sri Brahma that the defeated Bali had come again with new army and strength and requested him to advice as to what to do for saving the Devas. Sri Brahma told him that the Bali Chakravarhy was treated and saved by his Guru Sukracharya which gave him new strength and courageous army. Suckracharya’s full support made him a new man (asura) with more strength and ability. He advised Indra and the Devas that it was not the proper time to oppose Bali at that moment because his time was very good then. After a while his strength and ability will go down, at that time the almighty Sriman Narayana alone could tackle the asura well. No one else could do anything against the Asura. Till then the Devas should stay disguise runaway and hide themselves from Bali. Indrahi Devas stunned at this and thought for a while as what to do. At last decided to take the advice of Sri Brahma Deva, and ran away under disguise and conceal themselves from the sight of Bali Chakravarthy. When Emperor Bali entered Amaravathy city there was no one to oppose him. So Bali Chakravarthy occupied the Deva loga, ascended the throne, took charge of the entire three worlds and started ruling the worlds from the Devaloga. Under his rule every body excluding Devas were very happy and prosperous. Though he was an asura he treated the Brahmins, pundits and other people with respect. But he insulted he Devas and they were very unhappy felt unsafe under his rule.

Adhidhi, wife of Rishi Kasyap, and mother of Indra was very sad to know what had happened to her son. She complained to her husband Kasyap and requested him to give a solution for the problem. As advised by her husband she performed puja to Sriman Narayana. The Paramathma pleased with her puja, appeared before her and said that he would born to her as her son and get back whatever lost by her son Indra and other Devas. As promised to her, Sriman Narayana was born to Kasyap Adhidhi Couple as a lovely son (Vamana Avatar). When he grew as a young boy Bali Chakravarthy came back to the world to perform a Yagna in very big way. The young boy Vamana wanted to attend the Yagna. With his parent’s permission he started towards the place where Bali was performing the Yagna. It was a custom in those days that the king who perform the Yagna would give anything requested by an Adhidhi (visitor). Emperor Bali saw the young and charming Vamana Brahmachari who was coming to attend the Yagna, welcomed him, offered him a good seat to sit, did Adhidhi puja and asked him what he wanted. Even before the Brahmachari asked him for a boon the Emperor Bali promised him to give whatever he wanted. But the asura Guru Sukracharia who was by the side of his disciple Bali tried to persuade him from giving any assurance to the Vamana because he understood that the Brahmachari was none but Sriman Narayana himself, had come to help the Devas. But Bali, could not understand the fact, said that as it was a custom to offer anything wanted by an Adhidhi, he would not get back from his promise. The Vamana Brahmachari told the king that he needed only some land which he would measure three foot length with his own foot. On hearing this Sukracharia again objected his disciple’s decision to give the land to the Brahmachari. But Bali said that he would readily give him the land, and also told the Brahmachari that the small piece of land was a very small request as he was ready to offer him unlimited measures of gold and other wealth to run his whole life and his heirs.

Immediately the Vamana Brahmachari grew in size and became Thirivikama. Every one present at the Yagna venue could have the rarest chance to have dharshan of his full form. (Vishvarupa dharshan) Emperor Bali could see the whole universe inside the Vishvarupa form. Bali Chakravarthy could even see himself and his subjects, sun, moon, and other Devas and all kind of creatures in all the three worlds. In his Vishvarupa form his foot was rested in the world, His head was above Deva loga, Sathya loga and other worlds in the universe. Now The Thirivikama measured the whole world with his one foot. HE lifted his second foot for measurement, which reached the Brahma loga where Sri Brahma Deva could have the dharshan of His Holy Foot and performed puja for the same. So with his second foot he measured Deva loga and had no place to measure third foot. Now reduced his form and became Vamana again and asked Emperor Bali as to where to measure the third foot. Still the Emperor Bali did not go back from his promise and told Sri Vamana that he could rest his foot on his head. Sri Vamana rested his foot on his head and pressed him to go to the bottom world (Pathala loga) and told him to stay there until further orders from him. He also promised him that at proper time he would be released from that world and made owner of Indra loga i.e. he would me made Indra his stay in the Pathala loga for some time.

So as per legend Bali Chakravarthy, Who is also known as Mahabali is still waiting in athe bottom world and is said to visit the world on Thiruvonam Star day every year to find the betterment and good status of his subjects even now. That day is being celebrated as ONAM FESTIVAL now days.